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2009 Top Ten US Beaches List

(Florida has 2 beaches on the list this year)

Executive summary for Florida: Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne, Florida has moved from number nine to number eight this year. Siesta Key Beach has moved from the number three spot to number two this year, and I strongly suspect it will be number one in 2010.

  1. Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii

  2. Siesta Beach, Sarasota, FL

  3. Coopers Beach, Southampton, NY

  4. Coronado Beach, San Diego, CA

  5. Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii

  6. Main Beach, East Hampton, NY

  7. Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks, NC

  8. Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, FL

  9. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Mass.

  10. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, SC

  

Once a beach has been chosen by Leatherman as the number one beach, the following year it drops out of the contest to give other beaches a chance to be number 1. I think it is impossible to pick the "Best Beach," but this is a good way to call attention to the top beaches in the nation. And maybe it will inspire some of the other beach communities to invest in the health and attractiveness of their beaches.

Every beach is number one to somebody.

2008 Top Ten US Beaches For Comparison
(Florida has 3 beaches on the list in 2008)

As he has done since 1991, Dr. Stephen Leatherman, director of Florida International University's coastal research lab, has announced his list of the top beaches in the United States. Note that Caladesi Island State Park has moved from #2 into the #1 spot, and Siesta Key has jumped from number 10 in 2007 to number 3 this year. Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne, Florida is in spot number 9 for 2008.

Here is the list of the Top Ten Beaches in the US for 2008:

  1. Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida (was #2 last year)

  2. Hanalei Beach, Kauai, Hawaii (was #4 last year)

  3. Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida

  4. Cooper's Beach, Southampton, NY

  5. Coronado Beach, San Diego, California (was #8 last year)

  6. Main Beach, East Hampton, New York

  7. Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii (was #6 last year)

  8. Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks of North Carolina

  9. Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Florida

  10. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Caladesi Island, Florida is in the #1 spot for 2008

This is a great pick, even though it is a little difficult to get to. Visit my web page of photos and information about Caladesi Island State Park and see why it rates so well. Below is a photo of a Caladesi Island beach.


Above: Caladesi Island Beach

 

Siesta Key Beach is Rated #3 in 2008

You almost can't have a list of top 10 beaches without having Siesta Key appear somewhere on the list. It snuck in as the #10 entry in 2007, but has jumped to the #3 spot in 2008.  Siesta Key beaches are wide and flat for easy walking, and the sand is brilliant white. The quartz crystal sand is soft and powdery when dry, but is hard packed near the water's edge. This makes jogging and long distance walking easy. In fact, the sand near the water is so firm on Siesta beach that you can easily ride your bike or push a baby stroller. You can't do that on many beaches. Below is a large photo of Siesta Key Beach. This photo was taken north of the public beach where the crowd thins out. This was late in the afternoon on a weekday. See...you can escape the crowds, even on Siesta Key!

 

White powdery sands of siesta key beach.jpg
Above: Siesta Key Beach. Is the sand white enough for you?

  

2007 Best Beaches List For Comparison

  1. Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, Outer Banks, North Carolina (Ocracoke Beach photos on Flickr)

  2. Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida

  3. Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York

  4. Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii

  5. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

  6. Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii

  7. Main Beach, East Hampton, New York

  8. Coronado Beach, San Diego, California

  9. Lighthouse Point Park, Daytona Beach, Florida

  10. Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida

 

2006 Best Beaches List for Comparison

  1. Fleming Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii
  2. Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin, Florida
  3. Ocracoke Island, Outer Banks, North Carolina
  4. Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
  5. Hanalei Beach, Kauai, Hawaii
  6. Main Beach, East Hampton, New York
  7. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
  8. Coronado Beach, San Diego, California
  9. Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii
  10. Barefoot Beach Park, Bonita Springs, Florida