About 16 miles north of Merrick Park up the Great River Road, highway 35, lies Alma, a scenic town on the Mississippi River. Merrick used to have an excellent beach many years ago, but now all that remains is a small patch of sand at the edge of the river (photo 1) - (photo 2) with large patches of algae in the water and pesky mosquitoes along the shore. It is used mainly as a place to moor boats by fishermen. Nearby Fountain City has a municipal pool where you can swim, located right along Main Street. Alma has a fine 300-foot sand beach (photo 1) - (photo 2), with adjacent picnic areas and a marina (photo). The water is clean here and absent of algae, which is a major problem with beaches along the Mississippi River.

To get a fantastic view of Alma and the Mississippi River, be sure to drive up to Buena Vista Park overlooking Alma. The views are breathtaking (photo 1) - (photo 2) - (photo 3), but be careful when standing near the edge of the cliffs. It's a long drop if you slip off. You can usually see eagles soaring on the updrafts along the bluffs, which are so high in this part of the state that they are favored nesting spots for eagles. In the winter, the Alma Power Plant keeps portions of the river clear of ice so that the eagles can find fish here, a situation similar to that of Cassville to the south, another popular eagle-viewing location.