Introduction to "Best Beaches in America"
Every year around Memorial Day Weekend, a real-life scientist who is more widely known as "Dr. Beach" announces a list of ten "Best Beaches in America." And every year, the winner is excluded from future lists. These pages highlight some of the great beaches that "Dr. Beach" has picked in the past.
See an introduction to Dr. Beach, plus his current picks: Top Beaches 2012.
"Dr. Beach" is Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, a scientist who's studied beaches for decades; his interesting Dr. Beach website explains the many "Beach Criteria" he uses to "diagnose" a shore.
He's also a scientist who clearly loves beaches. As the doctor says: "Nothing restores the body and soul like a stay at the beach. We are naturally drawn to the rhythmic pounding of the waves as if returning to our primordial beginnings."
- continue to Top Beach in America for 2011: Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida
2011 Top Beach: Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida
After two years in the #2 position, Siesta Beach took the top rank in 2011. Florida beaches have done well in Dr. Beach's lists, and several have made the top ten lineup in years past. 2008's Top Beach was the highly photogenic Caladesi Island State Park. (Remember, once a beach has been the top pick, it's out of the running for future years.)
Siesta Beach -- on Siesta Key, a barrier island between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico -- is said to have the "whitest and finest sand in the world": the sand is 99% quartz, and so reflective that it stays cool even on hot days.
(Read more about beaches in this part of Florida.)
Dr. Beach's web site praises the area's clear, warm waters, which are ideal for swimming, and the coral rock and caves that are great for scuba diving and snorkeling. Good volleyball beach too! The beach is hundreds of yards wide.
The nearby city of Sarasota, meanwhile, is sophisticated, artsy, and family-friendly.
Read more about Siesta Key Beaches. Tip: get to the beach early, as all 800 parking spots fill up.
- continue to Top Beach in America for 2010: Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
2010 Best Beach: Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
Cooper's Beach is the main beach in the village of Southampton on Long Island.
Cooper's Beach offers a wide stretch of white sand, As you stroll along you might spot historic mansions in the distance: this is "The Hamptons", code word for moneyed summer playground. Southampton, by the way, dates back to 1640 and was the first settlement in New York State.
Tip for visitors: non-residents pay $25 per day during the week and $30 on the weekend for parking.* (Check for updates.) Dr.
Beach suggests that the best way to visit is to take a short bike ride from the village of Southampton.
Cooper's Beach has lifeguards during summer, and a pavilion where you can get lunch; and a Polar Bear swim in winter. It sits in a stretch of seven miles of shore. Read more about the Great Beaches on Long Island.
--continue to Top Beach 2009: Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii
Top Beach 2009:Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii
Top honors in 2009 went to Hanalei Bay, on the beautiful North Coast of that most beautiful island, Kauai. Hanalei Bay was Dr. Beach's Number Two choice for 2008. Several Hawaii beaches have been favored by Dr. Beach over the years.
Hanalei Bay is a big sweep of bay, popular with local swimmers and beach-goers; it's also an excellent beach for beginners to learn to surf. (Speaking from very-beginner personal experience!) Hanalei Bay is overlooked by the Princeville Resort, one of Kauai's top luxury properties.
The laid-back small town of Hanalei is nearby, as are the Limahuli Gardens, with stunning views, and the family-run and family-friendly Hanalei Colony Resort.
See more about North Coast Kauai, and small-town Hawaii at Hanalei.
- continue to Top Beach 2008: Caladesi Island State Park, Florida
2008's pick for Best Beach was Caladesi Island, in the Clearwater/Dunedin area on Florida's west coast, near St. Petersburg. This is a favorite area for Dr. Beach, who's picked several top-scoring beaches here including Fort de Soto Park, the Best Beach winner for 2005. (Point to note: past National Winners can't be considered for "Best Beaches" anymore.)
Caladesi Island's beach moved up from #2 position in 2007.
This completely natural island has white sand shores and sand dunes where sea turtles nest, and is accessible only by ferry or private boat. (No pets allowed on the ferry! And ferry passengers are allowed only a four-hour stay.)
Caladesi Island State Park has a marina, picnic pavilions, and three miles of nature trail. Go shelling, or fishing; rent a kayak and explore a winding kayak trail through mangrove trees.
Take a photo tour of Caladesi Island State Park; read more about Caladesi Island, and see more about St. Pete / Clearwater for family travelers.
- continue to Top Beach 2007, Ocracoke Beach, Outer Banks NC
Ocracoke Island is one of the barrier islands of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Outer Banks --where pirate Blackbeard once roamed-- is a popular place for family beach vacations.
A free ferry service runs to Ocracoke Island from Hatteras Island: a 40-minute trip. (In summer, waiting lines get long.)
The village of Ocracoke is on the National Register of Historic Places and has a lighthouse, historic homes, quaint shops.
Kids will like to see the "Banker Ponies" grazing, a wild herd now cared for by the National Park Service.
Read more about the Outer Banks for families. See also a photo gallery and visitor info for Ocracoke Island, at About.com's Southeast Travel website.
