TOP 10 US BEACHES Hawaii takes top spot but Florida nabs three
Posted on 05/30/2016 | About Hawaii
Every year, visitors await Dr. Steve Leatherman’s annual Top 10 Beaches list, eager to discover the beaches with the softest sands and clearest waters.
After all, Leatherman, better known as Dr. Beach, is renowned as America’s foremost beach expert. For more than 25 years he’s evaluated and ranked beaches all over the globe, using 50 criteria that include the color of the sand, the clarity of the water, the slope of the shore and much more.
And he loves Florida beaches, always including them and sometimes naming them as the best in the nation.
Once again the Sunshine State dominated, snagging three of the coveted spots on the list.
#2: Siesta Key Beach
Dr. Beach declared this beautiful shoreline the best beach in the United States in 2011. Previously, if a beach got the #1 ranking, it was retired for future consideration. But starting this year, he's giving extra credit for beaches that prohibit smoking. And now the list of best beaches begins anew so that all beaches have a shot at making his annual list.
Clearly, he hasn't forgotten his old favorite. And who could blame him?
Siesta Key boasts everything that makes a beach desirable. It’s thick with soft, white sand that practically begs you to take off your shoes. The glass-clear water tends to be calm, making it safe for swimmers of all ages. It has concessions, changing rooms, showers and rentals. And the village of Siesta is the perfect place to recharge your batteries. It’s brimming with mom-and-pop stores and eateries, with a trolley that services the area.
You’ll find Siesta Key snuggled against the Gulf of Mexico in Sarasota.
#6: Grayton Beach State Park
Stunning and pristine, this nearly 2,000-acre park encompasses a sugar-sand beach that’s ideal for swimming, sunbathing and surf fishing. The water is a dreamy shade of turquoise, bordered by a generous sweep of sand.
Located in northwest Florida in South Walton, the Park also boasts a boat ramp, a rare dune lake, canoeing, and hiking and biking trails. Options for overnight stays include modern cabins and a full-facility campground.
#9 Caladesi Island State Park
Accessible only by boat or ferry, Caladesi´s beach provides an escape into a quiet, untouched world. Situated on one of the few completely natural islands along Florida´s Gulf Coast by Dunedin/Clearwater, the beach features emerald waters and brilliant white sand. Picnic tables and shelters are located near the beach, and you can reserve a picnic pavilion for a fee. Besides swimming, sunbathing and beachcombing, the Park offers fishing, a three-mile nature trail, and a kayaking trail. Its marina offers electric and water hookups, plus a snack bar. Ferry service is provided by the Caladesi Island Ferry (727) 734-1501 and departs from Honeymoon Island State Park.
Here's the complete list for 2016:
1. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Oahu, Hawaii
2. Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Fla.
3. Kapalua Bay Beach, Maui, Hawaii
4.Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, Outer Banks of North Carolina
5. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Mass.
6. Grayton Beach State Park, Florida panhandle
7. Coronado Beach, San Diego, California
8. Coopers Beach, Southampton, N.Y.
9. Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
10. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, S.C.
And, check out these Florida Beaches that have won Dr. Beach’s top honors in the nation in past years:
• Bahia Honda State Recreation Area (1992 second year of the list) now a state park in the Florida Keys.
• Grayton Beach State Recreation Area (1994) now a state park in Walton County.
• St. Andrew's State Recreation Area (1995) now a state park in Bay County Panama City Beach.
• St. Joseph Peninsula State Park (2002) in Gulf County near Port St. Joe.
• Fort De Soto Park North Beach (2005) in Pinellas County St. Petersburg/Clearwater.
• Caladesi Island State Park (2008) in Pinellas County St. Petersburg/Clearwater.
• Siesta Key Beach (2011) near Sarasota