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Palm Beach Gardens | Singer Island | Juno Beach | Jupiter and Vicinity
Just over the bridge at the Port of Palm Beach are the more laid-back towns of North County, where families and golf pros, not to mention the celebs on Jupiter Island, call home. On Singer Island, visible from Palm Beach across the Palm Beach Inlet, and a mere 20 minutes by land, are the towns of Palm Beach Shores and Riviera Beach. With good beach access and waterfront parks, surf- and sun-seekers have several options, including the nearby Peanut Island. On the mainland north and west, suburban Palm Beach Gardens is the golf capital of the county, with PGA courses and country club greens making for greenspace throughout, along with a shopper’s paradise (malls abound). The tiny seaside Juno Beach, with turtle-rich beaches, melds quickly into Jupiter, where the beach is the star—for both two- and four-legged sun-worshippers—with parks and public pavilions providing gathering sites for groups.
Palm Beach Gardens
13.5 miles north of West Palm Beach.
About 15 minutes northwest of Palm Beach is this relaxed, upscale residential community known for its high-profile golf complex, the PGA National Resort & Spa. Although not on the beach, the town is less than a 15-minute drive from the ocean. Malls and dining are centered on the main street, PGA Boulevard, running east from the resort to U.S. 1.
Where to Eat
Café Chardonnay.
$$$$ | AMERICAN | At the end of a strip mall, Café Chardonnay is surprisingly elegant and has some of the most refined food in the suburban town of Palm Beach Gardens. Soft lighting, warm woods, white tablecloths, and cozy banquettes set the scene for a quiet lunch or romantic dinner. The place receives consistent praise for its innovative, continually changing menu and outstanding wine list. Starters can include wild-mushroom strudel and pancetta-wrapped diver scallops. Entrées might be grilled filet mignon or a pan-roasted veal chop with Parmesan risotto and brandy morel sauce. A wine bar off to the side with knowledgeable servers is an attraction for oenophiles. | Average main: $34 | The Gardens Square Shoppes, 4533 PGA Blvd. | 561/627–2662 | www.cafechardonnay.com | No lunch weekends.
Coolinary Cafe.
$$ | AMERICAN | It’s tucked away in a strip mall and has only 50 seats inside (counting the bar) and a handful out on the sidewalk, but everything down to the condiments is made in-house here. Rabbit sausage and noodles or lamb meatball risotto are examples on the seasonal one-page menus the chef puts together daily. When there’s fish on the menu from local waters, go for it. At the open kitchen in the spare but modern space, you can banter with the chefs if you sit at the bar. WARNING: No reservations are accepted, and in season the wait can be over an hour—lunch is a best bet. | Average main: $20 | Donald Ross Village Plaza, 4650 Donald Ross Rd., Suite 110 | 561/249–6760 | www.coolinarycafe.com | Reservations not accepted | Closed Sun.
The Cooper.
$$$ | AMERICAN | With a contemporary farm-to-table menu, and spacious dining rooms and bars, this spot in PGA Commons has plenty of local fans. Happy hour crowds fill the patio bar-lounge area to sip the craft cocktails and nibble from a cheese or salumi board. The fare includes such contemporary farm-fresh dishes as a double-cut Duroc pork chop with borlotti beans, rainbow Swiss chard and crispy sunchokes, and chophouse steaks, including a daily butcher’s cut. Comfort dishes like Jerry’s bacon-wrapped meat loaf satisfy those missing their mom’s cooking. A separate children’s menu is available. | Average main: $23 | PGA Commons, 4610 PGA Blvd. | 561/622–0032 | www.thecooperrestaurant.com.
Ironwood Steak & Seafood.
$$$$ | STEAKHOUSE | Located in the PGA National Resort & Spa, this eatery draws guests, locals, and tourists alike eager for a taste of its fired-up Vulcan-cooked steaks (Vulcan to meat-eaters is like Titleist to golfers—the best equipment around). Wagyu and Angus beef cuts are featured. The she-crab soup with sherry and locally fished wahoo are seafood favorites, as are the raw bar items, like the truly jumbo shrimp cocktail and tuna tartare. Impressive for its sexy decor— bright red banquettes, slate-tile walls, private rooms, and a glass-walled, award-winning wine cellar—it all comes together to create a relaxed, contemporary setting that spills out onto the equally chic adjoining lobby I-bar, which becomes a high-energy scene on weekend nights when a DJ spins. | Average main: $38 | PGA National Resort & Spa, 400 Ave. of the Champions | 561/627–4852 | www.pgaresort.com/restaurants/ironwood-grille.
