The Florida Oceanographic Society is a non-profit organization founded in 1964 to research ways to promote environmental care of the coastal communities and to educate the public about what they can do to help. The center is located on Hutchinson Island which is between the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the most biologically diverse areas, with 4,000 different species of plants and animals. Opened in 1994, the center is a 57 acre marine life nature center. Admission is $12 for adults. Visitors can have a fun and educational experience with the displays, exhibits, and live animals. The goal of the center is to get people excited about nature so they will want to preserve it. After you pay, the visit to the center begins in the main building with the indoor aquariums and interpretive displays. I loved the seahorse tank. This building also has the restrooms, water fountain, and gift shop. Heading outside, one of my favorite parts of the center were the two touch tanks where you can get hands on with invertebrates like sea urchins, hermit crabs, and sting rays. The tanks aren't always open so you need to get a schedule when you pay. Getting to stroke the slippery soft stingrays was the highlight of my trip. Another place I enjoyed was the sea turtle pavilion overlooking the 750,000 gallon salt water game fish lagoon that is home to 4 sea turtles who can no longer live in the wild. They had to have weights attached to their shells to allow them to dive. I attended a very informative talk about the turtles. In addition to the turtles, the lagoon has 7 large nurse sharks and game fish. 35 different species and 300 different animals live in the lagoon. At the lagoon I was able to attend the feeding and talk. I learned so much about what is causing the algae bloom and red tide that is killing so much marine life. While the talk was given tarpon, snook jacks, snapper, pompano, turtles, and rays feasted on a mixture of shrimp, fish, and squid. Outside of the center is a nature trail which gives guests the chance to see what barrier islands look like before development. A path and boardwalks carry you over wetlands and through hardwood hammocks and mangrove marshes. In the woods is a recreation of an Ais Village. The Ais were the native people who lived in this area thousands of years ago. Be aware it can get quite buggy in the woods, especially with mosquitoes. Insect repellent is advised. The trail ends at the Indian River Lagoon where you can see one of the centers volunteer projects. A group recently came together to bag oyster shells to create reefs. If you attend all of the educational programs and walk the nature trail you can easily spend several hours here. I applaud the center for creating an environment that is fun and educational. It is a place that can excite the next generation to want to take care of this important coastal community. read more

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A cute thing to do when you're in the area. There's a play area for little kids, a touch tank, and a butterfly garden. My little boy got to touch some stingrays and we saw big turtles being fed. There are also some walking trails with mangroves. They do have three programs (once in the morning, once in the afternoon): stingray feeding, gamefish program, and turtle program. However, we were getting close to my little one's nap time so we passed on those. There is another building to be opened up soon. read more

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Used a Groupon for today's visit. It was an hour and a half of your time. We did the presentation and feeding of the stingrays. Also the Turtles and Fish tank. Along with the nature walk. It was informative. I would not do it again. read more

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This place is the best! I could pet the rays for hours if they let me. Small, but informative, with a large outdoor area and a cute gift shop. At times, the volunteers can be a little much- so many of them that want to share what they know! Overall a cute place with a great mission. read more

Very well educated staff.....clean, interesting facility..... Enjoyed the day....learned new information. Staff very helpful. Some groups of children unruly....that's difficult for a facility to be Child oriented yet establish better behavior.....shame on poor parenting. I have been to aquariums all over the country, this is a cute place. Very focused on the Indian River ecosystem. Interesting sea grass exhibit and nature trails....if in the area, a definite must! read more

These ratings must be from members who support their efforts to educate visitors about marine life but honestly, it's very small and underwhelming. We were quite disappointed especially at $12 a person. It took us about 10 minutes to see everything and the sting ray tank was closed for repairs. read more

What a cool place to learn more about the ocean, pet and feed manta rays, see sea turtles and game fish, even nurse sharks and take a nature walk. Something for everyone. Great way to spend the day! read more

