Bonifay FloridaBEACHES & WATERFRONT ESCAPES
Listed below are the best beaches and waterfront escapes near Bonifay, Florida.
1. Grayton Beach State Park
NATURAL GULF COAST BEAUTY
Grayton Beach State Park offers pristine white-sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico in South Walton County. Visitors can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and fishing in the emerald waters, as well as hiking trails through coastal forest areas. The park provides a more natural beach experience with fewer crowds and full amenities including restrooms, showers, and picnic areas.
2. Deer Lake State Park
DUNES AND COASTAL DUNE LAKES
Deer Lake State Park features a rare coastal dune lake ecosystem alongside beautiful Gulf beaches. The park offers a boardwalk through pristine dune systems leading to relatively uncrowded beach areas perfect for swimming and nature observation. Nature enthusiasts appreciate the diverse plant and animal life found within the park's protected habitats.
3. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
PRISTINE DUNES AND BEACHES
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park boasts over three miles of secluded white sand beaches and dunes reaching up to 25 feet tall. The park contains freshwater coastal dune lakes, offering visitors unique opportunities for swimming, fishing, and paddling in both gulf and lake environments. Visitors can access the beach via a tram service or scenic hiking trail through natural coastal landscapes.
4. Panama City Beach
WORLD'S MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACHES
Panama City Beach features 27 miles of sugar-white sand beaches along the emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Visitors can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, water sports, and fishing, plus access to numerous beachfront dining and entertainment options. The beach area offers excellent amenities including accessible beach access points, restrooms, and rental services for chairs and umbrellas.
5. Holmes Creek
CRYSTAL CLEAR PADDLING PARADISE
Holmes Creek is a pristine waterway near Bonifay offering crystal-clear waters ideal for paddling, swimming, and fishing. The creek is known for its limestone springs, including the popular Cypress Spring, where the water maintains a refreshing 68 degrees year-round. Visitors can rent canoes or kayaks to explore this natural treasure with multiple access points along its length.
6. Ponce de Leon Springs State Park
HISTORIC NATURAL SPRING
Ponce de Leon Springs State Park centers around a natural spring that pumps 14 million gallons of crystal-clear water daily, maintaining a constant 68-degree temperature perfect for year-round swimming. The spring forms a natural swimming area surrounded by lush forests with picnic facilities, hiking trails, and interpretive displays about the area's natural history. Visitors enjoy the refreshing waters in a family-friendly setting with amenities including changing rooms, restrooms, and picnic pavilions.
7. Vortex Spring
POPULAR DIVING DESTINATION
Vortex Spring is Florida's largest diving facility, featuring crystal-clear waters flowing at 28 million gallons daily from an underground cave system. The spring offers swimming areas with depths ranging from shallow wading sections to a 50-foot-deep spring basin popular with scuba divers and snorkelers. Visitors can enjoy the private facility's amenities including diving platforms, zip lines over the water, camping facilities, and a dive shop.
8. Morrison Springs Park
CRYSTAL BLUE SWIMMING HOLE
Morrison Springs Park features a second-magnitude spring basin producing 48 million gallons of clear water daily, creating an ideal natural swimming area. The spring basin reaches depths of 300 feet in places and attracts both casual swimmers and certified cave divers exploring its underwater caverns. The county park offers amenities including a diving dock, boat ramp, restrooms, and boardwalks with viewing platforms overlooking the spring.
9. Choctawhatchee River
SCENIC PADDLING ADVENTURE
The Choctawhatchee River flows near Bonifay offering scenic waterways perfect for paddling, fishing, and wildlife observation. The river features sandy beaches at low water levels, making natural spots for picnicking and swimming in its tea-colored waters. Outdoor enthusiasts can access the river at several public boat ramps and landings throughout Holmes County.
10. Shell Island
UNDEVELOPED BEACH PARADISE
Shell Island is a pristine 7-mile undeveloped barrier island accessible only by boat, ferry, or tour, offering a natural beach experience without crowds or commercial development. Visitors can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and shell collecting along its white sand beaches bordered by emerald waters known for dolphin sightings. The island's preservation as a natural habitat provides a glimpse of Florida's unspoiled coastal landscape, though visitors should bring all necessary supplies as there are no facilities on the island.