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Top U.S. Beaches
Summer is here , and that mean that " Dr. Beach " has again let go his top 10 listing of public beaches in the United States . Stephen Leatherman , a coastal scientist at Florida International University , publish the list each year , picking out 10 beaches that excel at 50 criteria . The beaches on this leaning have easygoing , ashen sand , good swimming and sporting urine . Let ’s dive in .
Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida
This broad , white - George Sand beach take the top touch on Leatherman ’s beach listing in 2011 , and it ’s back in 2017 after Leatherman decide to " reset " his ranking so that beaches that previously won the identification number one smear can vie for it again . The urine at Siesta Beach is warm , clear and clean , Leatherman wrote , and late advance like a new playground and exposit parking helped nudge it to the top of the list .
Kapalua Bay Beach, Maui, Hawaii
Hawaiian beaches are repeated contenders for the top 10 beach list , which get out from the roughly 600 public beaches in the United States . Kapalua Bay Beach in Maui is an excellent swim and snorkeling beach , according to Leatherman , and beachgoers can even take snorkels at a concession field hut right at the beach ’s bound .
Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, Outer Banks, North Carolina
If solitude is what you seek , Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach is the billet to be . This unexploited spot on Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks is sandy and wide . The surf can get wild later in the summer , Leatherman write , but the water is phratry - well-disposed in the beginning in the season . Ocracoke was a favorite stamping ground of Edward Teach , well bang as Blackbeard the Pirate . He pass there in conflict in 1718 . A museum on the island is dedicated to the legendary hothead and to all thing hijack .
Grayton Beach State Park, Florida Panhandle
The Florida panhandle ’s Grayton Beach sit in a 2,000 - acre country park with amenities like cabins and campgrounds . Nature - lovers can explore salt marshes and coastal forest as well as the beach , which is protected by easygoing white dune . According to Leatherman , former Florida Governor Bob Graham rank this as his favorite beach .
Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
This wide beach on the south shore of Long Island is police by lifesaver and has amenities like a snack bar . The beach is roomy and the scenery empyreal : Rows of dune and ritzy sign of the zodiac form a backdrop for Coopers Beach . ( visitant do have to pay off a extortionate fee for parking , though it ’s potential to park elsewhere in Southampton and bicycle in for spare . )
Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
A frequent name on Leatherman ’s annual inclination , Coast Guard beach is a bit parky for casual swimmers ( the water seldom catch above 70 degree Fahrenheit ( 21 academic degree Celsius ) in the summertime , but the mise en scene is beyond beautiful and the waves beckon surfers . The beach is at the Qaeda of a bent of glacial drop , upon which alight the honest-to-god Coast Guard station that gives the beach its name .
Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
Positioned on an intake near Clearwater Beach , Caladesi Island State Park is most approachable by boat or ferrying . This undeveloped spot was the best beach of 2008 , according to Leatherman ’s list . The Baroness Dudevant is livid , and there are free picnic pavilions and table nearby . The park also features both a three - mile hiking track and a three - mile kayak itinerary through mangrove forests .
Hapuna Beach, Big Island, Hawaii
This broad white - sand beach on Hawaii ’s Big Island is n’t far from Puako and Waimea . Parking at the beach is only $ 5 , and there are picnic areas , solid food vendor , showers and other amenities nearby . Rip currents can be a business organisation here , Leatherman notice , but lifeguards are on duty .
Coronado Beach, San Diego, California
Coronodo Beach comes with a splash of Victorian elegance . The nearby Hotel del Coronado , build in 1888 , is a rare Victorian - era health spa and hotel that is still in role . It ’s long been a preferent spot for celebrities , but anyone can toss off in to order solid food and drink . The beach itself is 100 of yard wide with soft breakers , Leatherman say .
Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Biking , canoeing and kayaking are all options at this public beach south of Charleston , South Carolina . The urine is murky but clean , and there are selection for lowcountry seafood dining nearby . dame - watchers can head to nearby Captain Sam ’s Inlet for aspect of plovers , terns , egrets and other shore bird . The intake is currently the source of controversy over whether totry to stabilise and develop the shifting Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin .
Original article on Live Science .
This broad white-sand beach on Hawaii’s Big Island isn’t far from Puako and Waimea. Parking at the beach is only $5, and there are picnic areas, food vendors, showers and other amenities nearby. Rip currents can be a concern here, Leatherman noted, but lifeguards are on duty.
This broad white-sand beach on Hawaii’s Big Island isn’t far from Puako and Waimea. Parking at the beach is only $5, and there are picnic areas, food vendors, showers and other amenities nearby. Rip currents can be a concern here, Leatherman noted, but lifeguards are on duty.
Siesta Beach in Florida won the top spot on Stephen ‘Dr. Beach’ Leatherman’s list this year for its white-sand beach and warm, clear water.
Hawaiian beaches are perennial contenders for the top 10 beach list, which draws from the approximately 600 public beaches in the United States. Kapalua Bay Beach in Maui is an excellent swimming and snorkeling beach, according to Leatherman, and beachgoers can even rent snorkels at a concession hut right at the beach’s edge.
If solitude is what you seek, Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach is the place to be. This undeveloped spot on Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks is sandy and wide. The surf can get wild later in the summer, Leatherman wrote, but the water is family-friendly earlier in the season. Ocracoke was a favorite haunt of Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard the Pirate. He died there in battle in 1718. A museum on the island is dedicated to the legendary swashbuckler and to all things pirate.
The Florida panhandle’s Grayton Beach sits in a 2,000-acre state park with amenities like cabins and campgrounds. Nature-lovers can explore salt marshes and coastal forest as well as the beach, which is protected by soft white dunes. According to Leatherman, former Florida Governor Bob Graham ranked this as his favorite beach.
This wide beach on the south shore of Long Island is patrolled by lifeguards and has amenities like a snack bar. The beach is spacious and the scenery sublime: Rows of dunes and ritzy mansions form a backdrop for Coopers Beach. (Visitors do have to pay a steep fee for parking, though it’s possible to park elsewhere in Southampton and bicycle in for free.)
A frequent name on Leatherman’s annual list, Coast Guard beach is a bit chilly for casual swimmers (the water rarely gets above 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) in the summer, but the setting is beyond beautiful and the waves beckon surfers. The beach is at the base of a set of glacial cliffs, upon which perches the old Coast Guard station that gives the beach its name.
Positioned on an inlet near Clearwater Beach, Caladesi Island State Park is most accessible by boat or ferry. This undeveloped spot was the best beach of 2008, according to Leatherman’s list. The sand is white, and there are free picnic pavilions and tables nearby. The park also features both a three-mile hiking trail and a three-mile kayak route through mangrove forests.
Coronodo Beach comes with a splash of Victorian elegance. The nearby Hotel del Coronado, built in 1888, is a rare Victorian-era spa and hotel that is still in use. It’s long been a favorite spot for celebrities, but anyone can pop in to order food and drink. The beach itself is hundreds of yards wide with mild surf, Leatherman said.
Biking, canoeing and kayaking are all options at this public beach south of Charleston, South Carolina. The water is murky but clean, and there are options for lowcountry seafood dining nearby. Bird-watchers can head to nearby Captain Sam’s Inlet for views of plovers, terns, egrets and other shorebirds. The inlet is currently the source of controversy over whether to try to stabilize and develop the shifting sands.
