Does St Louis Missouri have a beach?

The Fugitive Beach in Rolla is an old quarry that has been turned into a tourist attraction. You can zoom down a 65-foot slide or jump off 10- or 15-foot cliffs. Or just take a swim, float or play volleyball on the sand beach. Cost is $15 adults; $12 children. Read more here.

Monsanto Lake Beach at St. Joe State Park near Park Hills (St. Joe actually has two swimming beaches). No fire, alcohol or pets are allowed, but it's a great place for families. Bonus: volleyball and scuba diving. 

Right in the middle of St. Louis County sits Creve Coeur Lake with its sandy beaches and water perfect for kayaking, sailing and rowing. Bonus: great trails and zip lining. 

A wide beach with a good amount of sand, Long Branch near Macon in north-central Missouri also features volleyball as well as picnic tables and changing facilities. 

Lake of the Ozarks features a number of beaches, from the private, to the state parks to ones you find at resorts and restaurants, such as Margaritaville, Franky & Louie's Beachfront Bar & Grill and Redhead Lakeside Grill. 

Just outside of Columbia, you'll find Finger Lakes (formerly known as the Strip Pits and popular for off-road racing). The sand beach offers swimming and a change house on one of the eastern finger lakes. 

Moonshine Beach Recreation Area is a popular sandy swimming beach along the shores of Table Rock Lake near Branson. You'll find a volleyball court, boat ramp and picnic area, along with an occasional scuba diver. 

Another beach at Mark Twain State Park is one of the largest in the state. Spalding Beach offers lots of room to spread out. No pets or alcohol. Changing facilities are nearby. 

The swimming beach on Lake Boutin near Cape Girardeau is often filled with families, swimming, playing in the sand, floating on inner tubes and inflatables in the water.  Abundant picnic sites line the shores of the lake. While you are there, stop by the visitors center to learn more about the Cherokee Indians and the Trail of Tears. 

Though there is no designated swimming area, there is plenty of room to kick back and relax on the beaches, which are a little more rocky than some others on this list. If you do wade into the water, be extremely careful, and make sure you are a strong swimmer. There have been several drownings here in recent years. 

 F. Brian Ferguson| for the Post-Dispatch