Spoto’s Oyster Bar.
$$$ | SEAFOOD | If you love oysters and other raw bar nibbles, head here, where black-and-white photographs of oyster fisherman adorn the walls. The polished tables give the eatery a clubby look. Spoto’s serves up a delightful bowl of New England clam chowder and a truly impressive variety of oysters and clams. The Caesar salad with crispy croutons and anchovies never disappoints. Sit outside on the patio to take advantage of the area’s perfect weather, or in the Blue Point Lounge off the main room, where live music is often booked. | Average main: $26 | PGA Commons, 4560 PGA Blvd. | 561/776–9448 | www.spotosoysterbar.com.
Where to Stay
Hilton Garden Inn Palm Beach Gardens.
$ | HOTEL | A hidden find in Palm Beach Gardens, this hotel sits on a small lake next to a residential area, but near two shopping malls and close to PGA golf courses. Well-landscaped, with comfortable common areas and a friendly staff greeting guests, both business travelers and tourists will find it a respite. A pool and hot tub lakeside, along with garden seating next to a walking trail on the lake, offer up relaxation. Rooms have “Sleep Number” beds as well as microwaves, mini-refrigerators, and coffeemakers. Ergonomic work stations, along with a 24-hour business center and free Wi-Fi make it easy for those on working vacations. A restaurant serves three meals including a breakfast buffet and cooked-to-order dishes; the lobby bar has comfy seating with a lake view, especially nice at sunset. Pros: 24-hour free business center; walk to two different malls with shops, restaurants, and movie theaters. Cons: outdoor self-parking; no bell service; pool closes at dusk; 15 minutes from the beach. | Rooms from: $164 | 3505 Kyoto Gardens Dr. | 561/694–5833 | Fax 561/694–5829 | hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com | 180 rooms | No meals.
Fodor’s Choice | PGA National Resort & Spa.
$$ | RESORT | This golfer’s paradise (five championship courses and the site of the yearly Honda Classic pro-tour tournament) is a sleek modern playground with a gorgeous zero-entry lagoon pool, seven different places to eat, and a full-service spa with unique mineral-salt therapy pools. The clubhouse is massive, but because the course is open only to hotel guests and members, the greens are not overcrowded. At the spacious pool, comfy loungers abound, and servers rush over to take your drink order. The spa, which is open to the public and very well respected by locals for its frequent packages, has 32 treatment rooms and more than 100 services on its menu. Its six outdoor therapy pools—two with healing salts from the Dead Sea and France’s Pyrenees and a cold plunge—are a real treat. Pros: dream golf facilities; affordable rates for top-notch amenities; close to shopping malls. Cons: no beach shuttle; difficult to get around if you don’t have a car; long drive to Palm Beach proper. | Rooms from: $279 | 400 Ave. of the Champions | 561/627–2000, 800/633–9150 | www.pgaresort.com | 280 rooms, 59 suites | No meals.
Shopping
FAMILY | Downtown at The Gardens.
This open-air pavilion down the street from The Gardens Mall has boutiques, chain stores, day spas, a 16-screen movie theater, and a lively restaurant and nighttime bar scene that includes the Dirty Martini and Cabo Flats, which both feature live music. A carousel, children’s barbershop, boutiques, and Cool Beans (an indoor playground), make this a family-friendly mall. | 11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave. | 561/340–1600 | www.downtownatthegardens.com.
Fodor’s Choice | The Gardens Mall.
One of the most refined big shopping malls in America, the 160-store Gardens Mall in northern Palm Beach County has stores like Burberry, Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and David Yurman, along with Saks 5th Avenue and Nordstrom. There are also plenty of reasonably priced national retailers like H&M and Abercrombie & Fitch, Bloomingdale’s, and Macy’s. This beautiful mall has prolific seating pavilions, making it a great place to spend a humid summer afternoon. | 3101 PGA Blvd. | 561/775–7750 | www.thegardensmall.com.
Sports and the Outdoors
Spring training fans travel to the area to see the Cardinals and Marlins tune up for their seasons at Roger Dean Stadium in Palm Beach Gardens, and to watch their AAA feeder teams in summer. Port St. Lucie and Vero Beach stadiums and more teams are only a short drive up I–95.
Golf
Fodor’s Choice | PGA National Resort & Spa.
If you’re the kind of traveler who takes along a set of clubs, you’ll achieve nirvana on the greens of PGA National Resort & Spa. The five championship courses are open only to hotel guests and club members, which means you’ll have to stay to play, but packages that include a room and a round of golf are reasonably priced. The Champion Course, redesigned by Jack Nicklaus and famous for its Bear Trap holes, is the site of the yearly Honda Classic pro tournament. The four other challenging courses are also legends in the golfing world: the Palmer, named for its architect, the legendary Arnold Palmer; the Fazio (formerly the “Haig,” the resort’s first course re-opened in November 2012 after a major renovation) and the Squire, both from Tom and George Fazio; and the Karl Litten–designed Estates, the sole course not on the property (it is located five miles west of the PGA resort). Lessons are available at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, and they also run a summertime kids’ golf camp. | PGA National Resort & Spa, 1000 Ave. of the Champions | 561/627–1800 | www.pgaresort.com/golf/pga-national-golf | $349 for 18 holes for Champion Course, Fazio Course, and Squire Course. $319 for 18 holes for Palmer Course and Estates Course. | Champion Course: 18 holes, 7048 yards, par 72. Palmer Course: 18 holes, 7079 yards, par 72. Fazio Course: 18 holes, 6806 yards, par 72. Squire Course: 18 holes, 6465 yards, par 72. Estates Course: 18 holes, 6694 yards, par 72.
