City Guides: Things to do While Boating in Apollo Beach, Florida
Apollo Beach sits along the Florida Gulf Coast just south of Tampa on the shores of Tampa Bay and Hillsborough Bay. The sunny beaches of St. Petersburg are across Tampa Bay from Apollo Beach. The area offers easy access to the Gulf of Mexico, near Anna Maria Island and Bradenton, for fishing charters, snorkeling excursions or cruising around the Florida Gulf Coast ICW. This is a terrific area to explore from private boat docks for rent.
There aren’t a lot of major attractions in Apollo Beach (other than that gorgeous emerald Gulf Coast water). But sometimes, that might be just what you’re looking for. What you will find are local restaurants, small shops, wildlife attractions, the Robert Trent Jones Apollo Golf Club and the 11,000-square-foot Apollo Beach Skate Park. Take a day trip to the nearby St. Pete Beach, Clearwater Beach, Indian Rocks Beach or Honeymoon Island. Or do nothing at all.
It’s important to note that there’s also an Apollo Beach on Florida’s East Coast along Canaveral National Seashore south of Daytona Beach. This is the one on the West Coast in Hillsborough County.
Manatee Viewing Center
Photo: Manatee Viewing Center (Facebook)
The Manatee Viewing Center, at Tampa Electric, is one of the best things to do in Apollo Beach from a private boat dock for rent. Seriously, we could spend the whole day watching these cute creatures swimming around. Manatees come here for the warm water that circulates into the bay from the water discharge canal. The Big Bend Power Station brings in water from Tampa Bay, cleans and circulates it and then sends it back out. It’s especially popular with the manatee crowd in the winter months.
Photo: Manatee Viewing Center (Facebook)
Walk along the tidal walk and boardwalk trails lined with plants, trees and wildlife and climb the observation tower for bird’s-eye views of manatees and Tampa Bay. There’s a gift shop, a café and picnic tables There’s also a ray touch tank and an education center to learn about the manatees. The center is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, so you’re likely to see a variety of winged creatures as well.
This unique attraction is part of The Florida Conservation and Technology Center, which is a combination of three environmental organizations: the Florida Aquarium, Tampa Electric and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Check it out the next time you’re passing through or staying at a private boat slip rental.
Apollo Beach Nature Preserve
Photo: Wikimedia
The 63-acre Apollo Beach Nature Preserve offers nature trails, fishing, kayaking, birdwatching, a 37-foot observation tower (wheelchair accessible), picnic areas and a beach (but no swimming is allowed). The waterways are a habitat for aquatic animals and native species. It’s located at the north end of Surfside Boulevard, making it convenient to visit from a private boat lift rental. Enjoy stunning views of the St. Pete and Tampa skylines. Be sure to bring your four-footed friends along as there is a dog-friendly beach.
We hope this has helped you find some new things to do on Florida’s West Coast. The next time you’re passing through, moored at a marina or anchored at a private boat lift for rent in Apollo Beach, stop in for a visit. Happy boating!
