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Caitlin Duke, Demand Media

Oceanfront beaches in New Jersey are only a day trip away from Reading. (Photo: Comstock Images/Stockbyte/Getty Images )

Thoughts of Reading, Pennsylvania, are not likely to conjure up images of sunbathing on a windswept beach while the waves lap the sand a few feet away. Though this city of 88,000 is not on the water, a number of lake and river beaches are within the state. If you're looking for something grander, a smattering of large and small beaches are on the coast, just a few hours away.

The beach at Blue Marsh Lake in Leesport, Pennsylvania, may be small, but it is certainly convenient. Just a 20-minute drive northwest of Reading, this man-made lake covers a good deal of ground -- 1,147 acres of water area, to be precise. The lake allows swimming, fishing, boating, water skiing and scuba diving during the summer months, while winter adventurers can enjoy ice boating, ice fishing and ice skating. The park surrounding the lake has over 36 miles of trails, open to pedestrians, equestrians and bicyclists.

Mt. Gretna Lake and Beach, in Pennsylvania, provides a premium beach experience without a lengthy drive. Under an hour due west of Reading, the facility rests on the banks of the stream-fed Lake Conewago. An admission fee is charged to access Mt. Gretna's 300-square-foot beach and groves, but the facilities are well worth it. Mt. Gretna has lifeguards on duty in protected swimming areas, canoe and kayak rentals, two diving boards and a water swing.

Within a two-hour drive to the east and north of Reading, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Pennsylvania boasts two grassy beaches open to the public. Both Milford Beach, near the town of Milford, and Smithfield Beach, near Delaware Water Gap, charge entrance fees for cars, bicyclists and pedestrians. Visitors enjoy boat and canoe launches and picnic areas, and access is available to the Joseph M. McDade Recreational Trail for avid hikers.

Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park at Monmouth Beach, New Jersey, is just a couple of hours away, directly to the east of Reading on the New Jersey coast. The 38-acre park is open year-round, with parking and entrance fees during the summer months. Enjoy a round of beach volleyball on the court or venture into open water on a kayak or canoe. Lifeguards are on duty in protected areas of the beach, which is also open to surfers.

A graduate of Oberlin College, Caitlin Duke has written on travel and relationships for Time.com. She has crisscrossed the country several times, and relishes discovering new points on the map. As a credentialed teacher, she also has a strong background in issues facing families today.

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Beaches Closest to Reading, Pennsylvania | USA Today