Singer Island
6.2 miles north of West Palm Beach.
Across the inlet from the northern end of Palm Beach is Singer Island, which is actually a peninsula that’s big enough to pass for a barrier island, rimmed with mom-and-pop motels and high-rises. Palm Beach Shores occupies its southern tip (where tiny Peanut Island is a stone’s throw away); farther north are Riviera Beach and North Palm Beach, which also straddle the inlet and continue on the mainland.
Exploring
Palm Beach Maritime Museum.
Though the main building of the Palm Beach Maritime Museum is found in Currie Park in West Palm Beach, its chief treasure—the restored “Kennedy Bunker,” a bomb shelter built for President John F. Kennedy, and a historic Coast Guard station—is located on Peanut Island. You can take a guided tour of the bunker through the museum’s Peanut Island outpost. The museum also has a nice little gift shop, an outdoor deck on the water, and a lawn where you can play games including horseshoes. To get there, catch a water taxi from Riviera Beach Municipal Marina (www.peanutislandwatertaxi.com) but call ahead as the boats won’t run in choppy waters. | Peanut Island | Riviera Beach | 561/848–2960 | www.pbmm.org | $14 (not including water transportation) | Thurs.–Sun. 11–4.
Beaches
FAMILY | Fodor’s Choice | John D. MacArthur Beach State Park.
If getting far from rowdy crowds is your goal, this spot on the north end of Singer Island is a good choice. Encompassing 2 miles of beach and a lush subtropical coastal habitat, inside you’ll find a great place for kayaking, snorkeling at natural reefs, bird-watching, fishing, and hiking. You might even get to see a few manatees! A 4,000-square-foot nature center has aquariums and displays on local flora and fauna, and there’s a long roster of monthly activities, such as surfing clinics, art lessons, and live bluegrass music. Guided sea turtle walks are available at night in season, and daily nature walks depart at 10 am. Check the website for times and costs of activities. Amenities: water sports; parking (fee); toilets; showers. Best for: swimming; walking; solitude; surfing. | 10900 Jack Nicklaus Dr. | North Palm Beach | 561/624–6950 | www.macarthurbeach.org | Parking $5, bicyclists and pedestrians $2 | Park daily 8–sunset; nature center and gift shop daily 9–5.
Peanut Island Park.
Partiers, families, and overnight campers all have a place to go on the 79 acres here. The island, in a wide section of the Intracoastal between Palm Beach Island and Singer Island with an open channel to the sea, is accessible only by private boat or water taxi, two of which set sail regularly from the Riviera Beach Municipal Marina (www.peanutislandwatertaxi.com) and the SailfishMarina (www.sailfishmarina.com/water_taxi). Fun-loving seafarers looking for an afternoon of Jimmy Buffett and picnics aboard pull up to the day docks or the huge sandbar on the north—float around in an inner tube, and it’s spring break déjà vu. Walk along the 20-foot-wide paver-lined path encircling the island, and you’ll hit a 170-foot fishing pier, a campground, the lifeguarded section to the south that is particularly popular with families because of its artificial reef, and last but not least, the Palm Beach Maritime Museum’s “Kennedy Bunker” (a bomb shelter prepared for President John F. Kennedy that was restored and opened to the public in 1999). There are picnic tables and grills, but no concessions. WARNING: A new ordinance means alcohol possession and consumption is restricted to permit areas. Amenities: lifeguards (summer only); toilets; showers. Best for: partiers; walking; swimming; sunrise. | 6500 Peanut Island Rd. | Riviera Beach | 561/845–4445 | www.pbcgov.com/parks/peanutisland | Beach free; water taxi $10 | Sunrise–sunset.
Where to Eat
Sailfish Marina Restaurant.
$$$ | SEAFOOD | This lively waterfront restaurant overlooking Peanut Island is a great place to chill out after a long day of mansion gawking, boating, or beach-bumming. Choose a table in the dining room or under an umbrella on the terrace and enjoy mainstays like conch chowder and coconut shrimp. More upscale entrées—this, after all, is still Palm Beach County—include Florida lobster tail and sautéed yellowtail snapper. Breakfast is a winner here, too. Kids like to spot the lobsters and starfish that hang out around the docks, and it’s a local favorite for happy hour drinks. A weekly arts and crafts show sets up on the dock. Sportfishing charters are available at the Sailfish store, and the Water Taxi stops here. There are also motel rooms for rent. | Average main: $25 | 98 Lake Dr. | Palm Beach Shores | 561/842–8449 | www.sailfishmarina.com.
