AMERICA’S TOP TEN BEACHES

Coastal scientist Stephen Leatherman is also known as “Dr. Beach.” He’s a professor and director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University, and has been ranking America’s best beaches since 1991 (* This is why, when you heard his name just now, you immediately knew who he was). He uses 50 criteria to evaluate 650 public beaches in the US. The criteria include beach width, sand softness, water temperature and color, wildlife and more. Here are his Top Ten U.S. Beaches for 2020:
1. Ocracoke Beach, Outer Banks of North Carolina
2. Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
3. Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
4. St. George Island State Park, Florida Panhandle
5. Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Oahu, Hawaii
6. Lighthouse Beach, Buxton, Outer Banks of North Carolina
7. Coronado Beach, San Diego, California
8. Wailea Beach, Maui, Hawaii
9. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina
10. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
* Better luck next year, Iowa.
* Leatherman. Appropriate name for what he does.
* So, every year, this ONE GUY goes to 650 beaches around the country and examines every one of 50 criteria, before compiling and analyzing the data. Sure, I believe him.
* What are some of his other criteria? Hot life guards? Number of used syringes per square yard? Lack of dog doo?
* Dummy. The best beach is the one it takes you the least amount of gas to get to.