The Iowa Great Lakes area has been a favorite vacation spot for Iowans and other Midwesterners for a long time. The Iowa Great Lakes are a group of natural glacial lakes, and with some of the best water recreation, beaches and tourist activities for summer fun in the area, it’s easy to see why we love it.

West Okoboji Lake, especially, is known for its pristine blue waters and exceptionally high water quality. This beautiful natural destination is a great way to have one last beach getaway before the fall weather make its appearance.

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West Lake Okoboji is a spring-fed lake that is 134 feet at its maximum depth, making it the deepest lake in Iowa.
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While West Okoboji Lake was long thought to be only one of three blue water lakes in the world, the others being Lake Geneva in Wisconsin and Lake Louise in Canada, that myth has been officially busted. That doesn’t mean West Okoboji’s water isn’t blue to the eye, though. It is, in fact, a crisp, beautiful shade of blue, and its color can be attributed to its exceptional water quality.
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The water quality is so good, in fact, that the Department of Natural Resources of Iowa has designated West Okoboji as having Outstanding Iowa Water.
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At West Okoboji, you can take advantage of a wide array of water recreation activities like boating, hanging out on the beach, swimming, fishing, waterskiing and jet skiing.
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If you want to make a weekend of it, there are plenty of great hotels in the area, or there is a camping facility with restrooms and a picnic area, trails for exploring the natural wonders of the area and more.

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When you’re done playing on the water, you can pay a visit to Arnolds Park, on West Okoboji, for some amusement park fun. This historic amusement park features Legend, believed to be the 13th oldest wooden roller coaster in the U.S.
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Once you’ve finished your day of fun in the sun, you can enjoy a delicious meal at Maxwell’s Beach Cafe as you look over the beautiful blue waters.
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Located across from the State Pier on Lake Okoboji, Maxwell's offers fine dining with burgers, sandwiches and entrees like Hawaiian Tuna or Jumbo Scallops, and they have a large deck so no matter where you sit, you have a great water view.
Flickr/Mary Fairchild
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As you stare out over the lake’s magnificent blue waters, you can relax and enjoy the peaceful beauty of the scenery and reflect on the amazing time you had at West Okoboji.

Have you been to West Okoboji Lake? What was your experience? For other great Iowa beaches, There’s Something Magical About These 10 Iowa Lakes In The Summer.

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