Blowing Rocks Preserve located just north of the Martin County line on Jupiter Island, the preserve itself straddles A1A. Blowing Rocks offer two completely different experiences, on the west side mangroves and the Intracoastal Waterway, on the east side sea grape forest and the ocean.
The west side offers a butterfly garden, a lagoon boardwalk with views of the Intracoastal and an up close look at the mangrove, an education center, and Lagoon restoration trail. Along all the trails there are informational signs highlighting the restoration work and the wildlife that can be seen. I could not get the camera to completely focus, but for the first time I spotted the a golden silk orbweaver.
7 to 8 inch spider, very impressive
On the east side, you will meander through a sea grape forest on your way to the ocean or the dune trail. On a side note, I find sea grapes to be the most friendly tree, you know as soon as you see them the ocean is near by and ready to welcome you. The beach at Blowing Rocks is like no other in the area, the beach sits on top of millions of years old fossilized coral known as coquina. Three things to me make this extremely unique, the beach is 5 or 6 feet above the ocean. The beach has blow holes, so when the surf is up and the waves crash into the rocks water gets shot up into the air sometimes over 30 feet into the air. Snorkeling in the ocean there is no sandy bottom, the sea floor is full of crags,cracks and caves. You are sure to see thousands of fish, lots of lobsters and usually a turtle or two. I have spent a whole morning swimming with with a Loggerhead, and I will share one thing, they fly through the water so you may be huffing and puffing to keep them in sight.
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