Manatee Season Starts November 15 in West Palm Beach, With a Kickoff Party at Manatee Lagoon on November 21

Florida manatee season runs from November 15 to March 31, according to Manatee Lagoon, the FPL Eco-Discovery Center at 6000 North Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach. The free center sits on the Lake Worth Lagoon next to the warm-water outflow of FPL's Riviera Beach Next Generation Clean Energy Center, and its own rule of thumb is simple: when the lagoon's water drops to about 68 degrees or colder, manatees gather in the warm outflow in plain view of the observation deck — sometimes dozens at a time, though the center guarantees no sightings.

The center is open year-round but closed on Mondays until manatee season begins; in season it is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free admission and a free 2 p.m. docent tour on the schedule published by the center and local listings. The second floor is closed on several November dates listed on the center's visit page, including November 14 and November 18 through 20, so visitors planning a trip around the season's opening should check that page first.

The season's welcome-back party is the Migration Celebration on Saturday, November 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the center — a free event spotlighting the manatees' annual migration through Florida's waterways, with conservation exhibitors and lagoon programming in the listings read by this desk. The center also hosts Sensory Saturdays, with softer lighting and lower noise from 8 to 9 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month during the season, for families who prefer a quieter visit.