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Pittsburghers looking for a beach escape have several options relatively close by. (Photo: Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images )

Situated in the mountains of southwestern Pennsylvania, the city of Pittsburgh doesn't immediately bring to mind images of a day spend lounging on the sand. Fortunately for beach-craving Pittsburghers, however, several scenic lakefronts are located within close range of the city, and the boardwalks of the Jersey Shore and tranquil resorts of Delaware are an easy half-day's drive away.

Drawing more than 1 million visitors a year, Moraine State Park is home to one of the finest lake beaches in Western Pennsylvania. The park is located just an hour north of Pittsburgh. Its biggest attraction, Lake Arthur, sports two sandy beaches along its 42 miles of shoreline. Swimming, windsurfing, and boating are all popular beach activities and boat rentals are available during the summer season. Even closer to Pittsburgh is Butler County's Raccoon Creek State Park. Just 30 miles to the west of the city along Route 22, the park is home to a 500-foot, ADA-accessible lakefront beach open for swimming during the summer season.

Located 131 miles to the north of Pittsburgh along Interstate 79, Lake Erie is home to Preque Isle State Park, rated one of the country's Top 100 Swimming Holes by "Conde Nast Traveler" magazine. This honor is hardly undeserved. The park's seven miles of lifeguard-protected beaches offer some of Pennsylvania's finest swimming, with family-friendly facilities like picnic tables, grills and changing rooms. The nearby ecological protection zone, crisscrossed by hiking paths, is home to 320 species of birds.

Delaware's Atlantic coast offers sun-craving Pittsburghers an easy ocean escape. Rehoboth Beach, 350 miles to the southeast of Pittsburgh, is too far for a day trip but close enough for a long weekend at the shore. The most popular beach in Delaware, Rehoboth offers an oceanfront boardwalk, quaint shopping and a variety of accommodations ranging from from ocean-side condos to traditional clapboard cottages. Just south of Rehoboth, Dewey Beach draws a younger crowd with its renowned nightlife and party vibe.

The Atlantic coast of southern New Jersey is, like Delaware's beaches, an approximately seven-hour drive from Pittsburgh. The Jersey Shore offers a diverse range of beaches, from Atlantic city's famous casinos and urban boardwalk to Wildwood's amusement parks and the calm Victorian beauty of Cape May. Visitors looking to escape signs of human development will appreciate the Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area, which offers some of the area's most pristine swimming and nature-watching beaches.

Paul Katz has been writing professionally since 2006. His diverse experiences include reporting on budget travel destinations for "Let's Go Europe," researching colonial American art for the Harvard Art Museums and publishing political commentary for Israel's "Ha'aretz" newspaper. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in history and literature from Harvard.

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Beaches Near Pittsburgh, PA | USA Today