Who needs coastline? Pittsburgh has its own sandy retreats

So, that beach vacation didn't pan out this year? Not to worry. Pittsburgh's got you covered. With summer winding down, here are some sandy staycation spots that don't require an expensive plane trip or hours in the car with screaming kids.

Anchors away!

Kelly's Down by the Riverside Saloon

beaver

1458 Riverside Drive. Hours: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 a.m. Sundays. Kitchen closes at midnight during summer.

Details: 724-728-0222 or http://www.kellys-pub.com

A gentle breeze ripples through the towering palm trees. Steel-band music plays as you wiggle your toes in the sand and sip a frozen tropical drink, watching the boats glide by.

It might not be the Bahamas, or even Myrtle Beach, but Kelly's Down by the Riverside Saloon in Beaver is a practical substitute when you need a few hours in a tropical paradise.

Every spring, owner Lisa Kelly plants a truckload of towering Florida-grown palm trees and replenishes the sand around the saloon's outdoor fantasy island retreat that overlooks a tranquil back channel of the Beaver River.

There's a full menu of sandwiches, salads and wraps, some with a Caribbean twist, and two popular weekly specials Sunday brunch from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Monday-night special, all-you-can-eat crab legs, from 4 to 9 p.m.

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Who needs coastline? Pittsburgh has its own sandy retreats