There are thousands of beaches in the United States, but not every one would be considered a prime holiday destination. For some, excessive seaweed, ugly sand or murky water may make a day at the beach not so peachy. Indiana beaches just not cutting it? Looking for a real seaside paradise? Dr. Beach may have a destination for you.
Stephen "Dr. Beach" Leatherman announces the latest list of the top beaches in the U.S. every Memorial Day, cluing thousands of would-be beach bums to the best shorelines.
The list was created inadvertently in 1989 when Leatherman received a call from a travel magazine writer who asked for a list of the top 10 U.S. beaches. On the way to catch a plane, Leatherman was pressed by the reporter and gave a quick list off the top of his head of which beaches he thought were the best.
Months later Leatherman, having forgotten about the brief conversation, received a copy of a glossy travel magazine. Inside the magazine was the list he'd given. Soon after, he began getting calls from people in charge of the beaches on the list and from those whose beaches had been excluded.
Later, a Daytona Beach newspaper inquired as to the criteria used to rate the beaches. Having come up with the list off the top of his head, there were no criteria to be spoken of. According to Leatherman, all the media attention made him realize how important it was for Americans to know "what is best."
Leatherman developed 50 criteria to rate each beach and surveyed over 650 major public recreational beaches in the U.S. On Memorial Day 1991, Leatherman would produce the first professional beach rating. A media blitz ensued, with requests from television show producers trying to book Leatherman for their shows and newspaper writers wanting to interview him.
Leatherman has produced a new list every year, and even published a book titled "American Best Beaches," along with a Web site.
Leatherman is a professor of environmental studies at Florida International University, where he has been since 1976. He is involved in many conservation projects and has spoken before congress regarding the condition of American beaches.
America's Top Beaches for 2002
1. St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
2. Hanalei Beach, Hawaii
3. Kaanapali, Hawaii
4. Fort DeSoto Park, Florida
5. Caladesi Island State Park, Florida
6. Ocracoke Island, North Carolina
7. Hamoa Beach, Hawaii
8. East Hampton Beach, New York
9. Cape Florida SRA, Florida
10. Hanauma Bay, Hawaii
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