The annual top 10 list of the nation’s best beaches from Dr. Beach is here. Beach, a.k.a. Stephen P. Leatherman, is a professor and director for the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University.
Waimanalo Bay Beach Park in Oahu, Hawaii took the top spot this year, up from fourth place in the 2014 survey. This five-mile stretch is the longest beach on the island, and Dr. Beach praises its location about 15 miles east of the population and tourism center of Honolulu, meaning fewer tourists and more locals.
Although Hawaii takes the top spot, Florida may have the most to boast in this year’s survey, with a whopping four out of the top 10 beaches. The Carolinas each have one beach in the survey, plus one in Cape Cod.
The lone west coast beach is a newcomer to the survey, East Beach in Santa Barbara, Calif. If you’re wondering about that oil spill this May in Santa Barbara County, authorities say it was about 25 miles away and didn’t impact East Beach.
I’m always curious about how these particular beaches are chosen. The top criterion, Dr. Beach has told me, is suitability for swimming, which rules out beaches in far northern climates, where waters are too cold for most swimmers. “If I was basing the rankings on sheer beauty,” he has told me, “Alaska and the Pacific Northwest would be top of the list.” Beaches on this year’s list also have a varying mix of opportunities fishing, body surfing, nature study activities, landmarks like lighthouses and even some pursuits for landlubbers.
Leatherman evaluates some 650 U.S. beaches annually, using 50 criteria from water temperature to softness of sand, number of sunny days annually, currents, presence of pets and/or pests, types of facilities, cleanliness and competition for beach space with fishing boats and water skiers, for example.
Dr. Beach has been doing this since 1991, and each year’s top winner is retired, kind of like getting into the hall of fame. See the full list here. Click here to see last year's Top 10 Beaches list.
