Riverbend Park — Wildlife Paradise in Jupiter
3/23/2022
RIVERBEND PARK – Look, Listen & Smell the Wildlife
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.


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
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
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.