Where to Stay
FAMILY | Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa.
$$$$ | RESORT | Families with a yen for the cosmopolitan but requiring the square footage and comforts of home revel in these one- and two-bedroom suites with spacious, marble-tiled, granite-topped kitchens. Couples wanting a private beach without the same level of sticker shock or bustle found 10 minutes to the south also appreciate the infinity pool and quiet sundeck. All of the suites have fully stocked kitchens, in-room washer and dryer, and the finest amenities right down to the super-plush bedding and huge showers. The beach, one of the widest in the Greater Palm Beach area, offers water sports, and has a little reef not even 50 feet from the shoreline that children will enjoy exploring—plus a fantastic waterslide pool, Kids Club, many structured activities like movie nights, Ping-Pong games, and T-shirt decorating. Low-key, yet with all modern comforts, the resort draws both baseball players and fans, who make this their home base for spring training that’s just 20 minutes north in Jupiter. Three restaurants include 3800 Ocean, with a Chef’s Table for reserve. The Gardens Mall is a 15-minute drive. Pros: wide beach; genuinely warm service; plenty of kids’ activities; sleek spa. Cons: no upscale dining nearby; unspectacular room views for an ocean-side hotel. | Rooms from: $429 | 3800 N. Ocean Dr., Singer Island | Riviera Beach | 561/340–1700, 877/239–5610 | www.marriott.com | 202 suites | No meals.
Sailfish Marina Resort.
$ | HOTEL | A marina with deepwater slips—and prime location at the mouth to the Atlantic Ocean on the Intracoastal Waterway across from Peanut Island—lures boaters and anglers here to these rather basic rooms, studios, and efficiencies. Each of the 30 rooms is named after an island in the Bahamas or a game fish, and all open onto the resort’s landscaped grounds. Five are directly on the water, including a two-bedroom condo. Rooms have peaked ceilings, carpeting, flat-screen TVs, and stall showers; all have a/c and ceiling fans. From the seawall, you’ll see fish through the clear inlet water. Pros: inexpensive rates; great waterfront restaurant; has a water taxi; pretty grounds. Cons: no real lobby; not directly on beach; area attracts a party crowd and can be noisy; dated decor. | Rooms from: $90 | 98 Lake Dr. | Palm Beach Shores | 561/844–1724 | www.sailfishmarina.com | 30 units | No meals.
Sports and the Outdoors
Fishing
Sailfish Marina.
Book a full or half day of deep-sea fishing for up to six people with the seasoned captains and large fleet of 28- to 65-foot boats. A ship’s store and restaurant are also on-site. | Sailfish Marina Resort, 98 Lake Dr. | Palm Beach Shores | 561/844–1724 | www.sailfishmarina.com.
Juno Beach
11.8 miles north of West Palm Beach.
This small town east of Palm Beach Gardens has 2 miles of shoreline that becomes home to thousands of sea turtle hatchlings each year, making it one of the world’s densest nesting sites. A 990-foot-long pier lures fishermen and beachgoers seeking a spectacular sunrise.
Exploring
Fodor’s Choice | Loggerhead Park Marine Life Center of Juno Beach.
Located in a certified green building in Loggerhead Park—and established by Eleanor N. Fletcher, the “turtle lady of Juno Beach”—the center focuses on the conservation of sea turtles, using education, research, and rehabilitation. The education center houses displays of coastal natural history, detailing Florida’s marine ecosystems and the life and plight of the various species of sea turtles found on Florida’s shores. You can visit recovering turtles in their outdoor hospital tanks; volunteers are happy to tell you the turtles’ heroic tales of survival. The center has regularly scheduled activities, such as Kid’s Story Time and Junior Vet Lab, and most are free of charge. During peak nesting season, the center hosts night walks to experience turtle nesting in action. Given that the adjacent beach is part of the second biggest nesting ground for loggerhead turtles in the world, your chances of seeing this natural phenomenon is pretty high (over 10,000 loggerheads nested here in 2014). | 14200 U.S. Hwy. 1 | 561/627–8280 | www.marinelife.org | Free | Mon.–Sat. 10–5, Sun. 11–5.
Beaches
FAMILY | Juno Beach Ocean Park.
