500 Captain Armour's Way, Jupiter FL 33469
Open Daily January-April, & May-December Tuesday thru Sunday
Hours: 10am-5pm (last lighthouse tour at 4pm)
I feel like I've been doing the same thing recently, so I've been wanting to check out some new local landmarks here in Southeast Florida. Luckily, when we have visitors is when my touristy-planning-mode really seems to go full-force.
Brian's parents came down for Labor Day weekend, and the guys spent the days on the golf course. It was an absolutely gorgeous day today, so I wanted to plan for something fun and outdoors for his mom and I to do. Since she loves lighthouses, I decided to take her to the
Jupiter Lighthouse, which is only about a forty-five minute drive North from Boynton Beach.
The lighthouse and tour was such a fun experience! The tour guide gave about a 30-minute walking tour around the grounds, sharing the history of the lighthouse, former inhabitants, and the surrounding land--the waterway, vegetation, and landscape.
At the base of the lighthouse is one of the many neat attractions here, the enormous and ever-growing Banyan tree. Its hard to judge from this picture, but this thing is HUGE!
The next part of the tour involves a bit of exercise--walking up more than 150 steps to the top of the lighthouse. I can't even imagine having to walk up and down the narrow spiral staircase on a daily basis--what a workout!
The steep workout is totally worth it once you reach the top. The smell of fresh sea air, the 360 degree panoramic view of blue-green waterways, local boaters sailing along, large mansions of local celebrities--its truly breathtaking. Just don't look down if heights make you feel uneasy--the top of the lighthouse towers more than 100 feet above the ground.
After the tour, make sure to check out the gift shop and stop into the snack bar for a free sample of their homemade fudge--YUM!