Every year around Memorial Day Weekend, a real-life scientist who is more widely known as "Dr. Beach" announces a list of ten "Best Beaches in America." And every year, the winner is excluded from future lists. These pages highlight some of the great beaches that "Dr. Beach" has picked in the past.
See an introduction to Dr. Beach, plus his current picks: Top Beaches 2012.
"Dr. Beach" is Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, a scientist who's studied beaches for decades; his interesting Dr. Beach website explains the many "Beach Criteria" he uses to "diagnose" a shore.
He's also a scientist who clearly loves beaches. As the doctor says: "Nothing restores the body and soul like a stay at the beach. We are naturally drawn to the rhythmic pounding of the waves as if returning to our primordial beginnings."
- continue to Top Beach in America for 2011: Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida
2011 Top Beach: Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida
After two years in the #2 position, Siesta Beach took the top rank in 2011. Florida beaches have done well in Dr. Beach's lists, and several have made the top ten lineup in years past. 2008's Top Beach was the highly photogenic Caladesi Island State Park. (Remember, once a beach has been the top pick, it's out of the running for future years.)
Siesta Beach -- on Siesta Key, a barrier island between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico -- is said to have the "whitest and finest sand in the world": the sand is 99% quartz, and so reflective that it stays cool even on hot days.
(Read more about beaches in this part of Florida.)
Dr. Beach's web site praises the area's clear, warm waters, which are ideal for swimming, and the coral rock and caves that are great for scuba diving and snorkeling. Good volleyball beach too! The beach is hundreds of yards wide.
The nearby city of Sarasota, meanwhile, is sophisticated, artsy, and family-friendly.
Read more about Siesta Key Beaches. Tip: get to the beach early, as all 800 parking spots fill up.
- continue to Top Beach in America for 2010: Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
2010 Best Beach: Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
Cooper's Beach is the main beach in the village of Southampton on Long Island.
Cooper's Beach offers a wide stretch of white sand, As you stroll along you might spot historic mansions in the distance: this is "The Hamptons", code word for moneyed summer playground. Southampton, by the way, dates back to 1640 and was the first settlement in New York State.
Tip for visitors: non-residents pay $25 per day during the week and $30 on the weekend for parking.* (Check for updates.) Dr.
Beach suggests that the best way to visit is to take a short bike ride from the village of Southampton.
Cooper's Beach has lifeguards during summer, and a pavilion where you can get lunch; and a Polar Bear swim in winter. It sits in a stretch of seven miles of shore. Read more about the Great Beaches on Long Island.
--continue to Top Beach 2009: Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii
Top Beach 2009:Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii
Top honors in 2009 went to Hanalei Bay, on the beautiful North Coast of that most beautiful island, Kauai. Hanalei Bay was Dr. Beach's Number Two choice for 2008. Several Hawaii beaches have been favored by Dr. Beach over the years.
Hanalei Bay is a big sweep of bay, popular with local swimmers and beach-goers; it's also an excellent beach for beginners to learn to surf. (Speaking from very-beginner personal experience!) Hanalei Bay is overlooked by the Princeville Resort, one of Kauai's top luxury properties.
The laid-back small town of Hanalei is nearby, as are the Limahuli Gardens, with stunning views, and the family-run and family-friendly Hanalei Colony Resort.
See more about North Coast Kauai, and small-town Hawaii at Hanalei.
- continue to Top Beach 2008: Caladesi Island State Park, Florida
2008's pick for Best Beach was Caladesi Island, in the Clearwater/Dunedin area on Florida's west coast, near St. Petersburg. This is a favorite area for Dr. Beach, who's picked several top-scoring beaches here including Fort de Soto Park, the Best Beach winner for 2005. (Point to note: past National Winners can't be considered for "Best Beaches" anymore.)
Caladesi Island's beach moved up from #2 position in 2007.
This completely natural island has white sand shores and sand dunes where sea turtles nest, and is accessible only by ferry or private boat. (No pets allowed on the ferry! And ferry passengers are allowed only a four-hour stay.)
Caladesi Island State Park has a marina, picnic pavilions, and three miles of nature trail. Go shelling, or fishing; rent a kayak and explore a winding kayak trail through mangrove trees.
Take a photo tour of Caladesi Island State Park; read more about Caladesi Island, and see more about St. Pete / Clearwater for family travelers.
- continue to Top Beach 2007, Ocracoke Beach, Outer Banks NC
Ocracoke Island is one of the barrier islands of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Outer Banks --where pirate Blackbeard once roamed-- is a popular place for family beach vacations.
A free ferry service runs to Ocracoke Island from Hatteras Island: a 40-minute trip. (In summer, waiting lines get long.)
The village of Ocracoke is on the National Register of Historic Places and has a lighthouse, historic homes, quaint shops.
Kids will like to see the "Banker Ponies" grazing, a wild herd now cared for by the National Park Service.
Read more about the Outer Banks for families. See also a photo gallery and visitor info for Ocracoke Island, at About.com's Southeast Travel website.
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