Q: Hello! We will be visiting the Longboat Key area in late April. Where is the best place to observe wildlife such as manatee and dolphins? Thank you! -- Kathleen Watland

A: Gosh, Kathleen, I'm embarrassed! At first I thought Longboat Key was in the Keys. But it's actually off Florida's southwestern coast, a long, skinny barrier island west of the Sarasota / Bradenton area. (I'm sure Kathleen knows this.) Ah, I have to sharpen my Florida geography skills.

In general, Sarasota Bay is a great place to see manatees and dolphins. There are a few specific places that come to mind. The first is the Mote Marine Laboratory. Now, I know this isn't a natural area, but it's a great place. It's a real working marine laboratory that allows visitors. It's got a great museum, a touch tank and volunteers bursting with information. When I was there last time, there were two manatees in a tall tank that you could walk right up to and look in.

Here's the exciting part: You can also charter a boat from there -- the Sarasota Bay Explorers. This ride will take you to areas of the bay where you can view wildlife, including manatees and dolphins. Mote is just south of Longboat Key on City Island, and you can get to it by a bridge from Longboat Key and from Sarasota by taking the John and Mable Ringling Causeway.

Farther north, try the DeSoto National Memorial near the Manatee River. Near the bay, you can sometimes see dolphins and manatees.

I hope you enjoy your trip, but I'd like to suggest it's possible you won't see any manatees. Manatees usually come to Florida's rivers when the ocean gets too cold for them -- after a cold snap. Florida is pretty warm in late April. But you may see manatees at places along the shore or off the barrier islands during this time. Good luck, and keep your eye out for other wildlife, too, because you often never expect what you're going to see!

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