MIAMI, Fla. — On the long-running "Dr. Beach" list of the 10 best beaches in the country, Florida sands showed up more than any other state.
The Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve took the top spot on the list, which has been released by costal expert Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman for 26 years.
Siesta Beach in Sarasota came in second.
Hanauma, Hawaii’s first no-smoking beach, “because of the necessity to protect the thousands of beautifully-colored tropical fish, which span the rainbow,” Leatherman said.
No-smoking beaches were awarded extra credit when determining the top 10 list.
The list is compiled based on 50 criteria, which include things like water and sand quality, environmental management and beach safety.
Other Florida beaches that made the list were Grayton Beach State Park (No. 6) and Caladesi Island State Park (No. 9).
Leatherman, a professor at Florida International University known as “Dr. Beach,” has been releasing the Top 10 Beach List since 1991.
Cox Media Group
