Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
>A coastal & marine experience unlike any other!
-
11 miles South (Boca Raton)
-
Hours of operation:
-
Nature Center, Sea Turtle Rehabilitation, and Aquariums:Tuesday - Sunday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Monday, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
-
Nature Trails: Monday - Sunday, 7:00 am - Sunset
-
Closed: New Year's Day, 4th of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas Days.
-
-
View Trip Map
-
Admission: free. Free parking on site
-
Go to Website
The picturesque word that gives name to this Park and Nature Center in Boca Raton is the Gumbo Limbo tree native to South Florida and present in the Roseaire backyard garden.
The trunk and branches are thick and are covered with resinous, smooth, peeling coppery-colored bark with an attractive, shiny, freshly-varnished appearance. The gumbo-limbo is often referred to as the "tourist tree" because the tree's bark is red and peeling, like the skin of a sun burnt tourist.
As a beacon for environmental education, research, and conservation, Gumbo Limbo’s 20 acres on the protected barrier island provide refuge to many varieties of plants and animals - some rare or endangered.
Average about 2 hours to walk the trails, check out the butterfly garden and best of all the sea turtles and the aquarium. If lucky you may get a glimpse of the hatchlings where they keep the sea horses and starfish.
Things to do there: Walk the Elevated Boardwalk Enjoy and learn about (click links for a virtual tour) Butterfly Garden, Hammock Forest, Shallow Aquariums, Deep Aquariums. You can even experience Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in a whole new way! Follow along on one of the e-book self-guided tours to discover unique stories and activities as you explore the grounds.