Guanabanas: 960 N Hwy A1A, Jupiter, FL 33477
The atmosphere at Guanabanas restaurant is worth the visit whether you arrive by car or by boat! They offer 100% outdoor dining with live music, fresh food and a chill vibe. It’s where the locals go to feel like they are on vacation!
I got the opportunity to have lunch with Jon Sullivan, General Manager, to learn more about Guanabanas use of locally produced ingredients. Jon explained that Guanabanas was one of the first restaurants to participate in the “Fresh from Florida” campaign, making a commitment to serve fish sourced only in Florida. We tried a variety of dishes and I have to say, they were all outstanding…really fresh and the tequila lime shrimp was to die for!
The other amazing thing I learned about Guanabanas is how they give backto the community. Every Thursday night is dedicated to a different local charities and organizations that need funding. They also participate in the annual Surfers for Autism event, bringing kids from all over the country to the area to play in the surf with professional surfers and celebrity guests. They also work with other local restaurants to help bring awareness to children’s hunger relief among other charitable organizations.
So if you are looking for a fun Florida restaurant with good food that supports the community, check out Guanabanas.
Some Additional Tips and Fun Facts:
• Guanabanas is a popular place and they don’t take reservations, so you might want to plan a late lunch/early dinner to avoid the wait.
• If you come by car there is complimentary valet parking, but if you come by boat they will give you a discount on your bill!
• A guanabana is a large spiny tropical fruit with tart pulp
• Need a game to keep the kids busy while you wait for your order? Use the sugar packets at the table to play tic-tac-toe!
Riverbend Park: 9060 Indiantown Road, Jupiter, FL 33478
Palm Beach County has an award winning park system with a variety of amenities including bike paths, equestrian trails, bocce courts and playgrounds just to name a few. When we were in The Palm Beaches for our family vacation travel show, we tried canoeing in the Loxahatchee River. It got its name from the Seminole Indians and means turtle (lowchow) river (hatchee). The 8 ½ mile waterway is one of two National Wild & Scenic Rivers in the state of Florida.
Visitors to the area can rent canoes and kayaks from Canoe Outfitters of Florida. After we put our life vests on, we pushed off from the edge of the bank to start our journey. Paddling on the Loxahatchee was pretty easy though we heard that sometimes you could run into some obstacles after a storm when tree branches and other vegetation might create a challenge.
We saw several turtles, which was really fun for the girls especially after we had seen so many at Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Kayaks are also available to rent and while we were there, a big group of kids was there too. They also rent bicycles if you prefer to pedal rather than paddle. Keep in mind that rentals are only offered Thursday through Monday and reservations are recommended. Whatever your form of transportation, we hope you have a great time with your family spending the day at Riverbend Park!
Additional Information & Fun Facts:
· Need a photo I.D. to reserve watercraft
· Wear a bathing suit or clothes you don’t mind getting wet (shoes too!) and you might want to bring dry clothes to change into afterward
· Bring a waterproof bag to keep items dry
· Don’t forget sunscreen, insect repellant and water bottles
· Riverbend Park was the site of 2 battles between the US armed forces and the Seminole Indians. Reenactments are performed each year.
· Riverbend Park has an historic Farmstead from the 19th century
· You can visit the Seminole Village is across the lake
· Some of the swamps were drained and planted with orange groves by European settlers. You can still see the orange trees over 100 years later!
