Vermont’s 3 Best Swimming Holes for Summer 2012

If you are anything like me, you cannot wait for the 2012 summer season. As a lifelong New Englander, I lifelessly drag myself through the endless winter with the thoughts of a New England summer. One of my favorite things to do each summer season is to take day trips up north in search of cool swimming holes. A swimming hole is a site for swimming in fresh winter run-off, usually secluded from the masses. Vermont is home to numerous great swimming holes. Here is a list of Vermont's three best swimming holes for summer 2012.

Indian Love Call

Located in the southern part of the state, the Indian Love Call swimming hole is my favorite area in all Vermont. The quaint little position in the Rock River. It's not a very capacious swimming hole, so I always try to get up there on a weekday afternoon when families are typically at work. Indian Love Call reminds me of a miniature version of the beach from the Leonardo DiCaprio film "The Beach". There is a beautiful landscape of white sand just before the river, and it seems out of place. This Vermont swimming hole also has a few rocks for jumping and a rope swing for those who are daring. Although this place can get busy, it's well worth the visit.

Hamilton Falls

Although solidly scenic, Hamilton Falls has suffered bad press from the number of deaths that have occurred here. However, if you are safe and do not take unneeded risks, Hamilton Falls can secure visitors a day of fun and relaxation. There are numerous swimming holes to splash around in, but for safety reasons, stick to the bottom hole. It is the upper areas that have seemed to cause casualties in the past. In fact, the pot hole at the top, which is a jewel amongst local teenagers, has a ladder attached to the side of the swimming hole. Many have mistaken this ladders use. The ladder was put there by local emergency personnel to assist in rescues. I do not recommend bringing small children to this swimming hole.

Bolton Potholes

The Bolton Potholes are located in northern Vermont. Therefore, I am not able to travel to this swimming hole often. There are a number of waterfalls that curve out this wondrous area. The swimming hole offers a few different rocks to jump from, and plenty of areas for tanning. The area sees a lot of use from locals adolescents, and they have not taken good care of the area. There is a sign asking for visitors to remove any trash they bring in. If you are a nature lover like me, make a difference and take some else's trash out with you too. The Bolton Potholes provides some really frigid waters and you may want to wait for a very warm summer sun to make the day trip.

Vermont, much like sister states Maine and New Hampshire, offer a lot of free summer swimming during the summer season. As always, visitors are expected to take the proper precautions when visiting these areas. This includes proper footwear and clothing. Always be sure to let family and friends know where you're going when visiting these swimming holes. And for safety reasons, never go alone. I hope, like me, you will find these three Vermont swimming holes to be full of much joy and fun.

Ryan Drew is a 30 year old hiking and swimming hole enthusiast from Boston. He has been visiting swimming holes since the age of 8. You can follow Ryan Drew on Twitter@OhThatDrew.

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