It’s a little too cool to hang on the beach all day during winter so during our last PCB trip we decided to do a little exploring and visit some nature spots in the Florida panhandle.
Although we went on separate days these two spots are near each-other and would be easy to visit on the same day. Both parks have a $5 / car admission and take cash or card.
First up was Ponce de Leon Springs
The beautiful turquoise pool is easily seen from the parking lot and I think this park offers a nice balance of pretty nature and developed accessibility. The park has a lot of picnic tables and the spring is surrounded by a concrete deck on two sides with a spot for jumping in and two ladder stairs. There’s a small bridge over the stream that flows from the spring to a short 1/2 mile loop that goes past the river.
The water is a cool 68 degrees year round so honestly I recommend just jumping in, you’ll get used to it after a few minutes.
After we got our pretty pictures and enjoyed the natural setting we were able to use the spacious restrooms to change, there is an outdoor shower to rinse off but you’ll have to wait until you get home to shower for real.
Next up was falling waters state park
Falling waters is a wet weather waterfall and the tallest waterfall in FL at 70ft. The water flows into one of several sink holes in the park and despite numerous efforts where it ends up is unknown. There was a light rain the day before our visit so the water flow was very light.
The walk to the observation deck is not too far from the parking lot – about .25 miles. There’s either a sidewalk or boardwalk the entire way so it’s very accessible.
Visiting these locations was a fun change of pace from spending the day on the beach. As a bonus they are near Chautauqua Winery which we happen to love so we also stopped by there before heading back to the condo. If you are looking for something different I think this is a great way to spend the day on your next trip.