Coastal expert Dr. Stephen Leatherman, Director of Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research is known as “Dr. Beachâ€. He has put together a list of Top 10 Beaches since 1991. Fifty criteria are used to evaluate the beaches, including water and sand quality, as well as facilities and environmental management, as part of the National Healthy Beaches Campaign.
Here is the 2008 list:
TOP 10 BEACHES 2008
- 1. Caladesi Island State Park in Clearwater/Dunedin, Florida
- 2. Hanalei Beach Kauai, Hawaii
- 3. Siesta Beach Sarasota, Florida
- 4. Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
- 5. Coronado Beach, San Diego, California
- 6. Main Beach, East Hampton, New York
- 7. Hamoa Beach,Maui, Hawaii
- 8. Cape Hatteras,Outer Banks of North Carolina
- 9. Cape Florida State Park,Key Biscayne, Florida
- 10. Beachwalker Park,Kiawah Island, South Carolina