August in Atlanta is a lot more bearable thanks to this sprawling, man-made lake off I-85, about an hour northeast of the city. Spend a day jumping into the spring-fed swimming hole, scuba diving in its deep Cherokee Sink, or hiking the surrounding old-growth forest and you’ll soon understand why the area around the Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park has been designated as a National Natural Landmark. One of the largest hand-cut limestone dams in America helped form this placid lake, ready-made for swimming, boating, and fishing. Rates from $129. Besides water-themed fun, Lake Barkley State Resort Park, situated on the recreational area’s eastern edge, also offers golfing, biking, camping, birding, and one of the South’s most elegant state resort lodges.
You can download a map and take your pick! These rushing waters about 5 miles south of Cashiers are a spectacular place to experience a waterfall with minimal effort. Courtesy of Discover South Carolina, Credit: For breathtaking views, hike the Point Lookout Trail. There are sandy beaches, large granite slabs and lots of shade to be found. You can float, fish, hike, swim—and learn a little African-American history in the process—at this 1,067-acre natural area on the banks of the South Fork Edisto River east of Aiken. Stay: The James F. Martin Inn at Clemson University (about 25 miles from the park) offers rooms overlooking Lake Hartwell, as well as access to the university’s Walker Golf Course. Now a state park, the De Leon Springs tourist attraction once featured a hotel, restaurant, boat rides, and even two water-skiing elephants named Sunshine Sally and Queenie. One of the most beautiful and accessible is Chau Ram Falls, about 25 miles west of Clemson. spot is Clarks Hole, which is less than a mile upstream. All rights Reserved. Stay: About 15 miles south of the preserve, The Liney Moon bed-and-breakfast in Dripping Springs features 10 quirky cottages with modern amenities. There are dozens of secret and not-so-secret spots to take a dip. You can also enjoy a view thanks to the resort’s balconies and patios. Photo courtesy Bureau of Land Management via Flickr.
Photo: Gary Clark, Credit: Cold temperatures, strong currents and underwater hazards can lead to serious injuries. You might want to call ahead before planning a trip. It has deep, sparkling pools and towering rocks along Big Chico Creek. Photo: Laurey W.Glenn, Credit: SC PRT/Perry Baker, Credit: Stay: The Laurelwood Inn in Cashiers offers renovated log structures containing 16 rooms and three suites, as well as a secluded log cabin. About 30 miles west of Austin and 50 miles east of Luckenbach, this swimming hole in a spring-fed box canyon is as famous in Texas as Waylon and Willie. Stay: About 10 miles northeast of the park, the Halesford Harbour Inn features rooms with mini kitchens and lakeside views, as well as boat rentals. The 1,435-acre park on the edge of Cherokee Lake features some of the best fishing, boating, swimming, hikng, and biking in the state of Tennessee. In the South, we are blessed with some of the best swimming holes in the entire country. Running through Northwest Florida, the Blackwater is smooth and sandy-bottomed, ideal for paddling a canoe or flopping onto an inner tube. The main draw—which has lured swimmers since the 1880s—is an underground spring that produces more than 19 million gallons of 72-degree water a day. Courtesy of the USDA Forest Service, Credit: You’ll find more than one swimming hole along the Little River in Northeastern Alabama, but locals call the main swimming area “Hippie Hole.” The rocky terrain surrounding the river at “Hippie Hole” offers adventure seekers plenty of opportunities for bouldering, cliff jumping, and rope swinging.
At Blackwater River State Park (about 20 miles northeast of Milton), you can explore swimming holes and hiking trails on your own, or stop at the nearby Adventures Unlimited Outdoor Center to sign up for one of the paddling or tubing trips down the Blackwater and its Coldwater Creek tributary. Rates from $120, Plan Your Visit: William B. Bankhead National Forest Ranger Station.
Natural Bridges is a natural rock formation near Vallecito in Calaveras County. Rates from $170, Plan Your Visit: Harpeth River State Park, If you love waterfalls but hate hiking, then head to these multilevel waters some 20 miles west of Helen. Photo: Hoton Duran, Credit:
You can claim a spot on a rock and bring a floatie to let the gentle current bob you around. Just 25 miles outside of Austin, Texas, is Hamilton Pool in Dripping Springs, Texas. Call it nature’s Slip ’N Slide. You can also enjoy hiking trails ranging from an easy half-mile stroll to a more strenuous 3-mile trek through hardwood and pine forests to scenic vistas. After a good splash, take a stroll along one of the hiking trails, where interpretive signs tell the story of the park’s unique beginnings: Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, Aiken State Park was one of the few projects in the country completed entirely by an African-American detachment of the Depression-era public works program—and the workers’ construction skills are evident in several original structures located throughout the park. More than 30 waterfalls tumble, rumble, and roar throughout South Carolina’s Upcountry region in the northwest corner of the state. If you’ve got designs on the annual lake lift competition held during the Dirty Dancing Festival (August 19-20 this year), just remember—romance is always easier in the movies. Then explore the Newsom’s Mill Ruins just off I-40, about 20 miles north of Franklin.