An angler’s dream, this beach has a 990-foot pier that’s open daily, like the beach, from sunrise to sunset—but from November through February, pier gates open at 6 am and don’t close until 10 pm on weeknights and midnight on weekends, making it an awesome place to catch sunrise and sunset (that is, if you don’t mind paying the small admission fee). A concession stand on the pier sells fish food as well as such human favorites as burgers, sandwiches, and ice cream. Rods and tackle are rented here. Families adore this shoreline because of the amenities and vibrant atmosphere. There are plenty of kids building castles but also plenty of teens having socials and hanging out along the beach. Pets are not allowed here, but they are allowed on the adjacent Jupiter Beach. Amenities: lifeguards; food and drink; parking (free); showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise; sunset; swimming. | 14775 U.S. 1 | 561/799–0185 for pier | www.pbcgov.com/parks/locations/junobeach.htm | $4 to fish, $1 to enter pier; beach free | Daily sunrise–sunset.
Jupiter and Vicinity
12 miles north of West Palm Beach.
Jupiter is one of the few towns in the region not fronted by an island but still quite close to the fantastic hotels, shopping, and dining of the Palm Beach area. The beaches here are on the mainland, and Route A1A runs for almost 4 miles along the beachfront dunes and beautiful homes.
Northeast across the Jupiter Inlet from Jupiter is the southern tip of Jupiter Island, which stretches about 15 miles to the St. Lucie Inlet. Here expansive and expensive estates often retreat from the road behind screens of vegetation, and the population dwindles the farther north you go. At the very north end, which adjoins tiny Hobe Sound in Martin County on the mainland, sea turtles come to nest.
Getting Here and Around
If you’re coming from the airport in West Palm Beach, take I–95 to Route 706. Otherwise, Federal Highway (U.S. 1) and Route A1A are usually more convenient.
Contacts
Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau. | 1555 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., Suite 800 | West Palm Beach | 561/233–3000 | www.palmbeachfl.com.
Exploring
Fodor’s Choice | Blowing Rocks Preserve.
Managed by the Nature Conservancy, this protected area on Jupiter Island is headlined by an almost other-worldly looking limestone shelf that fringes South Florida’s most turquoise waters. Also protected within its 73 acres are plants native to beachfront dunes, coastal strand (the landward side of the dunes), mangrove swamps, and tropical hardwood forests. There are two short walking trails on the Intracoastal side of the preserve, as well as an education center and a butterfly garden. The best time to come and seeing the “blowing rocks” is when a storm is brewing: If high tides and strong offshore winds coincide, the sea blows spectacularly through the holes in the eroded outcropping. During a calm summer day, you can swim in crystal clear waters on the mile-long beach and climb around the rock formations at low tide. Park in one of the two lots because police ticket cars on the road. | 574 S. Beach Rd., CR 707 | Hobe Sound | 561/744–6668 | www.nature.org/blowingrocks | $2 | Daily 9–4:30.
FAMILY | Fodor’s Choice | Hobe Sound Nature Center.
Though located in the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, this nature center is an independent organization. The exhibit hall houses live baby alligators, crocodiles, a scary-looking tarantula, and more—and is a child’s delight. TIP Among the center’s more popular events are the annual nighttime sea turtle walks, held between May and June; reservations are accepted as early as April 1. Just off the center’s entrance is a mile-long nature trail loop that snakes through three different kinds of habitats: coastal hammock, estuary beach, and sand pine scrub, which is one of Florida’s most unusual and endangered plant communities and what composes much of the refuge’s nearly 250 acres. | 13640 S.E. U.S. 1 | Hobe Sound | 772/546–2067 | www.hobesoundnaturecenter.com | Free (donation requested) | Mon.–Sat. 9–3.
FAMILY | Fodor’s Choice | Jonathan Dickinson State Park.
This serene state park provides a glimpse of predevelopment “real” Florida. A beautiful showcase of Florida inland habitat, the park teems with endangered gopher tortoises and manatees. From Hobe Mountain, an ancient dune topped with a tower, you are treated to a panoramic view of this park’s more than 11,000 acres of varied terrain and the Intracoastal Waterway. The Loxahatchee River, named a National Wild and Scenic River, cuts through the park, and is home to plenty of charismatic manatees in winter and alligators year-round. Two-hour boat tours of the river depart daily. Kayak rentals are available, as is horseback riding (it was reintroduced after a 30-year absence). Among the amenities are a dozen newly redone cabins for rent, tent sites, bicycle and hiking trails, two established campgrounds and some primitive campgrounds, and a snack bar. Palmettos on the Loxahatchee is a new food and beverage garden with wine, beer, and local foods featured. Don’t skip the Elsa Kimbell Environmental Education and Research Center, which has interactive displays, exhibits, and a short film on the natural history of the area. The park is also a fantastic birding location, with about 150 species to spot. | 16450 S.E. U.S. 1 | Hobe Sound | 772/546–2771 | www.floridastateparks.org/jonathandickinson | Vehicles $6, bicyclists and pedestrians $2 | Daily 8–sunset; Elsa Kimbell Environmental Education and Research Center daily 9–5.
