Jupiter

About Jupiter

Jupiter is a coastal town at the northern tip of Palm Beach County, where the Loxahatchee River meets the Atlantic Ocean through the Jupiter Inlet. People have lived around the inlet for thousands of years, and the Jeaga people were here when Spanish ships passed in the 1500s. The red brick Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse was first lit in 1860 and still stands on its hill above the water, the oldest structure in Palm Beach County. In the late 1800s the town was a stop on the tiny Celestial Railroad and a station for life-saving crews and weather observers.

Today Jupiter is a relaxed, upscale town of about 60,000 people known for its clear blue water, boating and outdoor lifestyle. Unlike much of South Florida, its shoreline has many undeveloped stretches of dune and beach, and the town has a laid-back mix of waterfront restaurants, marinas and fishing charters. Abacoa, a planned neighborhood with a town center, hosts Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, the spring training home of the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins, along with a Florida Atlantic University campus and research institutes.

Nature is the main attraction. Jupiter Beach Park, Carlin Park and Coral Cove Park offer wide sandy beaches and rocky outcrops, and Jupiter is one of the few places in Florida with a dog-friendly beach running for miles. The Loxahatchee, one of the state's two federally designated Wild and Scenic Rivers, can be explored by kayak among cypress trees at Riverbend Park, and Blowing Rocks Preserve on Jupiter Island sends waves spouting through limestone rocks. The warm Gulf Stream passes close to shore, making Jupiter a favorite for diving, snorkeling and sea turtle nesting walks in summer.