Formed 60 years ago when the Buford Dam was constructed on the Chattahoochee River, Lake Sidney Lanier now covers 39,000 acres and includes nearly 700 miles of shoreline. Stay: A hot breakfast and a couple of evening cocktails are included with your room at the Drury Plaza Hotel in Franklin. Fed by the Whitewater River, the 25-foot falls tumble just a quarter mile from a roadside parking area that’s located off State 107.
It’s a small spot, so come early to avoid the crowds. Rates from $220 (for a two-bedroom suite), Plan Your Visit: Jamestown Beach Event Park. Lyon Real Estate is the leading independent real estate brokerage company in Greater Sacramento (Sacramento Business Journal). Stay: The family-owned Alpine Lodge and Suites (just off I-40 East in Cookeville) features comfortable rooms with great mountain views. With Sacramento’s toasty temps, one of the best ways to keep cool is by spending the day by the water.
Southern Living is a registered trademark of, These Haircuts Are Going To Be Huge in 2021, The Best Casserole Recipes for Cozy Nights In, Use These Quick Tricks to Keep a Halloween Pumpkin from Rotting, 50 Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime, The James F. Martin Inn at Clemson University, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest Ranger Station, William B. Bankhead National Forest Ranger Station, The Nantahala National Forest District Station. You’ll find more than one swimming hole along the Little River in Northeastern Alabama, but locals call the main swimming area “Hippie Hole.”. The centerpiece of Chau Ram County Park, the waterfall forms as Ramsey Creek empties into the Chauga River then pours 40 feet downward onto smooth boulders. There are additional swimming holes further upstream if you’re in the mood to explore. Stay: In the town of Santee (about 5 miles south of the state park), Clark’s Inn and Restaurant offers one of the best eateries in town and golf packages that provide access to several area courses. Stay: Within the park, the Wakulla Springs Lodge is an Art Deco gem. Many hikes begin in the area near the intersection of Highway 49 and Old Foresthill Road, with spur trails down to the water.
Leap of faith #tallulahgorge #leapoffaith #georgiaadventures #waterfalls #northgeorgia, A photo posted by Olivia Rae (@oliviarae2) on May 12, 2015 at 5:02pm PDT. Some spots to consider are near the Bridgeport Covered Bridge, where the water is mellow and perfect for families, under the Old Highway 49 Bridge, which has deep pools and stairs down to the water, Edwards Crossing, with a small waterfall, and Purdon Crossing, where you can access wide, sandy Mother’s Beach. Lyon has served the area for over 70 years. A suspension bridge over the river offers access to easily hiked trails that lead to even more Upcountry waterfalls. Stay: The Holiday Inn Express and Suites in the small college burg of Morristown is about 10 miles from the park. There is also a covered bridge here, as well as restrooms and picnic facilities. You can sightsee, soak, or swim at these multilevel falls about 9 miles north of Cookeville.
After a splash, dog-paddle to shore, get in line on the handrail-guarded incline, and go again. Rates from $120, Plan Your Visit: Ozark National Scenic Riverways. One option is near the Putah Creek Trailhead parking lot just outside Winters, south of Lake Berryessa.
1. The whitewater of the Black River shoots through the shut-ins, allowing swimmers to move from one pool to the next. Rates from $100. Located in Upper Bidwell Park in Chico, Bear Hole is a popular swimming spot for adventurous types. Rates from $89, Plan Your Visit: The Nantahala National Forest District Station. Closer to Franklin, you’ll find another park swimming hole—complete with a rope swing—near the intersection of Temple Road and the Old Natchez Trace. Pools are nice (if you have one!) Rates from $89, Plan Your Visit: Pisgah National Forest District Station. The Best Swimming Holes Within Two Hours of Sacramento. About an hour’s drive north of Charleston lies the largest lake in South Carolina—so big that locals have dubbed it “the inland sea.” Lake Marion spreads for 171 square miles over five counties, helping farmers irrigate their crops, giving anglers plenty of promising spots to fish, and creating a large, watery playground for skiers and swimmers. Luckily, the Sacramento area is crisscrossed by rivers, streams and creeks, so there are plenty of options to choose from! Talk about old-school Florida.
Stay: The boutique 1905 Basin Park Hotel is within walking distance of more than 100 Eureka Springs shops and restaurants. Enter Here, 8 Hot Springs You Need to Visit Near Sacramento, The 9 Hottest Sacramento Area Neighborhoods for Young Professionals, 18 Things To Do in and Around Sacramento For Under $10 (and Free!). ), Stay: The Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa in Young Harris (about 20 miles to the north) offers golf, horseback riding, and spa services in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Courtesy of Percepture, Credit: About an hour’s drive from the best wining and dining in Louisiana, you’ll find the state’s best trekking and tubing. Rent a canoe, kayak, or tube and take a floating trip down the river, or follow a boardwalk to Fricke’s Cave, a series of unusual sandstone formations rising above a river-bottom gorge.