Fodor’s Choice | Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum.
Designed by Civil War hero Lieutenant George Gordon Meade, this working brick lighthouse has been under the Coast Guard’s purview since 1860. Tours of the 108-foot-tall landmark are held approximately every half-hour and are included with admission. (Children must be at least 4 feet tall to go to the top.) The museum tells about efforts to restore this graceful spire to the way it looked from 1860 to 1918; its galleries and outdoor structures, including a pioneer home, also showcase local history dating back 5,000 years. | Lighthouse Park, 500 Capt. Armour’s Way | 561/747–8380 | www.jupiterlighthouse.org | $10 | Jan.–Apr., daily 10–5; May–Dec., Tues.–Sun., 10–5. Last tour at 4.
Beaches
Carlin Park.
About ½ mile south of the Jupiter Beach Resort and Indiantown Road, the quiet beach here is just one draw; otherwise, the manicured park, which straddles A1A, is chock-full of activities and amenities, and it has the most free parking of any beach park in the area. Several picnic pavilions, including a few beachside, two bocce ball courts, six lighted tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a wood-chip-lined running path, and an amphitheater that hosts free concerts and Shakespeare productions are just some of the highlights. Locals also swear by the Lazy Loggerhead Café that’s right off the seaside parking lot for a great casual breakfast and lunch. Amenities: lifeguards; food and drink; parking (free); toilets; showers. Best for: swimming; walking; picnics. | 400 S. Rte. A1A | www.pbcgov.com/parks/locations/carlin.htm.
Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge.
Nature lovers seeking to get as far as possible from the madding crowds will feel at peace at this refuge managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife service. It’s a haven for people who want some quiet while they walk around and photograph the gorgeous coastal sand dunes, where turtles nest and shells often wash ashore. The beach has been severely eroded by high tides and strong winds (surprisingly, surfing is allowed and many do partake). You can’t actually venture within most of the 735 protected acres, so if hiking piques your interest, head to the refuge’s main entrance a few miles away on Hobe Sound (13640 S.E. U.S. 1 in Hobe Sound) for a mile-long trek close to the nature center, or to nearby Jonathan Dickinson State Park (16450 S.E. U.S. 1 in Hobe Sound). Amenities: parking (fee); toilets. Best for: solitude; surfing; walking. | 198 N. Beach Rd., at end of N. Beach Rd. | Jupiter Island | 772/546–6141 | www.fws.gov/hobesound | $5.
Fodor’s Choice | Jupiter Beach.
Famous throughout all of Florida for a unique pooch-loving stance, the town of Jupiter’s beach welcomes Yorkies, Labs, pugs—you name it—along its 2½-mile oceanfront. Dogs can frolic unleashed (once they’re on the beach) or join you for a dip. Free parking spots line A1A in front of the sandy stretch, and there are multiple access points and continuously refilled dog-bag boxes (29 to be exact). The dog beach starts on Marcinski Rd. (Beach Marker #25) and continues north until Beach Marker #59. Before going, read through the guidelines posted on the Friends of Jupiter Beach website; the biggest things to note are be sure to clean up after your dog and to steer clear of lifeguarded areas to the north and south. TIP Dogs fare best early morning and late afternoon, when the sand isn’t too hot for their paws. Amenities: toilets; showers. Best for: walking; dog play dates. | 2188 Marcinski Rd., across street from parking lot | 561/748–8140 | www.friendsofjupiterbeach.com.
Where to Eat
Guanabanas.
$$ | SEAFOOD | Expect a wait for dinner, which is not necessarily a bad thing at this island paradise of a waterfront restaurant and bar. Take the wait time to explore the bridges and trails of the open-air tropical oasis, or grab a chair by the river to watch the sunset, or nibble on some conch fritters at the large tiki bar until your table is ready. Try the lemon-butter hogfish for dinner and stick around for the live music (a full concert calendar is on the website). Breakfast, offered only on weekends, is good, too. That said, it’s more about the view and vibe than the food here. WARNING: There’s only valet parking on site; a free lot is about a block away but fills up fast in season. | Average main: $18 | 960 N. Rte. A1A | 561/747–8878 | www.guanabanas.com | Reservations not accepted.
Little Moir’s Food Shack.
$$ | SEAFOOD | This local favorite is not much to look at and a bit tricky to find, but well worth the search. The fried-food standards you might expect at such a casual, small place that uses plastic utensils are not found on the menu; instead there are fried tuna rolls with basil, and panko-crusted fried oysters with spicy fruit salad. A variety of beers are fun to pair with the creatively prepared seafood dishes that include wahoo, mahimahi, and snapper, all of which is locally sourced. Wait for your table next door at Maxi’s Lineup—also under Moir’s ownership—during the busy winter season when lines are long. | Average main: $17 | 103 S. U.S. 1 | 561/741–3626 | www.littlemoirs.com/food-shack | Reservations not accepted | Closed Sun.
