Beautiful coastal town Jupiter provides the incredible opportunity of trips to the nearby area, sandy beaches, cultural visits and water activities for residents. But the area offers much more than that. Many hidden gems are providing peaceful, quiet places to grab something great to read and unwind in this part of the Floridian paradise.
Carlin Park
Carlin Park provides visitors with many enjoyable outdoor activities with its bocce courts, softball fields, and tennis and volleyball courts. However, it also houses quiet pavilions where you can sit back and lose yourself in your latest good read in between cooling dips at the 3,000 feet of beach frontage.
If you’d like a nice cup of iced tea or a bite to eat, there’s a great cafe located on site: the Lazy Loggerhead. Sports fans will love to read “Open: An Autobiography,” by tennis legend Andre Agassi. He writes with candor of the triumphs and losses in both his personal and professional lives, leading up to his epic performance at the 1999 French Open.
Address: 400 S. S.R. A1A
Phone: (561) 966 – 6611
Blowing Rocks Preserve
Blowing Rocks Preserve (named for the spray of water through erosion holes in its Anastasia limestone outcroppings) has a boardwalk, oceanside path, and butterfly garden. A five-minute drive from town, the preserve is a mile-long stretch of beach on a nearby island.
As the beach isn’t the best for swimming and isn’t too crowded, it can be a great quiet place to enjoy some solitude with John Krakauer’s “Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster.” Krakauer tells the true story of his experience in a storm that claimed the lives of five people on Everest in May 1996.
Address: 574 South Beach Road
Phone: (561) 744 – 6668
Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa
If you’re looking to extend the peace for more than a day, why not try a staycation at this secluded resort and spa? The four-star hotel sits alone on an isolated stretch of the Atlantic and is known for its quiet hospitality. You can treat yourself to a massage in the spa before settling in a luxurious room with an ocean-front view for a calm evening of reading.
During the day, enjoy lunch for one with a lobster slider at Sinclair’s Lounge. For dinner, go to the Sinclair’s Ocean Grill, the area’s only oceanfront restaurant and bring “Take Me With You,” by Catherine Ryan Hyde. The hammocks and fire pits along the beach provide a perfect spot in which to finish this uplifting story of the unexpected bonds formed from tremendous grief.
Address: 5 North A1A
Phone: (866) 943 – 0950
Website: www.jupiterbeachresort.com
Jupiter Ridge Natural Area
The 270 acres of natural area are a quiet place to get away from stress. There is only a small parking lot, and bikes are not permitted, so it’s easy to find a spot to relax and read undisturbed while enjoying the natural sounds of nature. There is a portable toilet available, but you must bring your drinking water with you.
There are many spots along the hiking trails and boardwalk to lay down a blanket or set up a chair, and don’t forget to take a moment to enjoy the observation platform. While you’re there, get lost in Diane Chamberlain’s “The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes,” a gripping tale of a woman’s difficult choice to protect her family or save an innocent man from being charged with murder.
Address: 1800 South U.S. Highway 1
Loggerhead Marinelife Center
This “green” facility was initially established to protect declining sea turtle populations by educating children about wildlife protection and conservation. Although the Center is a busy place, housing classrooms, labs, exhibits, and a veterinary hospital, it also features a gift shop with children’s educational books.
Make a quick stop to pick up a book, then head out to a pavilion or choose one of the many quiet places along the nature trail to enjoy a relaxing read. “Jairo, The Leatherback Hero,” by Stacy Erin Myers, is a beautifully illustrated children’s book narrated by the character Traveler, an endangered leatherback turtle. It will touch the hearts of readers of all ages, and maybe even teach them a thing or two about the importance of understanding and respecting nature, so be sure to share this message with a friend.
Address: 14200 U.S. Highway 1
Phone: (561) 627 – 8280
Website: http://marinelife.org
Busch Wildlife Sanctuary
At the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, visitors are given the opportunity to escape their busy urban lives and explore the natural world. Admission is free, so why not take advantage of the wild setting to read “Silent Spring,” by renowned conservationist Rachel Carson.
You’ll find a fitting place among the bald eagles, hawks, and owls that make the sanctuary their home in which to read the story that led to the banning of DDT and the beginning of the environmental movement.
Address: 2500 Jupiter Park Drive
Phone: (561)575-3399
Website: www.buschwildlife.org
Riverbend Park
It’s hard to believe that this historic place was once the site of two battles of the Seminole Wars between the United States and Seminole Indians. Its now peaceful location on the Loxahatchee River makes it the perfect place to rent a canoe or kayak for a day of reading on the water.
Paddle out to your perfect spot and float your cares away while reading “All the Light We Cannot See: A Novel,” by Anthony Doerr, the story of a blind young French girl and German boy who struggle to survive during World War Two.
Address: 9060 Indiantown Road
Phone: (561) 741 – 1359
The list is only a small sampling of the many fantastic quiet places in our community where you can escape to enjoy a great book. Go to your bookshelf, grab a book and go out. Reading outside of your house helps you learn and concentrate on the story and the characters even more.
