Wednesday, August 24, 2022 / by Dave Magua
Best Things to Do in Jupiter, Florida
One of the lesser-known jewels in South Florida’s crown, Jupiter is gaining a reputation as a refreshing, untouched vacation spot. With an abundance of nature preserves, stunning beaches, delicious food, and three of the prettiest beaches in the state, you’ll have plenty of choices when it comes to things to do in Jupiter, FL.
The top tourist attractions in Jupiter range from the beauty of Dubois Park to the refined culture of the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. Whether you’re seeking outdoor adventure or a dash of arts & culture, this pretty Palm County coastal town is perfect for rounding out your Southeast Florida trip.
Best places to visit in Jupiter, FL
Dubois Park--Dubois Park is a stunning green space located at the end of the Jupiter Inlet. With views of the bright, blue seas, the park is the perfect place to explore a classic Jupiter beach.
Boasting access to canoes and kayaks, picnic pavilions and grills, snorkeling, and a fishing pier, the 18-acre park is perfect for those hoping to unwind for the day and enjoy the great outdoors.
Don’t forget to visit the historic 1898 Dubois Pioneer Home, a charming example of Floridian pioneer architecture. The iconic “house on the hill” actually sits atop an ancient Native American shell rock midden, making it an ideal destination for fans of both history and archaeology.
Roger Dean Stadium-- Located on Main Street, the 7,000-seater Roger Dean Stadium is the perfect place to take in a baseball game and one of the top Jupiter attractions.
The impressive stadium sells highly coveted tickets (usually on sale in mid-February) to watch the St. Louis Cardinals and the Miami Marlins conduct their spring training. It’s one of only two Florida stadiums to host two MLB teams for spring training.
Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium also hosts major concerts and performances in the off-season. Keep an eye on the entertainment schedule at the official site.
Burt Reynolds Park-- Named after the famed actor, Burt Reynolds Park is a relaxing green space where visitors can relax and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of city life. One of the coolest places to see in Jupiter, this 35-acre park features boat and canoe access, picnic shelters and grills, beach volleyball, and an Intracoastal waterway frontage of 2,000 feet.
Take in the sights of nature and wildlife by strolling along the walking trails, or visit the nearby River Center and its live aquatic tanks, interactive exhibits, and a touch tank simulating Loxahatchee River, Florida’s first federally designated Wild and Scenic River. This Jupiter park is chock-full of unique, fun activities and is a fitting tribute to its namesake.
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
Sitting at the junction of the Indian and Loxahatchee Rivers at the Jupiter Inlet, the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse sits on 120 lush acres of a dedicated “nationally significant property.”
https://www.jupiterlighthouse.org
The iconic white Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse has been illuminating local skies since 1860. Its light can be seen up to 30 miles offshore.
Kids and adults alike will love the Jupiter Lighthouse, where you’ll make an exhilarating 105-step journey to the summit for breathtaking views of the surrounding waters and Jupiter Island. After you recover from the climb, immerse yourself in local history by visiting the Jupiter Lighthouse Museum.
You might also want to book a Lighthouse Sunset Tour, Lighthouse Story and Crafts Time for Kids, a Lighthouse Moonrise Tour, or even Twilight Yoga!
Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Encompassing over 11,000 acres of natural beauty, the Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County is home to deer, foxes, raccoons, bobcats, otters, alligators, and turtles. It’s a great place for single and tandem kayaking and canoeing. You’ll also find motorboat and bicycle tours waiting for you.
https://www.jdstatepark.com
If you fancy an up-close view of the diverse marine ecosystem of Jonathan Dickinson Park, go for a hike or a paddle, or check out the guided horseback tours and interpretive boat tours.
You’ll love the unusual boat tour to Jonathan Dickinson State Park’s Trapper Nelson historic site. Here, you’ll be met by a park ranger who guides you to the cabins and grounds once belonging to the 1930s ‘Wildman of the Loxahatchee.’
Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park
Drenched in poignant history, Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park spans over 61 acres and features a wide array of attractions. Located on the appropriately named Indiantown Road, the history of this park goes back a lot further than you might think.
Undoubtedly, the most famous feature of this park is the preserved battlefield of the Seminole War – one of the bloodiest and most notorious conflicts in American history. Today, the battlefield is considered sacred ground and a place for remembrance and reflection.
Juxtaposed with its grim history is the scenic beauty of the flowing Loxahatchee River, where you can kayak, fish, and relax by its banks. If land-based exploration is more your thing, perhaps explore the hiking or equine trails at the adjacent Riverbend Park.
There’s even evidence that Loxahatchee Park was inhabited 5,000 years ago – long before the formation of modern civilization. The abundance of history, thriving wildlife, and beautiful nature makes Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park a must-visit.
Blowing Rocks Preserve-- Blowing Rocks Preserve, a dramatic, cinematic 73-acre conservation area on the Atlantic coast, is one of the top places to go in Jupiter. The preserve’s rugged appearance marks a serious departure from the typical Floridian sandy beach and gives you a chance to see a well-conserved fragile ocean ecosystem upfront. Fun fact: they take it so seriously that food and drink are banned in the preserve.
Curious about the name? When the seas are rough and the wind strong, water plumes gush through the niches in the limestone – sometimes 50 feet in the air – hurling chunks of stone along with it.
