With summer fast approaching and the Memorial holiday right around the corner, many of you will be hitting the lakes. Did you know you don't have to travel to some tropical beach far away to enjoy some white sand and clear blue water?

Arkansas is well known for having some of the cleanest lakes but Norfolk Lake Beaches feature some of the most white sandy beaches in the state. Norfork Lake is the only Ozark Mountain lake with all-natural white sandy beaches, in fact, they have been called the Caribbean of the South,  according to their website. Sand Island is located in the Northeast corner of Norfolk Lake This island oasis is surrounded by three other beaches that are kid-friendly for playing or wading in the shallow end of the pristine crystal blue waters of this beautiful lake. Of course, the only way to get to the islands is by boat, but if you don't have one, rentals are available. Imagine sinking your toes into the warm sand, sipping on a cool one, surrounded by the beauty of the wooded forests. The best part about these beaches is that they are not overcrowded like many others, in fact, most are somewhat secluded. This just may be Arkansas' best-kept secret!

Other amenities of Norfolk Lake include campsites, picnic areas, fishing, hiking trails, and more. Need a place to stay? Hand Cove Resort features lakefront cabins and RV hook-ups. and is the perfect place to unwind. With nearby shopping and restaurants, your vacation to Norfolk Lake will be one to remember.

Don't miss "Bombs in the Basin" spectacular fireworks show over the water on July 3, at Norfolk Lake.

For a summer of fun, visit their website.

LOOK: Here are the 50 best beach towns in America

Every beach town has its share of pluses and minuses, which got us thinking about what makes a beach town the best one to live in. To find out, Stacker consulted data from WalletHub, released June 17, 2020, that compares U.S. beach towns. Ratings are based on six categories: affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of life. The cities ranged in population from 10,000 to 150,000, but they had to have at least one local beach listed on TripAdvisor. Read the full methodology here. From those rankings, we selected the top 50. Readers who live in California and Florida will be unsurprised to learn that many of towns featured here are in one of those two states.

Keep reading to see if your favorite beach town made the cut.

 

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