This 20 acre coastal preserve is a destination you don’t want to miss! Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is surrounded by a rare remnant of tropical hardwood hammock, located on a barrier island in Boca Raton. A boardwalk provides access to this rare tropical forest where, from the 40-foot observation tower, you can view gumbo limbo trees, migrating birds, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Intracoastal Waterway. Indian middens, shell piles left by the Glades Indians over 2000 years ago, are located within the hammock. Take a stroll through the butterfly garden, where many species of wild butterflies can be seen year-round. Walk the Ashley Trail and relax in the authentic Chiki overlooking the Intracoastal. A variety of native fish, sharks, and other marine animals reside in seawater tanks. Visit the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility to learn about our sea turtle patients. Indoor displays feature wildlife indigenous to South Florida and a series of stained glass windows depicting the coastal island as it may have appeared in the 1500s. Florida Atlantic University has an onsite marine biology laboratory with a gallery for viewing research projects conducted by university scientists. Purchase imaginative and environmentally friendly gifts from our nature-themed gift shop.