Man, is it hot! I have a love/hate relationship with summer. I love the sunshine, the sweet sundresses and the cool shades. But I hate to sweat. My “cool as a cucumber” look can quickly turn into “excuse me while I go dry off in front of that air conditioner.” So when I’m traveling during the summer months, I always pack a bathing suit and flip flops or cut-off shorts and water shoes.
Beaches are great if you’re staying in a coastal town, but if not, then what? Hotel pools can be so boring. They all start to look and feel the same. So listen up – Whym prides ourselves on finding the cool and the unique in every place. If you’re lucky enough to be staying in any of these towns, you just gotta check out these cool spots to beat the heat.
Rumor has it that this is where Robert Redford learned to swim! Right in the heart of Austin, Texas, this three-acre swimming pool exists within the channel of Barton Creek cutting right through this major metropolis and is filled entirely with water from nearby natural springs. Located on the grounds of Zilker Park, it draws plenty of sunbathers and those looking to beat the Texas heat. Because it’s filled by local hot springs, the water is crystal clear and always stays between 68 – 74 degrees. A little extra insider tip? stop by The Picnic for some great food truck food to bring to have a picnic by the water!
You know Texas – they like everything bigger and better. This mammoth 232-acre preserve is home to a natural jade-green pool that was created when the dome of an underground river collapsed due to massive erosion thousands of years ago. This refreshing pool flows into a 50-foot waterfall. The pool is located about 23 miles west of Austin but so worth the trip!
Sliding Rock got it’s name because adventurous tourists and locals alike love to slide all the way down the waterfall into a plunge pool below. It’s actually a rock and small slide-type waterfall on Looking Glass Creek, in the Pisgah National Forest between Brevard and Asheville, NC. It has a gentle slope and is about 60 feet long with 11,000 gallons of water rushing into a large, deep pool (between 6–7 feet deep) at the bottom. The water is very cold (50-60 degrees) for wimps like us at Whym but it’s a popular spot and draws large crowds on sweltering hot days.
Okay, how much time have you got? This one is a little hard to get to, but trust me, you won’t regret it. Located in Havasupai tribal lands deep within the Grand Canyon, it’s not accessible by road, but only by foot on a daunting 8-mile-plus hike. Therefore the Falls are never crowded; only a couple thousand visitors a year. This idyllic spot is an awe-inspiring sight: a dramatic waterfall that drops more than 100 feet over the side of a red, travertine rock face, collecting in a handful of impossibly turquoise pools below.
Situated among rolling hills along the Blackburn Fork State Scenic River an hour and a half from Nashville, TN, Cummins Falls are impressive at 75′ high. Once named the “Tenth Best Swimming Hole in America” by Travel and Leisure, this lofty narrow cascade gives way to a series of broad but shallow terrace-like falls eventually arriving at a large pool. There is a lookout area at the top, which is less than half a mile from the car park, which means you can enjoy the majesty of this fall without much effort. However, if you want to get your toes wet and truly drink in the magnificence, then prepare yourself for an adventure. The trail descends for a mile over mixed terrain which can be slippery, but it is considered a hike for beginners.
Out in the Ozarks, roughly 2 hours from St. Louis, this is more of a natural water park than actual swim hole. The beautiful pink granite, blueish-gray rhyolite, and dolomite bedrock converge creating cascades and narrow channels that are ideal for cooling off. Whym has gone slip sliding away in this wet and wild playground and all we can say is wow! It’s easy to get to, which means it can get crowded but it’s a great spot for kids of all ages.
Okay, so the word is out about all the summer fun to be had at the Three Pools along the Little North Santiam River. Whym was feeling left out so we headed out for some excellent swimming and cliff jumping! This trifecta of aquamarine pools, rocky cliffs and a beautiful pebbled beach is perfect for hours of laying on your towel soaking up the summer sun. Even with the large crowds, the area is large enough for everyone to get their own little space. It’s an offering worthy of the gods.
Located between Lee and Jasper in Florida, this crystal clear, first magnitude spring is a popular spot for swimming and cave diving. About 82 feet wide, 25 feet deep, and a 150 feet long, this spring-run bubbles up into a limestone basin along the west bank of the Withlacoochee River. Voted the #1 swimming hole in the country by USA Today, Madison Blue Spring is a family favorite destination and a fantastic place to spend the day. Scenic woodlands create a picturesque setting for picnicking, paddling and wildlife viewing too.
Halfway between Albuquerque and Amarillo—off of Route 66, this place is within a two-hour drive of most New Mexico cities. The Blue Hole is a clear, sapphire gem in Santa Rosa’s crown. It tops the list for scuba divers, yes, but it also has a gorgeous 80′ wide pool and cliffs to jump off (or steps for scaredy-cats). When we say the cavernous pool is crystal clear, we mean it; the perpetually 62-degree water maintains 100 percent visibility down to 80 feet deep and has 3,000 gallons of water flowing every minute. There’s also a water park for kids close by.
Jacobs Well’s swim hole is at the end of one of the longest underwater cave systems in Texas.
Without the right training or equipment to dive here, unfortunate scuba divers have given this hole an unfortunate notoriety for being dangerous. For swimmers, loungers and wallowers, however, this place is magical. The seemingly bottomless spring fed crystal clear waters invites you to jump into infinity. This pool is small though, comparatively, at just 12 feet across with the shallows spreading a little further beyond. This place takes a little advance planning since capacity is limited to 60 people during a 2 hour period. Reservations should be booked 2 weeks in advance.
Under a canopy of cypress trees in Wimberly, TX, you find the clean, crisp waters of Blue Hole on Cypress Creek. It is part of a municipal park, so it can get busy. Parking is ample and you can make reservations. Whym kids really enjoyed the beginner rope swing, while us adults tried our hand at the advanced swing that you have to jump out and grab over the water. You can also just float under the shade trees and people watch. Super cool and super fun!
A perfect day trip from Pittsburgh, Ohiopyle has a lot to offer wilderness junkies, with kayaking, fly-fishing, bicycling and more, but the natural 300 million year old sandstone waterslide makes for a seriously fun water park! The length and speed of the slide depends on the water levels, so summer is the perfect time to visit. This corkscrewing waterway terminates with a dunk into a 3 foot deep pool. Ahhhhh awesome!
Summertime means one thing for certain in New England: hair-raising humidity. And in an effort to escape the heat, Whym took off for Diana’s Baths in Bartlett. The combination of cooler White Mountain air and chilly waterfalls, brooks, and cascades makes it an especially popular spot for those vacationing in nearby North Conway Village. This spot is more of a walking tour through the forest with wading pools to sit in and cool off. Its a great respite from the heat and perfect for a picnic – but bring your bug spray! The 12 foot waterfall over the granite rock is so pretty and the sound of the rushing water through the babbling brook is the ultimate relaxation.
Whym 