Sinclair’s Ocean Grill.
$$$$ | SEAFOOD | Remodeled in late 2012 to give it a slick, contemporary look, this upscale restaurant at the Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa is a favorite of locals in the know. The menu has a daily selection of fresh fish, such as Atlantic black grouper over lemon crab salad, sesame-seared tuna, and mahimahi with fruit salsa. There are also thick, juicy cuts of meat, including New York strip steak and beef tenderloin, as well as mouth-watering chicken and lamb dishes. The new Sinclair’s Lounge is idyllic for a predinner aperitif. For something more casual, dine outside on the terrace to hear the waves lapping and take in the beachscape. | Average main: $31 | Jupiter Beach Resort, 5 N. Rte. A1A | 561/746–2511 | www.jupiterbeachresort.com.
Taste Casual Dining.
$$ | AMERICAN | Located in the center of historic Hobe Sound, this cozy dining spot with a pleasant, screened-in patio offers piano dinner music on Friday. Locals like to hang out at the old, English-style wine bar; however, the food itself is the biggest draw here. Try a lobster roll and the signature Gorgonzola salad for lunch, and any fish dish for dinner. On weekend nights, order the excellent, slow-cooked prime rib, another specialty. | Average main: $18 | 11750 S.E. Dixie Hwy. | Hobe Sound | 772/546–1129 | www.tastehobesound.com | May–Oct., closed Sun.
Where to Stay
FAMILY | Fodor’s Choice | Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa.
$$$ | RESORT | Families love this nine-story hotel filled with rich Caribbean-style rooms containing mahogany sleigh beds and armoires; all rooms have balconies, and many have stunning views of the ocean and local landmarks like the Jupiter Lighthouse and Juno Pier. The heated pool beachside has a waterfall feature, and there’s outdoor seating for the hotel’s locally famous Sinclair’s Ocean Grill and bar. Snorkeling equipment is available for rent, and bicycles are included in the resort fee. There’s also a tennis court on the property—not to mention a fabulous 7,500-square-foot spa, and kids’ game room. Pros: fantastic beachside pool area with hammocks and a fire pit; marble showers; great restaurant. Cons: $25 nightly resort fee; no covered parking; bathtubs only in suites. | Rooms from: $360 | 5 N. Rte. A1A | 561/746–2511, 800/228–8810 | www.jupiterbeachresort.com | 134 rooms, 34 suites | No meals.
Wyndham Grand Jupiter at Harbourside Place.
$$$ | HOTEL | Open since 2014, this luxury waterfront hotel is in an upscale complex of business and retail development just minutes from the beach. Doubles and suites, some with balconies, have luxe bedding, ergonomic desks, pull-out sofas, and flat-screen TVs. A small mod lobby bar provides a cozy happy hour setting. A sweeping staircase off the spacious, airy lobby leads guests to the south tower across an enclosed bridge—the rooms are split between two buildings separated by a short roadway. Designed for meetings and events, the hotel offers a large ballroom along with meeting space. In the compact space of the plaza, the pool with hot tub is on the rooftop, along with a bar serving burgers, wraps, and organic salads. The hotel’s restaurant, Deep Blu, serves locally sourced seafood and organic steaks—it’s in an adjoining building as a stand-alone. Pros: convenient to plaza shops and restaurants; only minutes from the beach; boat docks and fitness center available. Cons: no covered walkway to restaurant; no green spaces; pricey. | Rooms from: $309 | Harbourside Place, 122 Soundings Ave. | 561/273–6600 | www.wyndhamgrandjupiter.com | 179 rooms | No meals.
Performing Arts
Maltz Jupiter Theatre.
A former dinner theater facility, the Maltz was transformed in 2005 to a 554-seat main-stage concert hall that is now home to one of Florida’s leading regional theater troupes. Major shows, including Broadway favorites like A Chorus Line and Annie, run from October to April, and tickets range from $52 to $68. | 1001 E. Indiantown Rd. | 561/575–2223 | www.jupitertheatre.org.
Sports and the Outdoors
Auto Racing
Palm Beach International Raceway.
If you yearn for drag-racing action, this place awaits: It has a 2.034-mile, 11-turn road course, and a quarter-mile concrete drag strip. It’s open all year long and hosts more than 500 racing events, including motorcycle, mud bogs, and go-karting. Spectator admission ranges from $10 to $45. | 17047 Beeline Hwy. | 561/622–1400 | www.racepbir.com.
Baseball
Roger Dean Stadium.
