Sure, beaches bring on the gorgeous views, pools present a place to stay cool, and water parks serve up exciting rides. But swimming holes, which offer all three of those features plus more, often make a bigger splash. From a freshwater spring, cavernous pool, and refreshing grotto tucked inside a state park to a waterfall slide off the side of a highway, these natural oases come in all shapes, sizes, and luckily, locations. Here, we rounded up 10 awesome swimming holes around the country, so that when the temps go up, you know where to cool down.
The Blue Hole, Texas
Swimming holes and Texas go together like summer and blazing heat. On fiery afternoons, locals flock to this cool, spring-fed pool in Wimberley with inner tubes. The surrounding cypress trees and grassy, picnic-perfect nooks mean shady business -- in the best way possible. And if a lazy float session doesn’t sound like your idea of fun, perhaps the rope swings will spark some excitement. Just channel your inner Tom Sawyer.
Santa Rosa Blue Hole, New Mexico
When in the New Mexico desert, make a mad dash to the coolest (in more ways than one) place you can find. Just off Route 66 in Santa Rosa, lies the 80-foot, 60-degree sapphire-colored swimming hole. Often referred to as the scuba diving capital of the southwest, the spring-fed oasis welcomes cannonballs, too. Go ahead and take the plunge.
Sliding Rock, North Carolina
Looking for a place to keep your cool during the dog days of summer? Head to Highway 276. Stay with us. Tucked in the heart of the Pisgah National Forest (a.k.a. “The Hunger Games” film location), off the highway, sits Mother Nature’s very own water slide. Locals and visitors, including families with kids of all ages, line up in a single file line to dart down the 60-foot rock slip n’ slide and into a seven-foot swimming hole. The waters reach chilly temps -- around 50 degrees -- making it a pretty popular (read: crowded) spot to beat the heat. But may the odds be ever in your favor.
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