Florida’s Best-Kept Secret
How does it feel to dive deep below water and see everything around you like you’re floating in air? Just venture into Morrison Springs to find out. With its crystal-clear visibility, you could watch a largemouth bass swim by or a freshwater eel glide near your toes or get a unique view of the old-growth cypress trees that crowd the bank.
No wonder Morrison Springs in Walton County, Florida, has become one of the most popular diving sites in the Southeast and attracts visitors from across the country. Scuba divers, swimmers, snorkelers, paddlers, and anglers alike love the underwater cave system, which reaches depths measured up to 300 feet—one larger cavern’s exact size is still unknown. The main pool is 250 feet in diameter and discharges an average of 48 million gallons of refreshingly chilly water every day from three aquifer-fed vents into the nearby Choctawhatchee River.
Morrison Springs is a popular destination for swimming, paddling, and scuba diving. (Photo: Walton County Tourism)
And that’s just one adventure that Authentic Walton has to offer.
Located in the Florida Panhandle, with its southernmost edge bordering the Gulf of Mexico, Walton County is home to multiple state parks and wildlife management areas. It’s also home to multiple charming historic neighborhoods north of Choctawhatchee Bay, including Freeport, Paxton, and DeFuniak Springs, where Morrison Springs sit just to the east. Here’s what you can expect to find in each of them.
Freeport
Find New Adventure in Well-Traveled Waters
On-water adventure is a way of life for those in Freeport. Choctawhatchee Bay is the center of attention here, offering boating, fishing, paddleboarding, and swimming. The watery paradise, abundant with food, was inhabited by Native Americans before drawing early settlers to its natural harbor in the 1830s. The settlement was originally known as Genoa—renamed as Freeport after the Civil War because there was no charge to dock at the local port.
Fishing on the Choctawhatchee Bay. (Photo: Walton County Tourism)
Freeport honors the importance of nature with the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center, which sees more than 5,000 visitors each year and supports conservation and sustainability education across five counties in Florida’s Panhandle. It’s named for E.O. Wilson, considered one of the greatest natural scientists of modern time and who has roots in Florida.
DeFuniak Springs
Explore History Through Architecture and Hot Dogs
If you want to photograph historic buildings, eat great food, and glamp under the stars, head to DeFuniak Springs. Take a driving tour around picturesque Lake DeFuniak to see the historic buildings—there are 200 in total, and 40 are on the National Register of Historic Places. For a taste of the local food culture, Main Street has many restaurants, ranging from pastries at Perla Baking Co. to Florida’s oldest hot dog stand at H&M Hot Dogs. Downtown you’ll also find boutiques, stores, and a spa at the Pink House. And from DeFuniak Springs, you’re only a short drive from outdoor adventure at Morrison Springs.
Enjoy the historic buildings and winding paths along the lakeyard at the heart of DeFuniak Springs. (Photo: Walton County Tourism)
On a hill in the center of DeFuniak Springs stands Walton County’s oldest house, the Sunbright Inn. Newly restored by Walton County local Patrick O’Neill, the Sunbright was originally built in 1886. The restoration pays tribute to the historical aspects of the Walton County region through each room’s themes, colors, and antique decor.
For a waterfront lodging experience like few others, book a stay at the award-winning Twin Lakes Camp Resort, featuring 66 rental sites with a variety of accommodations, including glamping tents furnished with 100-year-old sinker pinewood-framed king beds, full bathrooms, kitchenettes, heat, and air conditioning. Guests even have access to 12 docks as well as boat and kayak rentals to explore off-shore on King and Holley lakes.
Paxton
Ground Yourself in Pastoral Beauty
Paxton’s allure is in its farming history, rolling hills, and lush forests. On the edge of Lake Jackson—the perfect place to launch a kayak, canoe, or motorboat—outdoor fun melds with the quaint town’s agricultural roots.
Lakewood Park, just north of Paxton, boasts Florida’s highest point at 345 feet above sea level, which also happens to be the lowest high point of any state in the country. Enjoy that contradiction with a few photos at Britton Hill, which was named for William Henry Britton, who developed the area in the early 1900s.
The night sky at Lakewood Park. (Photo: Walton County Tourism)
Wherever you choose to begin your trip in Authentic Walton, there’s no doubt your stay will be filled with water, adventure, history, and connection to place.
A wide variety of shopping, dining, and activities await in Authentic Walton, Florida. Encompassing Paxton, DeFuniak Springs, and Freeport, these communities are filled with incredible historic treasures and pastoral landscapes. Every experience here feels genuine, with a friendly vibe that makes all visitors feel welcome. For more, please visit AuthenticWalton.com.
The post Florida’s Best-Kept Secret appeared first on Outside Online.
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