TAKE TIME TO LEARN ABOUT FLORIDA’S SEA TURTLES
There is an important etiquette to sharing the beach with turtles, including giving them plenty of space, knocking down sand castles, filling holes and picking up any garbage lying around. From signage on public piers to visits to conservation centres, yo
Paddleboard: Jupiter Outdoor Center guide Max Park leads a group of kayakers from her paddleboard where she has a better view to spot an abundance of turtles, fish and manatees in the water. You see aquatic wildlife, paddle through the mangroves in a natural estuary, gawk at a few celebrity houses and look up at the newly restored Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse that dates back to 1860. You’re also welcome to pop in for a dip near a beach.
Snorkel and hike: Phil Foster Park, under the Blue Heron Bridge, is a popular spot for both locals and visitors to put on the fins and mask and hit the Snorkel Trail. You likely won’t spot any turtles, but you will see fish in underwater gardens made of shark statues, cinder block Boy Scout projects and even artfully arranged shopping carts. As your Singer Island Outdoor Center guide leads you along the trail pointing out fish, sea urchins and lobsters, you’ll also see divers taking lessons beneath you.
Nature centre: At Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, wander through a butterfly garden, visit four outdoor aquariums showing different marine habitat and see turtles, sting rays and even sharks. You can watch veterinarians work on sick sea turtles in the outdoor rehabilitation centre. This centre in Baco Raton is one of the few that helps turtles with noncancerous tumours caused by fibropapillomatosis, a leading cause of death for turtles. Scientists think the tumours on turtles’ eyes and flippers may be caused by nitrogen runoff from farms and cities.
Hotel: The Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa has all the amenities (restaurants, a beach bar with live music, a pool and cookies fresh from the oven in the lobby every afternoon), as well as a prime view of the turtle tracks in the morning. As part of a partnership with the Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC), it offers a special package for guests during nesting season that includes a “Loggie the Loggerhead” stuffed animal and a donation to the LMC to adopt a turtle in guests’ names. Rooms start $198 (U.S.) a night in nesting season.
State park: At John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, visitors pack picnics and take the long hike from the parking lot along a boardwalk over pristine wetlands to a gorgeous, natural beach that also attracts turtles, herons and brown pelicans. As well as 177 hectares of natural environment to explore, the park has a nature and visitor center with turtles and hatchlings, several aquariums and engaging displays, an amphitheatre for live music performances, turtle and nature walks as well as kayak and surfing lessons.