There wasn't much to do to have fun growing up in the small town that I did. However, we did have wetlands that we could explore to see various types of birds and animals as we walked the boardwalk and trails.
Much like my old home, Okinawa has a wetland center too. The Manko Waterbird and Wetland Center in Tomigusuku City, just on the border of Naha, which is about 116 acres of mudflat. Though, the boardwalks make the area seem much more prominent.
If you end up at Manko Wetlands, be sure to sign in upfront before heading out to the boardwalk as that's vital to keeping the place open. While signing in, you can also grab a pamphlet in English to help explain a bit more about the area if necessary.
To access the boardwalk, walk straight through the entrance and cut right until you're outdoors on a patio, which is an excellent place to take a break and possibly have lunch too.
There are birds to spot along the way through the mangroves; crabs that can be seen walking about the mud on the low tide; and some scenic views of the downtown Naha beyond the Toyomi Ohashi Bridge.
To get a better vantage point of the site, you can use the observatory deck. Getting higher not only lets you see over the trees, but it also gives the lower deck some nice shade for an escape from the sun.
When you get tired from the sun beating down on you, you can always go back indoors and view their static display of birds in their exhibit room.
Take a gaze at all the fish in tanks around the room.
If you have small children, there are two areas for them to enjoy the Manko Wetlands even more. The first of which is a table to color at on the first floor while the second floor boasts a padded play area.
You can also view the beautiful scenery from the second-floor windows with their telescopes.
And, you can even mount your camera if you have a tripod shoe, so you don't need to lug around a tripod too!
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Best of all, access to the Manko Wetlands is entirely free and is open from 0900 to 1700 daily except for Monday and holidays.
Much like my old home, Okinawa has a wetland center too. The Manko Waterbird and Wetland Center in Tomigusuku City, just on the border of Naha, which is about 116 acres of mudflat. Though, the boardwalks make the area seem much more prominent.
If you end up at Manko Wetlands, be sure to sign in upfront before heading out to the boardwalk as that's vital to keeping the place open. While signing in, you can also grab a pamphlet in English to help explain a bit more about the area if necessary.
To access the boardwalk, walk straight through the entrance and cut right until you're outdoors on a patio, which is an excellent place to take a break and possibly have lunch too.
There are birds to spot along the way through the mangroves; crabs that can be seen walking about the mud on the low tide; and some scenic views of the downtown Naha beyond the Toyomi Ohashi Bridge.
To get a better vantage point of the site, you can use the observatory deck. Getting higher not only lets you see over the trees, but it also gives the lower deck some nice shade for an escape from the sun.
When you get tired from the sun beating down on you, you can always go back indoors and view their static display of birds in their exhibit room.
Take a gaze at all the fish in tanks around the room.
If you have small children, there are two areas for them to enjoy the Manko Wetlands even more. The first of which is a table to color at on the first floor while the second floor boasts a padded play area.
You can also view the beautiful scenery from the second-floor windows with their telescopes.
And, you can even mount your camera if you have a tripod shoe, so you don't need to lug around a tripod too!
biBest of all, access to the Manko Wetlands is entirely free and is open from 0900 to 1700 daily except for Monday and holidays.
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