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When you think of the beach, Oklahoma is probably not the first state you think of. Yet the Sooner State is not such a bad idea. Oklahoma is landlocked, but it enjoys warm summers and has plenty of clear lake waters worth swimming in. And around some of these lakes are sandy beaches that tourists flock to from miles around, to relax between dips in the water and to work on their tans. If you find it hard to believe Oklahoma can be a beach destination, try exploring some of these places.

Tom Sneed Reservoir is a beautiful lake in Kiowa County just north of Snyder. This lake is property of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The 6,400-acre lake is surrounded by many amenities, which include picnic tables, shelters, a boat ramp, grills and a swimming beach that tends to be the main gathering spot. One of the main draws is the abundance of waterfowl. Bird watchers will enjoy the many species of ducks and other birds that occupy the reservoir waters and its surroundings. If you get tired of sunning yourself on the sand, grab a pole and cast a line to try and land crappie, large-mouth and black bass, as well as some big catfish.

On the Texas and Oklahoma state line, 89,000-acre Lake Texoma is among the biggest reservoirs in the nation. About 6 million visitors a year come to take advantage of its amenities along the Red River. The shores of Lake Texoma may appear as though they are the edge of the ocean. In fact, one of the most surprising things you'll find at Lake Texoma is a string of islands in the middle, skirted by white, sandy beaches that compare to many you'll find along the Gulf of Mexico. Boaters, skiers, anglers, golfers and campers will find plenty to do.

The north shore of Cedar Lake is surrounded by trees and mountains of the Ouachita National Forest, making this lake a very scenic place to spend a few days. In addition to its beautiful surroundings, the 86-acre lake has two sandy beaches where swimmers take advantage of the warm lake waters between May and October. Fishing, boating and camping are also popular in this area of east-central Oklahoma.

Among the state's most scenic and popular tourist areas is southeastern Oklahoma's Broken Bow Lake. Two state parks are situated around the large lake on the Mountain Fork River. Beavers Bend State Park and Hochatown State Park are both popular tourist destinations in the region; each has a swimming beach. Camping, fishing, skiing, canoeing and horseback riding are all popular.

Lee Morgan is a fiction writer and journalist. His writing has appeared for more than 15 years in many news publications including the "Tennesseean," the "Tampa Tribune," "West Hawaii Today," the "Honolulu Star Bulletin" and the "Dickson Herald," where he was sports editor. He holds a Bachelor of Science in mass communications from Middle Tennessee State University.

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Beaches in Oklahoma | USA Today