12800 Hagen Ranch Road
Boynton Beach

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Green Cay Nature Center is the kind of place you take your out-of-town guests to give them glimpse of the real Florida. Odds are you'll see something that will wow them — a 12-foot gator, a flock of roseate spoonbills, a purple gallinule doing a high-wire act on a fireflag stock or even a bobcat or two.

Green Cay was a pepper farm, converted into a wetland habitat by Palm Beach County nearly two decades ago. It has an interpretive center and 1.5 miles of boardwalk that move through hammock, marsh, cypress woods and open woods. It's easy walking, wide enough to accomodate wheelchairs and strollers. There is plenty of parking, interpretive signs, sitting areas, restrooms and drinking water.

What you'll see will vary according to time of year and time of day. Fall and spring will bring migratory birds passing through the area or coming here to breed. Spoonbills and storks tend to be more numerous during late spring, summer and fall, although they are here year round. Summer afternoons usually are quiet, as animals try to avoid the heat. The boardwalk is open sunrise to sunset 365 days a year; the nature center hours may vary; check the website.

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