I've been wanting to visit this ERM park ever since visiting its neighbor, Juno Dunes Natural Area…read more The last time I tried to visit, the very small parking lot was full. From the road, this park looks to be all scrub, but like the other park, it contains multiple habitats inside. The first paved walk leads to a very nice pavilion overlooking the River. The view was peaceful and beautiful. Trying to access the unpaved trails, however, proved problematic. We turned onto the red path, only to find that the marker stakes had most of the red faded away and were difficult to find. At one point there is a huge fork in the path with no direction on which way to go. The end of the trail is practically non existent, with no clear path, but it does return us to the park entrance. I insisted on trying to get to Ski Beach- whatever that was! It looked about a 1/3 the way of the yellow trail. The path was very sandy, and difficult to walk on for that reason, and it seemed to take forever! When we finally found Ski Beach, we found another Park kiosk, a garbage can, and a tiny path down to... a beach! and the Intracoastal. We watched fish swim by, and lots of boats go by. This could be a nice place to wade or further explore, if you lugged all of your things here. ERM, would have loved finding a bench here, so we had someplace to take our shoes on and off. We did not continue down the yellow trail due to being exhausted, but I would like to do this again. The landscape was nice- just difficult to walk in due to the white sand. We saw a cactus in bloom, a snake, and a TON of lichen. Lichen everywhere! It really looked like little fairy landscapes to me. I think I finally identified Florida rosemary too! Kudo to ERM for the map/brochures. My kids pore over every aspect of it while we walk, trying to find all the natural items pictured, excitedly matching the pictures to plants. Thank you!

Jupiter Ridge is located south of the Jupiter inlet. It is part of the Great Florida Bird and…read moreWildlife Trail. This natural area is made up of 274 acres of scrub that contain five native Florida ecosystems: scrub, scrubby flatwoods, mesic flatwoods, depression marsh and mangrove swamp, It is one of the few places you can go in Jupiter to see how Florida looked before it was developed. Thirty one plant species live here as well as threatened and endangered species like the large-flowered rosemary, the Florida scrub-jay; and the gopher tortoise. Jupiter Ridge is owned by the state Conservation and Recreation Lands project which is managed by Palm beach County. This natural area has the longest shoreline along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway of any other natural area in Palm Beach County. There is also 7,600 feet of water frontage along the Intracoastal Waterway along the Loxahatchee River/Lake Worth Creek Aquatic Preserve. There are three hiking trails, the paved Little Blue Heron Trail, (0.2 miles), the sand Scrub Lizard Trail (1.7 miles). and the sand Pawpaw Trail (0.6 miles). The sand trails really give your legs a work out and there is no shade so the sun can be brutal. The natural area has canoe and kayak access from Ski Beach and you may be able to spot manatees. There is also an observation platform on the Little Blue heron Trail that overlooks Old Lake Worth Creek. Jupiter Ridge Natural Area is open to the public, sunrise to sunset, seven days a week.

While driving through Jupiter, I spotted this historic marker in front of a beautiful school…read moreshowcasing classic 1920's Mediterranean Revival architecture. The blue marker is part of Florida's Historical Marker Program, one of the Division of Historical Resources' most popular public history initiatives. These markers commemorate significant people, places, and events throughout the state and can be found along roads, at archaeological sites, battlefields, cemeteries, churches, colleges, historic districts, schools, and other historic buildings. Historic Marker F-650 was erected in 2008 by the School Board of Palm Beach County and the Florida Department of State. The Old Jupiter School was built on Loxahatchee Road, just south of Indiantown Road, and opened in 1927 with nine teachers, three trustees, and 100 students in grades 1 through 12. Before its construction, local students traveled by boat along the Loxahatchee River to attend the 1891 Octagon School, the 1895 West Jupiter School at Sawfish Bay, or the 1911 Jupiter School on Town Hall Avenue. The school was designed by architect William Manly King, who was responsible for all Palm Beach County schools built during the 1920s. Its distinctive features include a parapeted, barrel-tile roof, a stucco exterior, and elegant ogee and pointed arches over the doors and windows. Constructed at a cost of $150,000, the school was considered state-of-the-art for its time, with modern amenities that included a library, science laboratory, and an auditorium with a stage for performances. Like most Florida schools of the era, it did not have air conditioning. Jupiter School was one of only eight schools in Florida accredited by the Southern Association, allowing its graduates to continue on to college. Like many schools of the era, Jupiter School operated under segregation and served only white students. African American students attended a two-room schoolhouse in Limestone Creek through eighth grade until 1961, when Iris Hunter became the first Black student to attend Jupiter School. The building remained the area's primary school until 1965, when the new Jupiter High School opened on Toney Penna Drive. The building is still owned and maintained by the Palm Beach County School Board, which completed a $6.4 million interior restoration in 2006. Today, the historic school serves as administrative offices, preserving an important piece of Jupiter's educational and architectural heritage.

