Because my parents live close to the Everglades, it is not surprising that when we visit them I get the urge to check out the local wildlife. On this past trip, we didn’t do an air boat tour like last year, but we did visit the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge as well as Green Cay Nature Center, both located in Boynton Beach, Florida. We have been to both places before and I recommend both!
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Reserve
The visitor center is open daily from 9 AM-4 PM. Trails and grounds are open from 5 AM to 10 PM. It costs $5 per vehicle to enter the refuge though there are various free entry days and if you have a 4th grader signed up for the Every Kid In A Park pass, you get in for free. (We got our pass after we visited – oops!) At the visitor center, you can check out binoculars to use on the grounds. My kids really liked that!
These are not alive – too bad!
You can pretend to ride in an air boat.
And you can check out the wildlife!
We spotted an alligator – do you see him?
There’s are birds in the below photos!
Green Cay Nature Center
The indoor exhibits are open Wednesday – Saturday from 9 AM to 3 PM. The nature trails are open from sunrise to sunset. It is completely free! You can check out binoculars at the visitor center when it is open. I love the birds you can see at this nature center. There is also a butterfly garden near the entrance, and the animals in the visitor center are alive!
Here are some turtles hanging out with the birds!
This one wanted to say hello.
While I would recommend both of these nature centers, I think Loxahatchee is better for spotting alligators and Green Cay is better for birds! Do you like checking out wildlife?