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At left, Headlands Beach State Park in Mentor, Ohio boasts a mile-long natural sand beach, the largest in Ohio and often touted as the best beach in the state.

Meanwhile, more miles of sun-drenched beaches await throughout Ohio in such summer hotspots as Huntington Beach, located just 10 miles west of Cleveland.

Head east from downtown and you'll find yourself at another Cleveland summer getaway at Fairport Harbor Lakefront Park Beach offering sand and sun together with a dog-friendly beach area.

Other popular beaches along Lake Erie's southern shore include Maumee Bay State Park near Toledo with two places to laze the day away - the Lake Erie shore, and a calmer inland lake nearby to bring the kids.

Ohio's most family-friendly beach? Check out East Harbor State Park near Sandusky where the water is low and slow, and perfect for toddlers.

Up ahead, check out a complete fun-in-the-sun guide to the Buckeye State featuring sites with comprehensive info on lake beaches throughout Ohio for swimming, fishing, sailing, sunbathing ...... and surfing? In Cleveland? You bet!

Dramatric and colorful sunset over Lake Erie in summer.

What's the weather like today? Ohio beach web cams:

Lake Erie Webcams

Lake Erie, Cleveland

Fairpoint Harbor

Cedar Point Park, Buckeye Lake

Ohio hideaway.

DID YOU KNOW? Ohio beach fun facts:

• Yes, you can surf Lake Erie. It all depends on the wind and weather. The surf is usually highest in the fall, when hardcore surfers take to the waves in places like Cleveland's Edgewater Beach.

• Accessible only by ferry, the 100-foot sandy beach on Kelleys Island is often considered the state's most lovely and secluded.

• The Marblehead Lighthouse, first lit in 1822, is the longest continuously operating and the most visited lighthouse on the Great Lakes.

More about Ohio beaches around the Web:

Lake Erie Shore and Islands - Beaches - Discover an extensive guide to area shorefront communities & summer events, area attractions, swimming, surfing and other outdoor recreation, along with favorite lighthouses, waterparks, restaurants & hotels.

Ohio Indoor Water Parks - Rain in the forecast? Discover all there is to do statewide with descriptions of Ohio's best water parks that stay open whatever the weather.