One of my favorite places for a day of relaxation is DuBois Park, where you can choose between…read moreswimming in the Atlantic Ocean or the Indian River Lagoon. These very waters are why an ancient people known as Jeagas chose to live here. Long before DuBois Park existed, this land was home to the Jeaga people. Although the Jeaga are now extinct, much of what we know about them comes from Jonathan Dickinson, an English merchant who was shipwrecked in 1696. Dickinson and his companions were captured by the Jeaga and taken to their village of Hobe at the Jupiter Inlet, where they were held for five days. He later recorded his experiences in a journal, providing one of the few firsthand accounts of the tribe. Today, DuBois Park is home to the historic DuBois Pioneer Home, from which the park takes its name. The house sits atop a hill that is actually an ancient Jeaga shell midden in Hobe. A midden is an archaeological term for an ancient refuse heap containing items such as shells, pottery, animal bones, and broken tools. This midden is estimated to be between 5,000 and 6,000 years old, making it one of the oldest known archaeological sites in the region. The site is officially protected and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Jupiter Inlet Historic and Archeological Site. A historical marker commemorates its significance, preserving the story of the Jeaga people and the rich history hidden beneath one of Florida's most beautiful waterfront parks.

I discovered this blue historic marker at Limestone Creek Park in Jupiter. It is part of Florida's…read moreHistorical Marker Program, one of the Division of Historical Resources' most popular public history initiatives. These markers commemorate significant people, places, and events throughout the state and can be found along roads, at archaeological sites, battlefields, cemeteries, churches, colleges, historic districts, schools, and historic buildings. Marker F-890, was installed in 2015 by the Loxahatchee River Historical Society and the Florida Department of State. It tells the important story of the African-American school that once stood here, L.M. Davis Elementary School and the surrounding historic community. Limestone Creek Park occupies the site of the oldest African-American community in Jupiter. During segregation, Black children were denied access to public schools so community members created a school of their own. In 1905, they opened the first "Jupiter Colored School" inside the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The school remained there until the 1928 hurricane destroyed the church and killed 2,500 people in the community. Afterward, community leader L.M. Davis donated one acre of his homestead for a new school. Residents pooled their money and received a matching grant from the Julius Rosenwald Foundation, established by Sears, Roebuck & Co. president Julius Rosenwald in collaboration with Booker T. Washington. The foundation helped fund the construction of more than 5,000 schools for African-American children across the South. With those funds, the community built a two-room schoolhouse with a kitchen and hired two teachers to educate students in grades one through eight. The school operated for years without electricity or running water. In 1941, the graduating class raised enough money to build a sidewalk, signing their names in the wet concrete. That original piece of sidewalk still survives in the park today. In 1956, the school was renamed L.M. Davis Elementary in honor of the man who donated the land. Until schools were desegregated in 1967, Mr. Davis also drove local high school students 20 miles south in a community built bus to Industrial High School in Riviera Beach. Today, the school is gone, and Limestone Creek Park stands in its place. I love that this historic site continues to be a place where children gather, play, and learn. It's a fitting tribute to the community that fought so hard to provide an education for its children. If you're interested in Jupiter's African-American history, there's another Florida Historical Marker located in nearby Cinquez Park, commemorating another important historic Black community.

