The Florida Panhandle is uniquely populated with beautiful springs, rivers and emerald coastlines. If you’re from out of town, this page will help you decide which areas to visit and what accommodations await.
Buzzing the shoreline in shin deep water off of Shell Island in Panama City Beach. 
Nice day to beach the thundercat on the emerald coast 
The land from Pensacola to Key West along the Gulf of Mexico forms the Bay of Cracker
Destin – Okaloosa County
- Crab Island
- Choctawhatchee Bay
Marianna – Jackson County
- Chipola River
- Blue Springs/ Merritt’s Mill Pond
- Spring Creek
Panama City Beach – Bay County
- Shell Island
- Spring Run
- Choctawhatchee River
Cold, Fresh and Clear Freshwater Springs
Great for a hot summer day and a must visit are the many natural springs of Florida. There are over 900 freshwater springs in Florida. Some are private, some are open to the public and some are only accessible by boat. Here are the ones you’ll want to plan your vacation around when in the Florida Panhandle.
Blue Springs / Merritt’s Mill Pond
Located in Marianna Florida, Jackson County is the world famous Merritt’s Mill Pond. The 202 acre impoundment is home to the state record shellcracker (4.86lb readear sunfish) and a favorite for locals to beat the summer heat.
There are two boat ramps available for public entry into Merritt’s Mill Pond. The free one is about half way down the the Mill Pond off of Hunter Fish Camp Road. Parking is limited but the price is right. The second is at the campground off of Highway 90. They charge a premium to non camping boaters but the parking is easy.
The primary spring feeding Merritt’s Mill Pond is found at the Blue Springs Recreational Area and is open in the summer seven days a week. The incredibly large spring is commonly visited by cave divers. It’s a great place to spend the day cooling off with the family but there is no boat ramp access. You can, however, access the spring location by coming up river from Merritt’s Mill Pond. There are food vending, bathroom and other accommodations onsite and the entry is pretty cheap. The fee is by person and cash only, I think.
The second spring to feed the Mill Pond is the old Officer’s Club and is accessible by boat. There’s a unique limestone cliff that leads down to a small spring. A strong swimmer could make it to this spring from Blue Springs.
The third spring is still within the no wake zone but about half of a mile from Blue Springs. A dock has been built into the adjacent trees and is a great place to hang out for a small group. At least three springs on Merritt’s Mill Pond have entombed cave divers. This one is no exception.
The Merritt’s Mill Pond impoundment dam is located under the bridge that Hwy 90 crosses over. It was originally used as a power generator for an ice house and now just holds back water for higher real estate taxes. The first and original dam can be seen half way up the pond in satellite images. It was destroyed by the Union Army during the War of Northern Aggression. On the outfall side of the spillway is the beginning of Spring Creek. There is plenty of public parking at this location. Spring Creek is a popular entry location for Bear Paw tubing. The water of the Mill Pond has had a chance to warm up during it’s lazy 4 mile stretch so Spring Creek is one of few clear and not cold creeks. Spring Creek flows into the Chipola River and tubers typically exit at Bear Paw Bridge just south of the interstate.
Camping grounds are available at Florida Caverns State Park and at the Merritt’s Mill Pond dam on Highway 90.
Non-Ethanol fuel is available at Blondie’s on Hwy 90 in Grand Ridge. I think there’s some at the eastern Marianna exit Walmart too.
*Pro Tip #1 – The incredibly clear water makes fishing on the Mill Pond tough. Tricking a trophy shellcracker is unlikely but slow trolling a small crawfish with light line is said to be a good start.
*Pro Tip #2 – This water is pure and clear and that means slow. Don’t be surprised to see your top speed reduced by a few mph out here. The Mill Pond is flooded timber. To keep your lower unit in one piece, stick to the beaten path. The dangerous stumps are pretty well marked.
Spring Run / Choctawhatchee River
This hidden gem the best place to hang out on the Choctawhatchee River. Spring run is about 5.5 miles, as the crow flies, north of the Ebro boat ramp on Highway 20. There are other ramps closer but this one is nice, easy and in plain sight.
Formerly named Washington Blue Spring Choctawhatchee on google maps, the locals call it Spring Run and you should too.
Your first run up the river may feel a little confusing but taking rights at every fork in the river will dead end you at the giant water boil of Spring Run. Try and slow down as you pass fishermen, you may need their help at some point and it’s easier to get when they aren’t pissed. Boats that require a lot of water may need to trim up to get into the creek fed by the spring but there’s usually a good bit of water in there. High speed is my favorite way to avoid logs but be careful of floating children near the mouth.
If you stay on the river instead of taking the clear water detour, there are a number of sand bars that make a great place to camp or hang out while your friends do high speed drive bys.
The Choctawhatchee River is pretty safe to navigate. Most stumps are obvious and the water is deep throughout. There’s a small chance you will hit an airborne sturgeon but if it’s your time to die, that’s a cool way to go.
Fishing is good in the river. Bass, bluegill and flathead catfish are popular targets.
Salty, Sexy n Sunsets
Crab Island
Although just a shallow spot north of the Destin Pass, Crab Island accumulates a lot of locals and tourists during the summer. It’s the place to be seen and see beautiful boats and people. About knee to waist deep for most tides, people anchor up and wade around in the afternoon until sunset. Now days, there are floating restaurants and other attractions. Deep water access means big boats can play too.
Accommodations are limitless but the further you get from Destin, the cheaper a room and food will usually be. That is, unless you go too far east to the 30A community. Niceville is a bedroom community to Destin but you have to cross the Mid Bay Bridge and there’s a toll. There are a few campgrounds, Rocky Bayou State Park being the best in the area. It’s a 7 mile ride across the bay to get to Crab Island/ Destin Pass from Rocky Bayou. The waves in the bay can get sporty if the wind is blowing. There are a few ramps in Destin but they’re going to be crowded so early arrival helps.
Shell Island
Located in Panama City Beach, Bay County Florida, the barrier island south of Tyndall Air Force Base is a popular place for locals to hang out and is only accessible by boat. People typically anchor on the north side of the island or beach their boat onto the shore. There are remains of old docks from when the property was public and even a single beach house. You can walk about 100 yards south to the Gulf of Mexico for a dip in some colder and saltier water. This is a popular weekend spot for most months of the year and a 7 day a week affair during the summer months.
Accommodations in Panama City Beach are usually a little less expensive than Destin. There are a few camp grounds and St. Andrews State Park is a great one. They have beach-side campsites and an excellent boat ramps. There are some free boat ramps around Panama City Beach but St. Andrews puts you in the best proximity to Shell Island.
Panama City Beach is the home of Cracker Bay Thundercats. You can often see us launching from St. Andrews Park. If you come to town, be sure to drop us a line so we can take you for a ride on a Thundercat.