Just two weeks out of school, and the kids are already bored. They’ve spent so much time in the pool that their bodies look like prunes. We’ve been to the beach so often that I fear sea oats will sprout from their scalps.

It’s time for a change.

“Water park!” I yell, and the little rascals come running for the car. No kid can resist a water slide or a wave pool, but my little ones are in for a big surprise.

“I am going to take you to a real water park,” I tell them.

As the kids play in the shallows, I think about the long, hot summer ahead and smile. That is why God made swimming holes, I think to myself, and Florida has more than its fair share.

As we drive down the highway, they try to get me to reveal where we’re headed. They go through the usual suspects, but each guess is answered with a resounding “no.”

Perplexed and frustrated, they nod off in the back seat. When we finally arrive at Rainbow River State Park, and I stop the car beneath the shade of an old oak, they rub the sleep from their eyes and ask, “Where are we?”

“A real water park,” I say as I lead them down the tree-lined trail to the river’s edge.

The sunlight sparkles on the crystal blue water, and plants sway in the current like trees in the breeze. From the dock, we can see dark shapes moving across the spring’s sandy bottom.

“What are those things?” my daughter asks.

“Fish,” I say.

Her eyes grow wide. “Are they going to eat me?” she asks.

“No, they’re nice fish.”

As the kids play in the shallows, I think about the long, hot summer ahead and smile. That is why God made swimming holes, I think to myself, and Florida has more than its fair share.

 
Clear Water

Rainbow River and Springs, a pristine system about two hours north of Tampa, has six miles of gin-clear water just waiting for swimmers, snorkelers and inner-tube riders eager to cool off.

The headwaters are a semicircular spring with four main boils. Just 14 feet at its deepest, the river features public swimming access at Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon.

Travel a short distance downstream to K.P. Hole County Parkand some of the best tubing in the state. At the height of summer, as many as 1,000 tubers may hit the river a day. There is no public shuttle service, so you will need to take two cars or arrange for someone to do pick-up and drop-off duties.

The water remains a constant 74 degrees, so it’s a place perfectly suited to summer. Snorkelers and scuba divers who drift with the gentle current may see fossils and stone tools left by the area’s first inhabitants. These items are part of the preserve and protected by law.

Another great place to tube, paddle and swim is Ichetucknee Springs State Park, which is one of the state’s most popular summertime escapes. This short, spring-fed river is located 35 miles northwest of Gainesville. Despite its popularity, this river remains crystal clear because park operators allow only a limited number of people on the river each day. On a summer weekend, the park can fill up quickly. Go early, and if possible, go on a weekday. No food or drink is allowed on the river, and there are no camping facilities.

The Ocala area has plenty of swimming holes. About 25 miles northeast of Ocala, Salt Springs Recreation Area is one of three springs in Ocala National Forest. Day-use activities include picnicking, canoeing, hiking and swimming.

Alexander Springs Recreation Area is about 30 miles southeast of Ocala and offers swimming, canoeing and good scuba diving. Juniper Springs Recreation Area is one of the oldest and better-known recreation areas in the forest. It’s about 25 miles east of Ocala and great for swimming and snorkeling.

If you head east, you’ll come across Blue Spring, near Orlando, which spews 104 million gallons of pure, fresh water every day. Swimming is allowed in a designated area separated by buoys from the manatee refuge zone. For more adventurous souls, scuba diving is allowed in the spring. Blue Spring State Park is roughly a 2½-hour drive from the Tampa Bay area.

A dip in Ponce de Leon Springs, named for the Spanish explorer who came to Florida in search of the legendary “Fountain of Youth,” might just add a few years to your life. The main spring, a constant 68 degrees year round, pumps out 14 million gallons of water each day. After a swim, take a leisurely hike along two nature trails that meander through a lush, hardwood forest. Picnic tables, grills and restrooms are also available. In the northwest part of the state, Ponce de Leon State Park is about halfway between Pensacola and Tallahassee.

Wekiwa Springs, located near Apopka, is another favorite for locals hoping to beat the heat. The spring, with 72-degree water, is surrounded by a natural park area that is ideal for spreading out a blanket and enjoying a picnic lunch.

This state park is located at the headwaters of the Wekiva River, which hasn’t changed much since Timucuan Indians fished it and hunted in the surrounding forests. The river, one of the most pristine in Florida, is popular with canoeists and kayakers, who can also paddle nearby Rock Springs Run.

Manatee Springs, about six miles west of Chiefland, is a first-magnitude spring (the term refers to water volume) that pumps more than 100 million gallons of water daily. It gets its name from the endangered sea cows that swim up the river in cooler weather to spend the night in the warm waters of the headspring.

This state park welcomes scuba divers and paddlers. An isolated patch of paradise, it is a perfect place to get away from civilization, even if just for a day.

Troy Spring, a 70-foot-deep, first-magnitude spring, is another great place to swim, snorkel and scuba dive. This state park, located near Branford, northwest of Gainesville, contains the wreckage of the Civil War-era steamboat Madison, which was scuttled in the spring run in 1863 to keep it from being captured by Union troops.

Recently acquired by the Florida State Park system, Troy Spring now has restrooms, picnic tables and a riverside access area for paddlers and boaters on the Suwannee River.