Perched on Florida’s Treasure Coast, the preserve also features mangrove wetlands, beach dunes, and iconic ‘maritime hammocks’ – stands of tropical and hardwood trees draped in ethereal Spanish moss. You’ll also find a walking trail and an excellent learning center housed at the Hawley Education Center – perfect for kids.
Jupiter Beach Park
For a more typical Florida beach, check out Jupiter Beach Park, a stunning beach park covering almost 50 acres of green space and 1,700 feet of pristine beach.
https://discover.pbcgov.org/parks/Locations/Jupiter-Beach.aspx
You might need a dip in the ocean after a day of exploring the park and keeping an eye out for the park’s abundance of wildlife. Don’t want to swim? Try the volleyball court, set up a picnic, fish off the jetty, or wade in the warm shallows. Tip: you’ll find lots of sharp shells in the water, so bring water shoes.
Jupiter Beach Park makes a great day out for the whole family, a wonderful mix of nature and oceanside serenity.
Juno Beach--Located between West Palm Beach and Jupiter, the small town of Juno Beach may only house 3,700 residents. But it still offers one of the best things to do in the Jupiter area: sea turtle watching!
For that, you’ll want to visit Loggerhead Park, famous for its sea turtle population, and Loggerhead Marinelife Center, where you can book a guided walk on the sandy beach or tour offering a fun, close-up look at the Center’s popular outdoor sea turtle hospital. Also, enjoy a hike or paddle through the maritime hammock and mangrove swamps at nearby Juno Dunes Natural Area, a 569-acre preserve.
Palm Beach County’s Juno Beach is home to pristinely beautiful shores, so you’ll probably want to spend some time at Juno Beach Park to admire its turquoise waters and sugar-white sand. Follow that up with a casual meal at one of Juno’s beachside seafood eateries or a fishing adventure off Juno Beach Pier.
Ocean Cay Park-- Looking for a place to catch some rays? Then head down to Ocean Cay Park. Located in Jupiter, this idyllic 13-acre park is ideal for families, friends, and kids.
Want some family downtime? The park features picnic areas, playgrounds, and lots of open grassy spaces for kids to run on.
Though Ocean Cay Park is not directly on the beach, the beachfront can be found on the other side of the Florida A1A – directly opposite the park. Here, you can enjoy a game of volleyball, take a cooling outdoor shower, grab a bite to eat at a food shack, or watch the hypnotic ocean waves do their thing. Ocean Cay Park may not be the biggest beach park in Florida, but it does offer a little bit of something for everyone.
Coral Cove Park--Jupiter’s Coral Cove Park offers a charming detour from the city. Located in Tequesta, Florida, the park is on the perimeter of the Atlantic Ocean, not far from Florida’s Indian River.
The 15-acre park features over 2,000 feet of beach. Much like Blowing Rock Preserve, charismatic limestone monoliths line the forefront of the shore. Swimming (on 600 feet of guarded beach), surfing, snorkeling, and saltwater fishing: what more could you ask for?
And there’s more: spend the afternoon collecting some beautiful seashells, watching your kids play in the on-site playground, or settling into the soft sand to watch the multi-hued sunsets.
A reminder: Florida county beaches do not permit dogs. You do, however, have the privilege of seeing other forms of wildlife here, including sea turtles, eels, marine worms, and colorful fish.
Sawfish Bay Park--Native Americans first settled in Sawfish Bay Park almost five thousand years ago. Since then, this waterfront park, located directly on Jupiter’s intercoastal waterway, has gone on to become a much-loved tourist attraction.
This smaller park has all the amenities you’d associate with a modern oceanside park, including pavilions, picnic areas, restrooms, and a waterside boardwalk for those picturesque panoramic views. However, keep in mind that neither dogs nor alcohol are permitted here.
Sawfish Bay Park is also a popular spot for paddle boarding and kayaking due to the serene waters. Finally, head over to the boardwalk for a magnificent sunset view.
Dupuis Nature Center--Spread out over both Marin and Palm Beach counties, the Dupuis Nature Center is a massive protected area. You’ll find over 21,000 acres of Florida woodland, rivers, mangrove and rugged cypress swamps, sprawling forests, nature trails, campsites, and winding hiking trails.
Don’t have time to see everything at the Dupuis Nature Center? Lectures on astronomy, botanical studies, and geology are commonplace, as are excellent interactive displays – all leading to a renewed respect for native Floridian flora and fauna.
Maltz Jupiter Theatre-- Located in the heart of Jupiter, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre is a popular 27,000 square-foot regional theatre. It was once owned by actor Burt Reynolds, who ran a dinner theater on the spot.
If you’re in the mood for a cultural evening, head down to the theater and catch a show. After a difficult year, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre is back to its swinging best. Shows for 2022 include Sweet Charity and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
Cypress Creek Natural Area-- Cypress Creek Natural Area is a versatile, multi-use nature preserve featuring towering cypress trees, swampy wetlands, and a huge variety of animals in their natural habitat.
Located across from Riverbend Park, the Cypress Creek Natural Area is ideal for hiking, biking, walking, and casual walking. You’ll find pavilions, bicycle trails, and observation areas for you to take in natural beauty.
Horseback riding, cycling, and hiking are all allowed but note that they’re only permitted on the historic Jupiter-Indiantown Trail. The area is home to a mind-boggling 500 plant species and over 200 animal groups. See how many you can spot as you traverse through the blackwater streams, striking forests, and damp swamps of the Cypress Creek Natural Area.
Thank you Ryan O’Rourke for an awesome article about my hometown.