Upstate New York State’s Top 5 Beach Towns

Located on the shores of Lake Erie, Dunkirk is the westernmost city in New York State. A long beach on Chadwick Bay can be found at Wright Park along Lake Front Boulevard or head to the western part of the city for the beach at Point Gratiot Park. Plus, check out the city's Boardwalk Market at the city's pier.

Combine the laid-back college town atmosphere of Oswego's downtown with the historic Fort Ontario on one side of the Oswego River and Breitbeck Park on the other, and you've got a suburb beach city.

Sodus Point is the village that sits on a little spit of land jutting into Sodus Bay at the end of New York State Touring Route 14. It's where you'll find the restaurants and shops. But anywhere around Sodus Bay or Fair Haven on neighboring Little Sodus Bay will satisfy any beach-goer.

With a full amusement park with rides and a midway along the shores of Oneida Lake, Sylvan Beach is a classic New York State beach town. Hangouts like Harpoon Eddie's are packed all summer long.

A great beach town needs to be on a Great Lake. And the village of Sackets Harbor on Lake Ontario west of Watertown tops of list of best beach towns in Upstate New York. The village also boasts the Sackets Harbor Brewing Company and the Lake Ontario Playhouse. The best sand is found at Westcott Beach.