Located in Palm Beach county and just 20 minutes from the Palm Beach International airport, this beautiful city has lots to offer. Its history dates back to the 1500's and is steeped in stories of the Jega Indians who inhabited the area, Spanish explorers and shipwrecked travelers.
Our first stop was at the 105-ft tall Jupiter lighthouse http://www.lrhs.org/JIL.htm and museum. The lighthouse was built in 1860 and the Jupiter area itself has served as a guide to ships captains and travelers for centuries. Please visit this website for additional information on the history of this area: http://www.jupiterfloridausa.com/index.h...
After paying the entry fee, we left the museum, which has a lot of memorabilia and pictures and numerous craft items and souvenirs, and proceeded to climb the spiral staircase to the top of the lighthouse. It is a very steep climb, so be prepared for very sore legs!
Once we reached the top, the view was breathtaking. The inlet itself is just below the lighthouse and just past it, the huge expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. No wonder this lighthouse was used as a watch point, you can see for miles!
After spending the better part of the morning checking out the museum, lighthouse and sitting by the inlet for a break, we headed out towards Blowing Rocks.
Along the way we stopped at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. This location has a history all its own as Dickinson and his family were shipwrecked at Jupiter Inlet, held captive by indians and had to endure an over 200-mile trek to St. Augustine. Dickinson kept a journal of everything that transpired during this time. Check your local library or bookstore for a copy. It's a fascinating read!
Please visit this site for more information about the park: http://www.funandsun.com/parks/JonathanD...
Once you arrive at the preserve, you can park at the visitor center and walk along the slope that leads down to the beach and rocks. I was completely taken aback. The miles of white sand was interlaced with huge rocks that have been eroded by the seawater. As we stood there, you could imagine ships anchored not far away but unable to come in too close for fear of being smashed against the rocks.
The waves crashed over these granite sentinels spraying salt water in giant arcs. The only ones brave enough to be so close were the seagulls.
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