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Riverbend Park — Wildlife Paradise in Jupiter

3/23/2022

RIVERBEND PARK – Look, Listen & Smell the Wildlife

Experience kayaking in backwaters of Jupiter. 

Paddling down or bicycling along the Wild & Scenic Loxahatchee River, you’re likely to see scampering raccoons, yellow-bellied turtles basking in the sun and great blue herons prancing in the shallows as they seek out a meal in Riverbend Park.

Sign up here for a Riverbend Park tour.

That hoot you hear might be an owl. That splash, an otter swimming by. And relax when you hear a high-pitched screech – it’s likely from a male limpkin. Their long tracheas allow them to make that amazing noise when they are breeding or seeking a mate.

That sweet smell is the aroma of elegant swamp lilies. Sprouting on the banks of the Lox, they  look like white starbursts.

The plants, which grow up to three feet tall, love full sun. While smelling and looking good is fine, it has its downside. Insects like grasshoppers and flies love to snack on swamp lillies.
JUPITER INLET – Look Up, Down and Around
a bird swimming in water
 
A stand-up paddle board, canoe or kayak adventure in Jupiter Inlet Waterways is a ticket to seeing wildlife underwater, in the sky and along the shore.
Thanks to the ice-clear waters, spying manatees, sea turtles and tropical fish is a breeze. You’ll be amazed at the grace of the manatees, the speed the sea turtles swim and the glorious colors of the fish.
Look up, and you’ll likely see egrets, roseate spoonbills, snail kites and sandhill cranes. Take the time to watch a pelican circle for food. Spotting a fish, they swoop down splash to spear their pey. Clumsy? Yes. But efficient.
And look around as you pass the thick, green mangroves on the shore. Birds hide in the branches. And juvenile fish hide in the roots of the mangroves, finding shelter from predators.
Your JUPITER OUTDOOR CENTER guide knows all the nooks and crannies along the waterway. Sign up here for a tour.
DOG BEACH – Fun for Fido
a close up of a dog
Take your best friend to Dog Beach in Jupiter.
Unleash your dog and let them roam on the 2.5 mile stretch of beach from marker #26 at Marcinski Road going north to beach marker #57, at the Carlin Park property line for a great things to do in Jupiter event..

Here’s a few tips for taking Fido to the beach:

  • Give your dog a shady spot and plenty of fresh water. Don’t let your dog drink sea water.
  • Dogs sunburn, especially those with short hair, white fur, and pink skin. Limit your dog’s exposure and apply sunblock to his ears and nose 30 minutes before going outside.
  • Avoid prolonged exposure to hot asphalt or sand, which can burn a dog’s paws.
  • Dogs are easy targets for sea lice and jellyfish. Check for daily water conditions.
  • Keep an eye on your dog. Running on the sand is strenuous exercise. A dog that is out of shape can easily pull a tendon or ligament.
  • Salt and other minerals in ocean water can damage your dog’s coat, so rinse him off at the end of the day.
  • At the ocean, be careful of strong tides and know if rip currents have been reported. Never leave your dog unattended in water.
  • The Jupiter area beach map is available here.

 

BASEBALL – Cardinals and Marlins Together

a close up of an umbrella

That’s right. The two Major League Baseball teams play their spring training games at beautiful Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Abacoa.

After a day of paddling on the Loxahatchee River, bicycling at Riverbend Park or stand-up paddle boarding on Jupiter Inlet, there’s nothing like a hot dog and a cool beverage at the baseball game.

Register for a group tour at JUPITER OUTDOOR CENTER here.

Click here for spring training schedule for the stadium near Riverbend Park.

 

BUSCH WILDLIFE – ANIMALS EVERYWHERE

a turtle swimming under water

Owls, alligators, bears, panthers, foxes, snakes – if they are in Florida, they are likely at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary

The non-profit organization is dedicated to the protection and conservation of Florida’s wildlife and natural resources. The goal is to rescue, rehab, release, & educate. Open all holidays except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.

Now on Jupiter Park Drive, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is moving to a new location on Rocky Pines Road and West Indiantown Road in Jupiter Farms, near Riverbend Park.

Read JOC’s blog: More Things To Do in Jupiter.

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