Hobe Sound Favorites

Beth at Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge

The area around Jonathan Dickinson State Park has lots of other interesting natural attractions, not to mention the shopping and restaurants in surrounding Tequesta, Jupiter and Juno Beach. 

A new spot, to us, was the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge. We've traversed the intracoastal waterway (ICW) through the beautiful waters of Hobe Sound on multiple occasions and now know how to access it from land. This area has beautiful estates, many of which only reveal gates and hedges from the road. Two different areas of Hobe Sound NWR allow access to the atlantic beach and to the ICW.  Helpful volunteers at the visitor center are happy to talk about the natural areas and how to access them. A small aquarium and other exhibits are free to examine before walking the short trails down to the water. 

Hobe Sound looking South from NWR

Hobe Sound looking North

The Atlantic on a Windy Day

When you get tired of cooking at your campsite, lots of good restaurants are close by. One fun place is Harry and the Natives, just North of JDSP.  This local spot has live music in the evening and a big parking lot out back where there is plenty of room to park an oversized van like ours. If you want to see yachting activity on the ICW, The Dive Bar, in Jupiter is a good place, especially if the weather is conducive to sitting outside on the deck. The Jupiter lighthouse park is always worth visiting with a climb to the top providing a panoramic view of the inlet and surrounding area. While we didn't go this time, we did eat dinner at Jetty's which provides a great view of the river and lighthouse. The red lighthouse is decorated with greenery and lights for the holidays. Jetty's can be very popular, so if you go, get there a little before the open at five so you can get seated with a view.

The Dive Bar

Marina at the Dive Bar

Beth, Noah and Me at the Dive Bar - Photo by Jen

Jupiter Lighthouse from Jetty's Restaurant

 After eating out several nights, we needed to get a bit more biking in. Changing things up, we tried a county park recommended by Beth's sister and brother-in-law. Riverbend Park had plenty of parking and pleasant bicycle trails along canals and ponds. Some trails were limited to horses only, but most were open to bikers and hikers. Canoes and kayaks were also available to rent.

Beth and a Chicee at Riverbend Park

Riverbend Park Bicycle Trail

Bent Palm at Riverbend Park

Pond at Riverbend Park

There is one more area of Jonathan Dickinson State Park,  I should remember to mention. We bicycled over to the highest elevation in the park and looked at the information on Camp Murphy.  During World War II, this area of the park was used to train soldiers how to use the new, and secret, RADAR technology.

svIntuition with Bicycles Ready at Camp Murphy