3 stars because they do a lot of great things for the surrounding marine environment however as a tourist attraction, there isn't much to it. The stingray touch tank is only done at certain times and only for a few minutes so be sure to check the schedule if you are going for that. There are a few fish tanks inside not much bigger than what you might have at home. The nurse sharks and sea turtles are topside viewing only so while school-age children might still find it pretty neat, there is not much to see for kids under 3 that might not understand what you are pointing at in the water below. The hiking trail is mostly in the woods and part boardwalk but mostly mud or sand and not stroller/ wheelchair friendly. It is real hiking with snakes, spiders, skunks etc. which is something I would normally enjoy however isn't very entertaining for young children. The trail portion by the water is rocky, sandy and only about 50 feet of the mile or so trail. A cute little place but expensive for what you get. We spent about an hour here and that is because we walked the entire trail. My 8 month old daughter was bored with this place. read more

I went a ways to bring my nephew here via a TravelZoo voucher. After several days of rain I wasn't so optimistic the weather would hold up so we got there at opening. I'm so glad we did. My 9 year old nephew loved the place. We learned about the rays and he had several opportunities to touch them and we were there during their feeding time which was really cool. Their touch tanks were also great for kids and adults. This isn't an aquarium so know before you go. There aren't dolphins or whales or sealions. They have some large fish tanks with different varieties of native fish as well as the ray touch holding area and a large game fish viewing (had local fish and some sea turtles, rays and nurse sharks). We didn't stay for that feeding but he was so enamored by the rays it was fine. There is a walking trail but we didn't do the whole thing. The bad weather was coming so we kept it short. I would definitely go back if I were in the area. Bring bug spray in case for the trail walk and during hurricane season check the forecast and go as early as possible. Bad weather tends to come in the afternoon. Definitely get there I'm time for a feeding of the rays but know they will shut that area and all outdoor areas if storms are coming. We got in and out just in time! read more

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We enjoyed our time here. This place is completely handicap accessible, as I have to use a rollator for mobility issues. We loved the stingray touch tank. I did not feed the rays this time, but could see lots of people loved doing that. Our guide, Ray, was very informative. We learned about the sea turtle rescue on site. There is a nature trail where you could go bird watching. We did not do this. Instead, we took our time watching the sharks and other animals swimming around the main pool. I loved the aquatic tanks inside the building. I was able to take some incredible pics here. We will definitely come back here again. Check GROUPON: sometimes they have special offers for this place. The only bad thing I can say about this place is the lack of benches throughout the place. There are very few places to SIT and just enjoy your surroundings. read more

I picked up a Groupon for two adults for $20 and save $4 on the entrance fee. I went up on a beautiful Sunday in March and took a quick tour through the indoor tanks and walked outside to meet the Stingrays. We were there early before the feeding so we got to ask some questions and let the Rays come up to us before a large group arrived. We also toured the butterfly garden but didn't see any butterflies and took some time to look at the game fish tank with sea turtles in their sharks and other large game fish from local Waters. A good way to spend an hour and a half or two hours. I highly suggest this for small children or families. read more

I love it here!!!! You get to feed the stingrays and they have a talk about turtles great path for walking I'm hoping to see a bobcat or otter one day read more

Fun place. Great interaction with the sting rays. Lots of good information and the staff is fun and knowledgeable

This is the place we loved most during out vacation. Their exhibits and interaction with sea life are second to nowhere. For the first time my children were captivated and were interested in something where they didn't just want to leave. Come see this. You won't be disappointed. read more

So much to see and do...just wish there was more on climate change impact on Florida ecosystem...staff very knowledgeable. I'm not from area so next time I'd do a guided tour through trails. read more

A 57 acre marine life nature center. There are so many opportunities to learn about experience Florida's coastal ecosystem at this beautiful facility. With two daily program times and hands on exhibits, there is something for everyone. read more

Florida Oceanographic Society - Florida Oceanographic's 750,000 gallon saltwater gamefish lagoon. Two feedings daily. - Community Service/Non-Profit Near Me - Stuart, Florida