Looking for water this weekend? Here places to swim in or near Tallahassee
As the weather warms up and workers get an extra day off, Memorial Day weekend is a popular time for crowds to find water.
To help you dive into the three-day weekend and the rest of summer, we have gathered a list of pools, springs, and beaches for you to visit. All of these locations are either in Tallahassee or just a quick road trip away.
So, call your friends, gather the kids and rip those tags off your swimsuits. It's time to make a splash.
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Pools in the Tallahassee area
Randy Trousdell Aquatics Center
Location: 298 John Knox Road.
Randy Trousdell Aquatics Center is an amusement center with a 50-meter pool that offers 14 swimming lanes to the public along with slides and a playground. A prized destination for families all around the city looking to splash around.
The center’s hours may differ for the holiday, but weekend hours will be the same with Saturday's hours being 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday's hours being from 10 a.m. to 4 pm.
Wade Wehunt Pool
Location: 1206 Myers Park Drive
This indoor and outdoor center is a year-round go-to offering lap swimming, water exercises, swim lessons, and open swimming for all ages.
The center’s hours may differ for the holiday, but weekend hours will be the same with Saturday's hours being 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Sunday's hours being from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Admission fees for both the Randy Trousdell Aquatics Center and Wade Wehunt Pool are $4.75 for ages 17-61, and $4.50 for children up to the age of $16, and $4 for ages 62 plus.
The openings of some of the capital city’s favorites are in question due to a lack of staffing, the city of Tallahassee is currently hiring for lifeguards who are willing to help ensure the safety and enjoyment of children and individuals.
Here are a list of city-owned pools that are awaiting opening dates this summer:
- Forest Meadows Pool
- Levy Pool
- Robinson-Trueblood Pool
- Walker-Ford Pool
For more information about applying for lifeguard positions or more details about the communities pools and swimming lessons, you can visit:https://www.talgov.com/parks/aquatics.
Beaches nearby Tallahassee, Florida
Bald Point State at Alligator Point
Location: Alligator Point, Florida
Approximately 40 miles from Tallahassee
This park offers access to two Apalachee Bay beaches making it a playground with activities including swimming, fishing and canoeing. This park also provides plenty of out-of-water activities making it a go-to for sightseeing, bird watching, and hiking with its diversity of marshes, pines and oaks. There are options for everyone whether you’re there to learn, sightsee or splash around.
Admissions are $4 per vehicle with up to eight passengers and $2 for other pedestrians or bicycles. The park opens from 8 a.m. and closes at sundown.
Cape San Blas
Location: Gulf County, Florida
Approximately 99 miles from Tallahassee
Cape San Blas is considered more of a hidden gem with its crystal-clear water, prized viewing sites and seclusion. The narrow strip curves around St. Joseph Bay and offers activities for all to dive into. Water activities available include fishing, kayaking and paddle boarding. Out of the water, the hidden beach offers trails including Loggerhead and Serenity Trail for biking and hiking. There are also courts available for one of Tallahassee’s favorite sports, pickleball, along with a playground, and screened-in pavilion for picnic use.
Carrabelle Beach
Location: Carrabelle, Florida
Approximately 56 miles from Tallahassee
This quiet beach has been praised for being off the radar for tourists, but the “forgotten coast” is a prized spot for those who have gotten to visit. The dog-friendly coastline can help complete a quiet getaway filled with swimming, sunbathing and fishing. There are restaurants and small stores for you to visit as well that give a taste of that “old Florida” feel. This gem is just right for those looking to be in the water and enjoy it with their dogs too.
St. George Island
Location: St. George Island, Florida
Approximately 76 miles from Tallahassee
We have what is deemed as the No. 1 beach by Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, more popularly known as ‘Dr. Beach,’ a professor in the Department of Earth & Environment at Florida International University. This “piece of paradise” finally solidified its number one spot after jumping back and forth in ranks on the list in the 33 years of its reign. The nearly 30-mile beachfront offers its guests a secluded beach experience with a range of activities to do from swimming to kayaking and shelling. This island helps curate an itinerary for the day with a small village on the other side filled with restaurants, hotels, and motels just in case the day trip turns into a three-day getaway.
Admission is $6 per vehicle for those with two to eight passengers and $4 for single-occupant vehicles. It is $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, and passengers in vehicles with holders of the Annual Individual Entrance Pass.
More: Take that, Hawaii! This Florida beach tops Dr. Beach's Top 10 list for 2023
Natural springs near Tallahassee, Florida
Blue Springs Recreational Area
Location: 5461 Blue Springs Road Marianna, Florida 32446.
Approximately 65 miles from Tallahassee
This self-designated “liquid playground” opens just in time for the three-day weekend with an opening scheduled for this Saturday. The playground offers a range of activities to enjoy with friends and family. From swimming and diving in the spring to canoeing and kayaking there are a range of options on how to cool down in the 68-degree spring. Materials for canoeing and kayaking are available for rent along with paddle boats and tubes to help you discover smaller springs including Shangri-La, Indian Washtub, and Twin Caves. If you’re looking to stay dry there is a children’s playground, picnic pavilions, park benches, boating docks and volleyball courts available. Trails including the Blue Springs Nature Trail which stretches several miles through the uplands is also available to explore.
Admission is $4 per person. Canoes, small and large paddle boats are available for $10 an hour. While tube, volleyball, and basketball rentals are set at $5 for the day.
Wacissa River Springs at the Wacissa Springs County Park
Location: 433 Wacissa Springs Road, Monticello, Florida.
Approximately 24 miles from Tallahassee
This spring is dubbed as one of the most diverse bodies of water in Florida with a dozen springs pouring into it. This spring serves as a hub for swimmers, snorkelers and boaters from every level of expertise who are just looking to get their feet wet. You can scuba, dive, or snorkel but be advised the spring is on the cooler side as well. There are canoes and kayaks available for rental for the day to help you navigate crystal-clear waters and aquatic plants.
The weekends are the busiest, and it won’t be any different for the three-day weekend.
Wakulla Springs
Location: Wakulla Springs, FL
Approximately 15 miles from Tallahassee
One of the world’s largest and deepest freshwater springs, Wakulla Springs, has an array of options when it comes to amenities and features that can help entertain all ages. This scenic area in the heart of nature offers an area to swim, snorkel, and scuba dive and enjoy a boat tour to get a closer look at Florida’s wildlife. The park also offers trails for bicycling, geo-seeking and birding. These are just a few of the many options you have to choose from for your visit.
Admissions for the park are $6 per vehicle. The park opens at 8 a.m. and closes at sundown.
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Democrat writer Kyla A. Sanford can be reached at ksanford@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Pools, beaches & springs near Tallahassee: Places to swim this summer
