Sunday looks like a washout in Jupiter, with the National Weather Service calling for an 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms, gusty east winds and a high rip current risk at the beaches until Sunday evening. Clocks also fall back an hour early Sunday, so little ones may be up before sunrise with a long day to fill. Here are a few places nearby that still work, from morning to afternoon, when it's gray or wet outside. One tip before you go: a lot of Florida "rainy days" come with lightning, so check the forecast and keep outdoor stops short when storms roll through.
Our latest on the coastal flood advisory and rip currents: https://www.jupitertide.com/p/coastal-flood-advisory-extended-saturday-rip-currents
1. Jupiter Branch Library
The obvious choice is also one of the best. The Jupiter Branch of the Palm Beach County Library System, at 705 Military Trail, is open seven days a week, including Sunday afternoons. Library cards are free, and the branch runs kids' programs through the week, from story times to crafts. Some programs ask families to register ahead, so check the library's events calendar before you head out. The library posts slightly different closing times in two places on its website, so call 561-744-2301 if you're planning a late visit.
2. Gardens Branch and Tequesta Branch libraries
If the Jupiter branch is busy, the Gardens Branch Library at 11303 Campus Drive in Palm Beach Gardens and the Tequesta Branch are both part of the same county system, so the same free card works at each. Check the system's hours page, since the two branches keep different schedules.
3. Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, rain or shine
Busch Wildlife Sanctuary at 17855 Rocky Pines Road says it is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., "rain or shine," with last admission at 4:15 p.m. Admission is by donation. The trails are outdoors, so this one is best on a drizzly day, not in a thunderstorm. On Wednesdays, the sanctuary lists Tiny Tales Storytime at 10 a.m. in its Educational Discovery Center, and there are short animal talks most afternoons, including a 4 p.m. gator feeding on Mondays. Groups of 10 or more need a reservation.
4. Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum
The lighthouse grounds include an indoor exhibit, the Keepers Workshop, with interactive displays about the lighthouse and its keepers. Admission is $15 for adults and $8 for kids 6 to 18, and kids 5 and under get in free. The site is closed Mondays and open Tuesday through Sunday, with last entry at 4 p.m. Know before you go: the museum says climbs and tours may be delayed or canceled for rain, lightning, thunder and high winds. If that happens, it offers a rain check or a refund, so keep your receipt. Kids must be at least 48 inches tall to climb.
5. Loggerhead Marinelife Center, between showers
Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach is free and open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's mostly outdoors, with large shaded areas, and the outdoor sea turtle hospital closes when there's lightning, so save it for a break in the weather.
Quick list
Jupiter Branch Library: 705 Military Trail. Free. Open daily
Busch Wildlife Sanctuary: 17855 Rocky Pines Road. By donation. Daily 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m., rain or shine
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum: 500 Captain Armour's Way. $15 adults, $8 ages 6–18, free 5 and under. Closed Mondays
Loggerhead Marinelife Center: 14200 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach. Free. Daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Hours and programs can change, especially in bad weather. Check each place's website the day you go.
Jupiter Tide is a local news site covering Jupiter, Tequesta and Palm Beach Gardens: town news, public safety, schools, business and things to do. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram (@JupiterTideNews), and sign up for our free weekly newsletter, delivered every Thursday morning: https://www.jupitertide.com/subscribe
Photo: Shixart1985 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (cropped)