Jupiter Outdoor Center — Attraction in Jupiter

We drove up from Broward County to go Kayaking at Riverbend Park but because we had an extra friend we had to rent a kayak at JOC. Initial interaction was decent enough, we asked if we had time as it was a little after 515pm on a Sunday and we were told to be back by 640pm. We were told we'd just be charged for an hour although given the cost my wife was charged, I feel like that aligns more with 2 hours on the pricing chart.

The reason for the less than stellar review was the way we were treated when we got back. (sorry I didn't catch names) The blonde surfer guy had a terrible attitude and was downright antagonistic. I don't know if they hadn't communicated with each other but the other guy with the hearing aids was very nice and had told me we could use their private ramp for our personal kayaks we had brought since we were renting there. The woman had mentioned that we could park right in front of their place to load and unload our other kayaks. Initially, I had unloaded by parking across the street because if I had unloaded where I was told I would have been blocking the exit of the parking lot. When I did that, all the kids had to cross the main road to get to the river.

When we returned (EARLY, I might add at 630pm) some snide comments were made about how the rented kayak was filled with water. If it took on water, it wasn't by any fault of ours so I didn't appreciate the insinuation. I even helped carry it up to the hut and my step-daughter even got an attitude when she asked where to put the life vests.

To load back up I opted to drive up onto the sidewalk to be out of the way of exiting vehicles while also avoiding the kids having to cross the street. I jokingly pulled up and startled my stepson and daughter when I pulled onto the sidewalk...the blonde guy came stomping out of the hut toward me very aggressively telling me to get off the wide open sandy area to load (mind you, this is where I assumed the woman meant when she told me we could load/unload there and no signs stating that I couldn't park there nor did he have the authority to tell me that but I still acquiesced.) No problem, I moved. What really upset me was when he implied that I didn't care about my own daughter's well being for startling her when I pulled onto the sidewalk. How dare he...

I have been racking my brain since yesterday evening as to what we did or said that could have caused the reaction. Rubbed him the wrong way? Maybe he didn't realize I had been told I could use their ramp and park there? I literally had no interaction with him before that. Maybe it was just a bad day for the guy...it happens.

I gave 2 stars because the river is gorgeous and we did get to use a kayak from here but given the inexplicable treatment at the end of the outing, I would not likely consider going back. Again, there are a lot of 5 star reviews here so I'm guessing it was an aberration or he had something personal going on but you can't take that out...

10 Stars for Richard and the Loxahatchee!

We recently visited my dad in Florida and had the absolute pleasure of kayaking down the Loxahatchee under the stellar guidance of Richard. Firstly, we are from Oregon, so the scene, wildlife, and vegetation, so different from our home, had me wide eyed in awe ~ absolutely gorgeous. We learned so much about the ‘River of Turtles’ and were greatly impressed by Richard’s in-depth knowledge of the area and the flora and fauna.

Our peaceful, happy float was rudely interrupted when I pulled out my iPhone to snap a picture of turtles on a log and, juggling it and my paddle, whoosh, dropped it into the river. (I broke the first rule Richard laid out for us - to keep our phones in the dry bag they include with the tour - and felt terrible about it.) Richard stayed incredibly calm and collected and did not give me a hard time (thank you, Richard!). We did our best to search from the surface for a while, and then he thought to call up to the front desk and have them send down a pair of swim goggles with a party paddling toward us. When the goggles arrived, Richard peered through the depths to make sure there were no alligators beneath the surface (whoa), and dove in. He surfaces with one phone - not mine! He dives again and surfaces with another phone - again, not mine! (Well, I guess I’m not the only one breaking the rules.) He was persistent, knowing the expense of the iPhone. One more dive as I’m breathing deeply and asking the universe to assist the search and keep him safe, and up he rises with my phone in his hand!!!

Richard is not only a superb guide but an absolute hero. The next 3 days in Disney would have been much harder to manage without my phone. Moral of the story: Join a tour with Richard and the JOC and, when you do, abide by the rule of keeping your phone safely in the dry bag. He’ll take lovely...

We arrived at Riverbend Park and were immediately welcomed like friends. Every detail was thought of for an accommodating and flawless launch. Waterproof pouches, clean well fitting vests, nearby bathrooms, and a variety of kayaks hand picked by the crew for a customized fit. Our tour guide, Rick the owner, navigated us through the Loxahatchee River. Within minutes we were under a canopy of tropical greenery. The modern world disappeared in the serene quiet and Rick’s historical story telling added to this amazing experience. There was a sense of adventure as we went around the bends of the river to see alligators, turtles, a variety of birds and the majestic cypress trees. It was a very warm humid day but the climate on the river under the canopy was beautiful! We didn’t want it to end! After our river tour we got bikes and toured around the park, gorgeous! And again, although a hot day, the trails were shaded and comfortable. We decided to check out the Jupiter Outdoor Center’s eco retreat, a two story rental home made from storage containers, Headwaters Eco Retreat. We were so impressed with the location and lucky it was vacant that night for an impromptu stay! We are coming back with the adult kids! It feels like a campsite on the river with hotel accommodations! Truly unique! When you’re booking your trip think about having a full day and night of adventure like we did! Wonderful accommodating team at Jupiter Outdoor Center, truly happy to make your experience the best! Thank you Amanda! Thank you Rick! Your hospitality made us fall in love...