Alford FloridaBEACHES & WATERFRONT ESCAPES
Listed below are the best beaches and waterfront escapes near Alford, Florida.
1. Falling Waters State Park
FLORIDA'S TALLEST WATERFALL
Falling Waters State Park is home to Florida's tallest waterfall, where water cascades down a 73-foot deep sinkhole surrounded by lush forest. Visitors can enjoy scenic hiking trails, picnic areas, and a serene lake perfect for swimming or simply relaxing in nature. The park offers a unique combination of dramatic waterfall views and peaceful swimming opportunities that make it a standout natural attraction in the Florida panhandle.
2. Compass Lake
CRYSTAL-CLEAR LAKE RETREAT
Compass Lake offers a beautiful setting for swimming, boating, and fishing with its clear blue waters and peaceful surroundings. The lake is popular with families and outdoor enthusiasts seeking a relaxing day on the water. Its accessible shorelines and clean waters make it a favorite local destination for cooling off during hot Florida days.
3. Blue Springs Recreation Area
REFRESHING NATURAL SPRINGS
Blue Springs Recreation Area invites guests to cool off in its crystal-clear, spring-fed waters surrounded by towering cypress trees. The park offers opportunities for picnicking, paddling, and spotting local wildlife along the shoreline. Visitors particularly enjoy the refreshing 68-degree waters that provide perfect relief from Florida's heat.
4. Florida Caverns State Park
CAVES AND BLUE HOLE
Florida Caverns State Park showcases impressive limestone caves that visitors can explore on guided tours, marveling at stunning stalactites and stalagmites. Above ground, the park also offers hiking, camping, and a beautiful spring-fed swimming area known as Blue Hole. The combination of underground wonders and surface water recreation makes this park a unique destination in the Florida state park system.
5. Chipola River
SCENIC PADDLING PARADISE
The Chipola River weaves through the Florida landscape offering crystal clear waters perfect for kayaking, canoeing and tubing adventures. Numerous limestone springs feed into the river, creating refreshing swimming holes and scenic paddling routes through pristine natural settings. Visitors can access the river from several points including Hinson Conservation Area, enjoying both the adventure of river exploration and peaceful swimming spots along its course.
6. Merritt's Mill Pond
CRYSTAL SPRINGS SWIMMING
Merritt's Mill Pond is a spring-fed waterway known for its incredibly clear blue waters that maintain a comfortable temperature year-round. The pond features multiple springs including the popular Blue Spring and is perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and underwater exploration. Its limestone bottom and vibrant underwater visibility make it one of the most unique swimming destinations in the Florida panhandle.
7. Spring Creek Park
FAMILY-FRIENDLY SWIMMING SPOT
Spring Creek Park offers visitors a clean, accessible swimming area where spring-fed waters create a refreshing escape from Florida's heat. The park includes convenient amenities like picnic tables, restrooms, and shallow areas that make it particularly suitable for families with children. Local residents and tourists alike appreciate the park's well-maintained facilities and the natural beauty of its waterfront setting.
8. Ponce de Leon Springs State Park
HISTORIC NATURAL SPRING
Ponce de Leon Springs State Park centers around a natural spring that pumps out 14 million gallons of crystal clear, 68-degree water daily, creating an ideal natural swimming area. The spring's limestone basin offers swimmers a refreshing experience in waters once rumored to have healing properties and sought by the famous explorer. Beyond swimming, visitors can enjoy picnicking under the shade trees, hiking nature trails, and observing the abundant wildlife that thrives around this pristine water source.
9. Vortex Spring
DIVING AND SWIMMING HAVEN
Vortex Spring is Florida's largest diving facility, featuring crystal clear waters that maintain a constant 68 degrees and reach depths of 50 feet for cave diving enthusiasts. The spring features swimming platforms, rope swings, and shallow areas that make it accessible for swimmers of all ages and abilities. As one of the most popular recreational springs in Northwest Florida, Vortex offers both adventurous underwater exploration and relaxed surface swimming in its breathtakingly clear waters.
10. Morrison Springs Park
PRISTINE UNDERWATER VISIBILITY
Morrison Springs Park features a stunning first-magnitude spring that produces 48 million gallons of clear water daily, creating a 250-foot diameter spring pool with underwater visibility that can exceed 100 feet. The spring offers a sandy bottom swimming area with depths ranging from shallow edges perfect for wading to a central vent reaching 300 feet deep, attracting both casual swimmers and certified cave divers. Recently improved facilities include a boardwalk, floating dock, and observation deck that make this natural wonder more accessible while preserving its pristine character.