Getting to Jupiter and Juno Beach Florida
Why Jupiter? Well, I wanted a quick escape from Minneapolis, so a nonstop flight was a must, and I wanted it to be $350 or less during Spring Break time, and narrowed it down to a few airports, one which was PBI, Palm Beach International. I had no desire to be amongst wealthy former New Yorkers as they played pickleball between tee times at the golf course, so we rented a car and drove just 25 minutes north to the “Old Florida” reminiscent beach towns of Juno Beach and Jupiter.
I didn’t know much about Jupiter, but became even more intrigued when I learned it was a top destination in Florida for scuba and shark diving, and while the weather didn’t cooperate for a dive during our vacation, our 3 days were really the perfect introduction to this wonderfully calm and laidback beach town.
Where to Stay in Juno Beach, Florida
Hotels were not plentiful and cheap outside of Palm Beach, I will say that is one disadvantage, but thankfully we found a reasonable deal at the Hampton Inn in Juno Beach. It was a fine hotel, nice continental breakfast included, nothing special about the pool or the room but it did the job just fine for our stay and was within walking distance to Juno Beach and a few nice restaurants. Free parking is also a plus.
Top Things to Do in Jupiter & Juno Beach
Loggerhead Marine Life Center
First started in the 1970s by Eleanor Fletcher, a Juno Beach resident who became passionate about turtle conservation and rehabilitation, the Loggerhead Marine Life Center is a must-visit for anyone venturing around Juno Beach and Jupiter, Florida. While it is free to visit, I would 100% recommend booking the $20/person guided tour that starts an hour before the general admission opening time. You get a very engaging, in depth tour of the facility, learn so much about the different species of turtles that can be found around this area of Florida, and you get to enjoy it all in a much calmer atmosphere before the hoards of families with small children come. You can see various turtles who are in rehab and healing from surgeries and other rescue operations, and even watch surgery being performed on turtles in the operating theater.
It also has a fantastic gift shop, so save your souvenir shopping for this place, as it’s supporting a great cause.
Busch Wildlife Sanctuary
Another great attraction in Jupiter is the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary. While it is free to visit, I highly recommend donating during your visit. It’s a newly built facility and can use all the donations it gets to support its amazing staff, volunteers, and the animals being rehabilitated here. It’s not a huge facility – you can see all the animals in about an hour, making it the perfect quick stop between other adventures.
Dubois Park
An oceanfront park with a fishing pier, Dubois Park was worth a wander around when we first arrived. The clouds were looming and the sky looked ominous, but we still had to seize the opportunity to get the first feeling of saltwater on our feet. After wandering through a brackish water inlet, we made our way to the beach and the pier to say hello to a pelican who seemed to guard it.
Blowing Rocks Nature Preserve
There is no shortage of nature preserves and stunning parks to wander around in Florida, and this was another (free) spot on our list. It did not disappoint! From the impressive waves crashing over the rocks on the beachfront side, to the quiet mangroves and nature trails on the other side, we spent a few hours exploring this great nature preserve in Jupiter.
Watch the Sunset at Juno Beach
We weren’t the luckiest with the weather but we did get one cool sunset, albeit the wind was quite strong. The Juno Beach pier does appear to close around 5pm so you can’t walk the full length of it, but you can still wander onto the first part and access the beach. There are also freshwater showers to rinse your feet and body if you get sandy.
Ferry to Peanut Island for Snorkeling
When we were finally blessed with some sunshine and calmer winds, we hopped on a ferry (more like an oversized pontoon) and took the short ride from the Riviera Beach Marina to Peanut Island. Formed in 1918 as the result of dredging projects, it’s a small island, just 1.3 miles around along the paved walking path. It has sandy beaches both on the inner and outer parts of the island, so you can enjoy a calm swim in the inlet portion where there is a tiny beach with picnic tables. There are no businesses on the island, so bring your own food and drink. There are freshwater showers and bathrooms in several spots around the island.
See the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse
A very cute lighthouse museum, lovely gardens to walk through, and a nice view of the inlet and the coast, I would recommend climbing the spiral staircase to the tippy top of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. Admission gets you into the small museum, which has some interesting history about the lighthouse and the area, and there are great volunteers pointing out interesting sights along the way. It’s not that hard of a climb if you’re in good shape, don’t let everyone freak you out! The guides seemed to really hype up how many stairs there were, I am guessing that is more geared towards older folks who might have bad knees.
