America's top ten beaches revealed
Friday, 27 May 2005 12:00 AM
America's best beaches in 2005 have been named
A beach in Tampa Bay, Florida, has been named America's best beach for 2005, in the annual list compiled by the man dubbed "Dr Beach".
Fort De Soto Park's North Beach is described by Dr Stephen Leatherman, who has been drawing up lists of America's best beaches since 1991, as "a natural jewel on the finger of a sun-drenched city."
It is one of three Florida beaches to make the list; the others being Caladesi Island State Park in Clearwater and Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne.
Leatherman, a coastal scientist for 30 years, evaluates each beach he visits against 50 criteria including sand softness, water temperature, and size of breaking waves.
Second on the 2005 list was Ocracoke Island, Outer Banks, North Carolina, while Hanalei Bay on the Hawaiian island of Kauai was third - and one of three Hawaiian beaches to feature.
"Each of the top 10 Beaches is a stellar example of what we all look for in rejuvenating place by the sea," Dr Beach adds.
America's top ten beaches
1. Fort De Soto North Beach, St Petersburg, Florida (website).
2. Ocracoke Island, Outer Banks, North Carolina (website).
3. Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii (website).
4. Caladesi Island State Park, Clearwater, Florida (website).
5. Fleming Beach, Maui, Hawaii (website).
6. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
7. Coronado Beach, San Diego, California (website).
8. Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Florida (website)
9. Main Beach, East Hampton, New York (website)
10.Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii (website).