As a dog lover I had to stop and check out this moving memorial that caught my eye in front of the…read morepolice station in Stuart. The Stuart Police Department instituted a K-9 Unit in 1998. In 2016 they added two new Belgian Malinois K9 teams. The K-9s live with their assigned officers where they live as a member of the family. The K9 Memorial was installed in 2018 during National Police Week honoring K-9 officers who have passed away. The first dog to have his name engraved was Beny who passed away from cancer after 9 years of service. He was followed by Cody who passed away after 8 years of service. The plaque on the memorial reads "Dedicated to our beloved fallen canine officers in this City of Stuart and throughout Martin County. Exemplars of loyalty, dependability, and service these canines by our side, defending and protecting us with an unbreakable bond of mutual love and respect. The unique qualifications and skills of the canine officers are an invaluable asset in our police work. We are immensely grateful to them for their heroic sacrifices in the line of duty." I love that Stuart has chosen to honor their K9 teams in this loving way.

I went for an early morning walk on the Roosevelt Bridge to catch the sunrise, and it was…read moreabsolutely beautiful! The views were stunning, making it a peaceful and refreshing experience. There was a section of the bridge under construction, but it didn't take away from the overall experience--it was still an easy walk.

The Roosevelt Bridge is a major highway segmental bridge across the St. Lucie River in Stuart,…read moreFlorida. Carrying U.S. Route 1, it was built to supersede the old Roosevelt Bridge, which had twin parallel drawbridges, one for northbound traffic and the other for southbound. The bridge is only 24 years old and recently has had cracks and concrete falling. Repairs are being done.

Yikes! I'm living in Stuart over 2 years & this was the first time I was diverted to this crazy…read moreroundabout due to road closures, & yes - was thoroughly confused & highly intimidated by that railroad track being in the heart of it all! My IMAP stopped talking and if matters weren't bad enough, (when I decided which exit to follow after my brain finally unscrambled) some jerk started honking madly as I carefully drove straight ahead to reach US 1..It was unnerving at first but worth the adrenaline rush once I calmed down & laughed it off. Realistically though- future navigators -- please pay close attention to & avoid that RR track and ignore those nasty honkers!

What makes Confusion Corner in historic downtown Stuart Florida so confusing? It is the eight…read moreroads! that come together in one intersection. Hold your breath and say a prayer as you attempt to make it safely through Flagler Avenue, East Ocean, West Ocean Blvd, Colorado Avenue, A1A both North & South, and Dixie Highway where they join in a roundabout, creating a Stuart landmark. If that wasn't enough, throw a train track in there too. How do you know you are at Confusion Corner? Stand in front of the April Daze boutique and watch the show. You will know you are in the right spot as you watch the cars swing around and hear the horns honking. If you have driven in downtown Stuart, you have passed through Confusion Corner. This intersection is so famous that the legendary Charles Kuralt came to Stuart in 1979 to film an episode for his popular "On the Road" series. There is even a song about it on You Tube by Clifford Buckosh & Okeechobee Records and if you survive the drive you can purchase a T Shirt to commemorate it at Harbor Wear. Despite all the confusion, the only deadly accident to happen there took place in the 1940's. So buckle up that seatbelt, as you swing yourself around Stuart's Confusion Corner.

What a cool restaurant and just beautiful historic house!…read more Earnie is a charming host and it was so fun to hear his story and how he saved this place. We need more people like him! So dinner and service... Janice sp? Was a joy and very knowledgeable about the wines and entrees. The food was great and service was laid back and relaxing. We were not rushed and just enjoyed our time in this historic place. In the end we got to try some killer homemade ice cream. Wow!!!!!!

We had a lot of fun at Sims house the other night. We sat inside because we wanted to experience…read morethe total feel and ambiance of this historic restaurant in a house. The food was very good. The waiter a young eager man was a little rough around the edges and seemed he would be more comfortable as a waiter at Dennys. Sims house is pretty expensive but the quality was there. Unfortunately the wine list was very expensive serving $14 retail bottles For yikes! $72!! We all agreed the dinner was a great experience. Would we rush to go back??? Not sure