The 10 Best Summer Spots to Swim in Greater Gainesville
By Jennifer Kennedy
Greater Gainesville is full of refreshing places to cool off on a hot summer day. Take refuge from the Florida sun at one of these popular pools or springs:
Dwight H. Hunter Pool
1100 NE 14th Street, Gainesville
Enjoy lap swimming with 21 short course and eight long course lanes. Children can play in the splash pad or the shallow area that starts at 1.5 feet. Families can dine at picnic tables under the pavilion.
Andrew R. Mickle Sr. Pool
1717 SE 15th Street, Gainesville
Opening Memorial Day weekend, the seasonal summer pool allows visitors to test their strength on the climbing wall. Divers can choose from the one- and three-meter diving boards. Kickboards and pull buoys are available upon request.
H. Spurgeon Cherry Pool
1001 Northwest 31st Drive, Gainesville
The pool at the Albert “Ray” Massey Recreation Center offers swim lessons and deck space for picnicking and sunbathing. The full-featured aquatics facility boasts diving towers and an aqua slide.
North Central Florida YMCA
5201 NW 34th Boulevard Gainesville
Members can enjoy aquatic exercise classes or swimming lessons for all ages. The North Central Florida YMCA’s pool has lap lanes, family swim time and a kid-friendly open swim area. The spacious pool deck provides picnic tables and shade.
Ruth B. Kirby Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park
7450 N.E. 60th Street, High Springs
Snorkeling and swimming are popular activities at Florida’s newest state park. The outstanding water quality of the collection of natural springs allows guests to clearly admire turtles and fish. A concession stand offers food, beverages and paddling equipment rentals.
Ginnie Springs
7300 NE Ginnie Springs Road, High Springs
Visitors can swim or experience these seven crystal clear springs, Nicknamed “a slice of pure Florida,” with innertubes, kayaks, paddleboards or canoes. Divers can explore three different dive sites and take advantage of their full-service dive center for gear rental.
Poe Springs
28800 NW 182nd Avenue, High Springs
Hike through Poe Springs Park to swim or fish in the refreshing water that boasts 72 degrees all year ‘round. As Alachua County’s largest spring, it pumps 45 million gallons of water each day. Guests can enjoy the playground, volleyball courts, sports fields and hiking trails at the park.
Rum Island Springs
1447 SW Rum Island Terrace, Fort White
Swim and snorkel in the clear, spring-fed waters, kayak or canoe down the Santa Fe River. Visitors can hike several nearby nature trails. The park hosts bird-watching tours, events and festivals throughout the year.
Ichetucknee Springs State Park
12087 SW US Highway 27 Fort White
Swim in the park’s eight major crystal-clear springs that join to create the 6-mile Ichetucknee River. One of the most pristine spring runs in the state, Ichetucknee is a National Natural Landmark. The 2,669-acre park is also home to a variety of wildlife.
11650 NW 115th Street, Chiefland
Spot a manatee while you cool off in one of Florida’s 33 first-magnitude springs. Volunteers record sightings of the gentle giants on a daily basis in this, the largest single spring flowing into the Suwannee River. Cave divers can explore a maze of underwater tunnels and passages.
