Are there any lake beaches within a half hour drive from the city? Not just a patch of sand, but a place where people actually go. In southern Illinois we had Rend Lake that had a few beaches that were packed on a scorcher like today.
"We have to either start voting for loony third party candidates or not voting at all. If we keep voting for the lesser of two evils, it's going to keep getting more evil" - Penn Jillette
Moorlander wrote:isn't there a beach area at castlewoood state park? If there is, it's not far.
I grew up near there. I don't recommend anyone swim in the Meramec, especially not now with higher waters. There is an old boat dock at the end of the main road leading into the park, and people do swim there. But there are strong undercurrents and eddies in that section of the river, and drownings are more frequent there than they should be. In particular, there's a whirlpool where Kiefer Creek empties into the river - the riverbed drops off from knee-depth to 10+ feet, and the natural current draws you down. I lost a highschool friend in that hole, and know of several more who've drowned there.
The old Lincoln beach area is safer for swimming, relatively speaking (you'll still need to watch for undertow), but at least when I was growing up down there access to the river was poor and few people put in there.
I don't know if anyone else will remember this, but St. Charles County used to have a beach called Suntan Beach, off Highway 94 north near Orchard Farm. Basically it was a farmer's answer to making money after a flood in 1951 created a lake on his property--the Missouri River went down but the water stayed. He hauled in some sand and charged a buck or two a car in the summertime. I remember it when I was really young, but I think they closed it sometime in the 80's.
If you drive down Highway H you can still see the lake, and if you watched any of that dreadful reality show "Farmer Wants a Wife" I think they go for a swim there. The house where all the ladies stayed is just down the road.
if you can handle the locals, there are quasi-beaches (semi-sandy-semi-shelly/rocky) in jefferson county along the multiple big river accesses. the main thing to do is park your lawn chair in a foot of water and feel the cool river flow over your feet. i mainly like the access to these areas from south city (+/-45 minutes).