Day Trip to Okeechobee
We had a car rental and a forecast of rain on the coast, so we opted for an hour adventure inland towards the swamps of Lake Okeechobee. It’s the largest freshwater lake in Florida, and is known for wildlife spotting and fishing.
Airboat Tour Experience
We booked a last-minute tour with Eagle Bay Boat Tours for an airboat ride of the outer waterways around the lake. It turned out to be a fantastic experience, even with the colder weather, a few gators were out sunning themselves, we saw herons, turtles, and a bunch of other birds. I had never done an airboat before either (wear the ear protection) and it was amazing to fly over the lily pads and reeds as we explored the swamp.
Lunch at Okeechobee Fish Company
After the airboat tour, we got a real taste of the Florida backcountry life with a meal from the Okeechobee Fish Company. It was amazing, fried catfish and shrimp, beans, green beans, cheesy grits, and cheesy squash, all washed down with the largest cup of iced tea I’ve ever been served in my life. It’s an outdoor seating only spot with tables to enjoy the food in takeout containers, very casual but very good.
Restaurants & Bars in Jupiter and Juno Beach, Florida
Guanabanas
Our first stop was a meal at Guanabanas, a lovely waterfront restaurant that is a popular institution in Jupiter. We thankfully didn’t have to wait for a table, opted for a high top that was out of the rain, and enjoyed fabulous tropical cocktails, fried gator nuggets, and shrimp-forward entrees. It was a bit pricy but the atmosphere and views explained why. They had lounge chairs right on the water and everything was delicious.
Papichulo Tacos
Time for tacos? I think so. This place was so amazing we visited twice during our vacation, once for brunch (amazing breakfast burritos and Mexican donuts) and once for Happy Hour, which it seems like Happy Hour is almost continuous at this spot. It was such a cute restaurant with wonderful staff, I wished I could bring the whole thing home with me. If Papichulo Tacos was in Minneapolis, I’d be visiting once a week.
The Fish House Juno Beach
Ventured here twice for drinks and dessert, the Fish House in Juno Beach has a nice patio, good service, and incredible free bread they bring you even if you’re just having a drink. The passionfruit mousse dessert was delicious, as were the cocktails. They are strong — thankfully this is just across the road from our hotel so we didn’t have to drive to imbibe.
Papa Kwan’s for Brunch
Cited as the best brunch in Juno Beach, and it’s easy to see why! This tropical-themed coffee bar and breakfast spot serves up bagels, pastries, and other small bites along with delicious coffee. Papa Kwan’s was busy but they had ample outdoor seating to choose from and we both indulged in some delicious bagels and caffeine to start the day. It’s very close to the Hampton Inn as well.
Dive Bar Restaurant
With a massive circular aquarium in the center of the bar, cheap beers on happy hour, and delicious sushi and other food, what’s not to like about this place? Located right on a marina, we enjoyed a great meal at Dive Bar Restaurant in Jupiter. With no reservation we only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table, and once we were seated everything came out promptly. The sushi was good, my steak salad was amazing, and the service was really nice. Cool to see an aquarium in a bar as well!
Ice Cream from Matty’s Gelato
Award-winning spot in Juno Beach, Matty’s Gelato did not disappoint. The line was long, wrapping its way awkwardly down the narrow corridor between the freezers and the wall, but it moved quickly. Incredible gelato, I had the double chocolate and it was so good until the last bite. A perfect treat after dinner, don’t miss Matty’s when in Juno Beach.
Sail Fish Marina
After a day in the hot sun on Peanut Island, we scooted over the bridge and over to Sail Fish Marina for a meal. It was right on the water, offering nice live music, and much-needed shade umbrellas. The service was not the best but they were friendly and relatively prompt. The drink was great and my fish tacos tasted fresh. It was a nice way to close out our last full day in Florida.
Overall, the trip was a lot of nature. A lot of time outside, seeing wildlife, enjoying delicious food, warmth, and a break from normal life. It was a great 4-day vacation, and I would absolutely come back to Juno Beach and Jupiter for another visit in the future.