Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach

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Palm Beach, FL
Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach
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Turtles that are injured by the nuclear plant, boat propellers, fishing line, or other misfortune are rescued and brought to Loggerhead Marinelife Center, where there is a turtle hospital and tanks out back where turtles recover and gain strength. 85% of the turtles that survive the first 24 hours are able to be released back to sea.

It's fun for kids to come and see the turtles peering at them through the glass openings in the outdoor tanks. Come in summer and you may see baby hatchlings that have been saved from the beach. My daughter liked the turtle skeleton. The gift shop is full of lovely toys, cards, jewelry, and shirts all featuring turtles.
A model of an Achelon fossil hangs from the ceiling- these gigantic turtle fossils were found in Kansas and South Dakota where during the dinosaur age they lived in the Western Interior Sea.
Outside there is a globe sculpture that spins around.  At the recovery tanks, kids can read each turtle's name and read about what injury they sustained. Up the stairs is a deck with chairs and views of the ocean. There is a tank with a nurse shark, and a tank with sting rays and fish. Inside the Ocean Hall is a tank with jellyfish and one with seahorses. 
Everything is new and modern at the Marinelife Center, which is lively with its friendly, youthful volunteers. If you can catch a tour (Sun noon, Mon and Fri 2pm), do it because you'll learn a lot about this part of Florida and the marinelife here. Also great is the Jr. Veterinary Learning Lab, where kids get to help a green sea turtle replica just like they would a real one in the turtle hospital (for kids aged 6 and up). Turtle Walks, to see mother turtles lay their eggs, are Wed-Sat nights at 9pm in June and July- registration starts May 1. You can also see recovered turtles be released back into the ocean. This is so wonderful! Check their calendar for these rare release dates, usually on a weekday around 11am.
Between the Marinelife Center and the beach is a park with a lovely playground, picnic areas with shade coverings, and trees. Extend your morning out there enjoying the salty ocean breezes. When you're done, have a walk and explore at Loggerhead Beach, which has some lovely shells and aquamarine waters.
Don't leave anything valuable or enticing on your car seat because there are many break-ins involving smashed windows here.

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A juvenile Hemp's Ridley turtle, one of the rarest turtles.

Turtle trying to swim out of his pool.

Juvenile green sea turtle who lost his left flipper.

Are you as tall as a 7 foot Leatherback turtle?

A horse conch, which is related to a tulip snail.

A green sea turtle.

Baby turtles- these guys are the cutest thing you ever saw!

Baby sea turtles- can I take one home?

Your heart just melts when you see these guys flapping about.

Loggerhead Center, and turtle ambulance!

Awesome kids books by Ellie Crowe in the gift shop.

I love the pastel colors of the Marinelife Center.

Tortoise sculpture.

Earth sculpture in black.

The turtle tanks with shade canopies.

Glowing fish in an outdoor tank.

Shark in an outdoor tank.

A toddler looking at the fish in an outdoor tank.

Mangrove tank.

Balcony with view of the sea.

Balcony and cabbage palms.

Looking down at a picnic gazebo and ocean views, in Loggerhead Park.

Sea horses and sea grasses.

Orange-pink fish.

Jellyfish in a cylinder-shaped tank.

Strange room with only one tank in it.

Tropical vibe.

Ray in an outdoor tank.

The wonderful colors of the building, sky, and plants.

Gift shop, which is fun for kids.

Turtle sculpture.

Directions

Loggerhead Marinelife Center is located at 14200 U.S. Hwy 1, Juno Beach FL 33408, call (561) 627-8280. Hours are 10-5 daily. Admission is free! A $10 donation is appreciated. There is plenty of free parking in front of the center, to the side, or behind the center.
Jr. Veterinary Learning Lab requires online registration.
Tours are on Sun at noon, Mon and Fri at 2pm- no reservation needed. Cost for tour is $7 per adult and $5 per child aged 3-11.
Turtle Walks cost $17 per person- children must be aged 8 or older. You can show up on the night at 9pm with $20 cash and join in if someone didn't show up. Otherwise, registration starts May 1 for turtle walks (held Wed-Sat nights at 9pm all June and July).
Exit Highway 95 at Donald Ross Rd and head toward the ocean. After you cross the drawbridge, turn left on U.S. Hwy 1. After two blocks you will see a big sign on the right for Loggerhead Park. Pull in there and follow the signs to the Marinelife Center.

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Last Updated: Fri, 21 Oct 2022 21:24:49 GMT

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