It’s a spring training doubleheader! Both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Miami Marlins call this 6,600-seat facility home base from February to April. The rest of the year two minor league teams (Jupiter Hammerheads and Palm Beach Cardinals) share its turf. In the Abacoa area of Jupiter, the grounds are surrounded by a mix of restaurants and sports bars for pre- and post-game action. | 4751 Main St. | 561/775–1818 | www.rogerdeanstadium.com.
Boating and Canoeing
Fodor’s Choice | Canoe Outfitters of Florida.
See animals, from otters to eagles, along 8 miles of the Loxahatchee River in Riverbend County Park daily except Tuesday and Wednesday. Canoe and two-person kayak rentals are $35 for four hours. Bike rentals are available, too. | Riverbend County Park, 9060 W. Indiantown Rd. | 561/746–7053 | www.canoeoutfittersofflorida.com | Closed Tues. and Wed.
FAMILY | Fodor’s Choice | Jonathan Dickinson State Park River Tours.
Boat tours of the Loxahatchee River and guided horseback rides, along with canoe, kayak, bicycle, and boat rentals are offered daily. The popular Wilderness Guided Boat Tour leaves four times daily at 9, 11, 1, and 3 pm and costs $18.87 (for best wildlife photos take the 11 or 1 tour). The pontoon cruises up the Loxahatchee in search of manatees, herons, osprey, alligators, and more. The skipper details the region’s natural and cultural history; and from Thursday to Monday the boat also stops at the Trapper Nelson Interpretive Site for a tour of the home of a local legend, the so-called “Wildman” of the Loxahatchee. | Jonathan Dickinson State Park, 16450 S.E. U.S. 1 | Hobe Sound | 561/746–1466 | www.floridaparktours.com.
Golf
Abacoa Golf Club.
Built in 1999, the tag line for this Joe Lee–designed 18-hole course in Jupiter is “public golf at its finest.” Most of the courses in this golfing community are private, but the range at Abacoa is on par with them and membership (nor deep pockets) isn’t required. $1 million has been spent since 2013 to renovate the facilities throughout the course and clubhouse. One of the course’s more interesting features includes the several elevation changes throughout, which is a rarity in flat Florida. The course caters to golfers at all skill levels. The greens fee ranges from $30 to $115 (including cart), depending on time of year, time of day, and weekday versus weekend. | 105 Barbados Dr. | 561/622–0036 | www.abacoagolfclub.com | $89 for 18 holes | 18 holes, 7200 yards, par 72.
Golf Club of Jupiter.
Locally owned and operated since 1981, this Lamar Smith–designed golf club features a public, championship golf course—the “Jupiter” course—with 18 holes of varying difficulty. It has a course rating of 69.9 and a slope rating of 117 on Bermuda grass. There’s a full-time golf pro on staff and an on-site bar and restaurant. | 1800 S. Central Blvd. | 561/747–6262 | www.golfclubofjupiter.com | $70 for 18 holes. | 18 holes, 6275 yards, par 70.
Jupiter Dunes Golf Club.
Originally opened in the early 1970s and designed by the Fazio design group, this 18-hole short course is popular among Jupiter locals. Redesigned by Tom Pearson in 2005, the course—cast over 28 acres near the ocean—teems with beautiful waterfront views of the Jupiter estuary; in fact, water comes in to play on 11 of the 18 holes. Since there are no set tee times, families—or anyone who wants a quick yet challenging round—can enjoy an impromptu visit to the course. At its most expensive in peak season, it’s $75 for two players with a cart. Rates go as low as $18 off-season. | 401 N. Rte. A1A | 561/746–6654 | www.jupiterdunesgolf.com | $75 for 18 holes. | 18 holes, 2700 yards, par 54.
Off the Beaten Path: Forty miles west of West Palm Beach, amid the farms and cattle pastures rimming the western edges of Palm Beach and Martin counties, is Lake Okeechobee, the second-largest freshwater lake completely within the United States. It’s girdled by 120 miles of road yet remains shielded from sight for almost its entire circumference. Lake Okeechobee—the Seminole’s “Big Water” and the gateway of the great Everglades watershed—measures 730 square miles, at its longest roughly 33 miles north–south and 30 miles east–west, with an average natural depth of only 10 feet (flood control brings the figure up to 12 feet and deeper). Six major lock systems and 32 separate water-control structures manage the water and allow boaters to cross the state through its channels from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. Encircling the lake is a 34-foot-high grassy levee that locals call “the dike,” and atop it, the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, a segment of the Florida National Scenic Trail that’s an easy, flat ride for bikers. Anglers have a field day here as well, with great bass and perch catches. TIP There’s no shade, so wear a hat, sunscreen, and bug repellent. Be sure to bring lots of bottled water, too, because restaurants and stores are few and far between.