Active Pursuits in Jupiter
Beaches in and near Jupiter
The farther north you head from populated Palm Beach, the more peaceful and pristine the coast becomes. Just a few miles north of the bustle, castles and condominiums give way to wide-open space and public parkland. There are dozens of recommendable spots. The following are a few of the best.
John D. MacArthur Beach is a spectacular beach that preserves the subtropical coastal habitat that once covered southeast Florida. This state park has a remarkable 4,000-square-foot Nature Center with exhibits, displays, and a video interpreting the barrier island's plant and animal communities. Dominating a large portion of Singer Island, the barrier island just north of Palm Beach, this beach has frontage on both the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Worth Cove. It's great for hiking, swimming, and sunning. Restrooms and showers are available. To reach the park from the mainland, cross the Intracoastal Waterway on Blue Heron Boulevard and turn north on Ocean Boulevard. The park holds turtle walks at holds them at 8:15pm Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in June and July for $20 per person.
In Juno Beach, the Loggerhead Marine Life Center, 14200 US Highway 1 (tel. 561/627-8280), offers them Tuesdays through Saturdays in June and July for $22 per person.
Jupiter Inlet meets the ocean at Dubois Park, a 29-acre beach that's popular with families. The shallow waters and sandy shore are perfect for kids, while adults can play in the rougher swells of the inlet where there are lifeguards. A footbridge leads to Ocean Beach, an area popular with windsurfers and surfers. There's a short fishing pier and plenty of shaded barbecue grills and picnic tables. Explore the Dubois Pioneer Home, situated atop a shell mound built by the Jaega Indians. The home was built of cypress in 1898 by Harry Dubois, a citrus worker, as a wedding gift to his wife, Susan, whose pictures are still in the house. The butter churn, the pump sewing machine in the living room, and the dining room and bedroom are straight out of Little House on the Prairie. The park entrance is on Dubois Road, about a mile south of the junction of U.S. 1 and Florida A1A.
Biking in and near Jupiter, Florida
Bike enthusiasts will enjoy exploring this flat and uncluttered area. North Palm Beach has hundreds of miles of smooth, paved roads. Loggerhead Park in Juno Beach and Florida A1A along the ocean also have great trails for starters. You'll find many more scenic routes over the bridges and west of the highway. Rent a bike at Jupiter Outdoor Center, 18095 Coastal A1A, in Jupiter (tel. 561/747-9666).
Canoeing in and near Jupiter, Florid
You can rent a boat at several outlets throughout northern Palm Beach County, including Jupiter Outdoor Center (see above). Canoers often start their journeys Riverbend Park along an 8-mile stretch of Intracoastal Waterway, where the lush foliage supports dozens of exotic birds and reptiles. Keep your eyes open for gators, who love to sunbathe on the shallow shores of the river. You'll end up, exhausted, at Jonathan Dickinson Park about 5 or 6 hours later. Guided trips are available, or you can do this solo.
Fishing from Jupiter, Florida
For fishing, we recommend Reel Candy Fishing at the Sailfish Marina, 98 Lake Drive, near Jupiter in Palm Beach Shores (tel. 561/797-9769)Golf in and near Jupiter, Florida
Dotting the area are plenty of great courses, including the Golf Club of Jupiter, 1800 Central Blvd., Jupiter (tel. 561/747-6262), where a well-respected 18-hole, par-70 course is situated on more than 6,200 yards of narrow fairways and fast greens. The course borders I-95, so watch your swing. In Jupiter, the Abacoa Golf Course, 105 Barbados Dr. (tel. 561/662-0036) was the last designed by Joe Lee before his death. It features scenic views, with 14 of 18 holes surrounded by water. There are daily golf clinics by PGA pros. Greens fees range from $50 to $175.
Hiking in Jupiter, Florida
In an area that's not particularly known for extraordinary natural diversity, Blowing Rocks Preserve has a terrific hiking trail along a dramatic limestone outcropping. You won't find hills or scenic vistas, but you will see Florida's unique and varied tropical ecosystem. The well-marked, mile-long trail passes oceanfront dunes, mangrove wetlands, and a coastal hammock. The preserve also protects an important habitat for West Indian manatees and loggerhead turtles. Located along South Beach Drive (Fla. A1A), north of the Jupiter inlet, Blowing Rocks is about a 10-minute drive northeast of Jupiter. From U.S. 1, head east on S.R. 707 and cross the Intracoastal Waterway to the park.
Scuba Diving & Snorkeling from Jupiter, Florida
Year-round warm, clear waters make northern Palm Beach County great for both diving and snorkeling. The closest coral reef is a quarter-mile from shore and can be reached easily by boat. Three popular wrecks are clustered near one another, less than a mile offshore of the Lake Worth Inlet at about 90 feet. The best wreck, however, is the 16th- or 17th-century Spanish galleon discovered by lifeguard Peter Leo just off Jupiter Beach; any diving outfit off Jupiter Beach will take you there.
