left: Beaches from Hawaii to East Hampton
Hamoa Beach. Maui, Hawaii  
Caladesi Island State Park.
TRAVEL
Clearwater, Fla.
Criteria is a balance of recreation
Hamoa Beach. Maui, Hawaii  
and ecology. Director of the
Ocracoke Island. Outer
AMERICA'S TOP 10 BEACHES Laboratory for Coastal Research
Banks, N.C.
at Florida International University,
Fort De Soto Park - North
How many have you visited?
Leatherman weighed 50 criteria in
Beach. St Petersburg, Fla.
reviewing 650 major public
Topping the list was North
beaches along the U.S. coast. The
Beach at Fort De Soto Park,
criteria ranged from factors
located southwest of St.
important to sunbathers — like the
Petersburg, Fla. Florida had
coarseness of sand — to those of
Best Snacks
three beaches on the list, tying
concern to health and for the Beach
with Hawaii for the most.
environmental experts — like
Stephen Leatherman, the
sewage and algae content in the
Florida International University
water. How well local officials
researcher who's been issuing
manage a beach, balancing the
Pretzel Crisps, Snack
the reports since 1991,
environment and recreation, is also
Factory
described North Beach as "a
a key criteria.
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies,
natural jewel on the finger of a
Tate’s Bake Shop
sun-drenched city."
Almonds & Cashews,
"It’s a long, wide, sugar sand
Archer Farms, Target
beach with great shelling and
thriving natural dunes," he said of
George’s Top
Cranberry Nut Trail Mix
Bars, Archer Farms, Target
the beach, located on an island in
Tampa Bay.
10 Beaches
Corn, Black Bean Roasted
Red Pepper Salsa
Desert Pepper, available
Leatherman's "Top 10" Beaches
almost anywhere
Fort De Soto Park - North Beach.
St Petersburg, Fla.
Ocracoke Island. Outer Banks,
N.C.
Hanalei Bay. Kauai, Hawaii
Caladesi Island State Park.
Hanalei Bay. Kauai, Hawaii
Clearwater, Fla.
Fleming Beach. Maui, Hawaii
Fleming Beach. Maui, Hawaii
Main Beach. East Hampton,
Coast Guard Beach. Cape Cod,
N.Y
Mass.
Coronado Beach. San Diego,
Hamoa Beach. Maui, Hawaii  
Calif.
Coronado Beach. San Diego,
Cape Florida State Park. Key
Calif.
Biscayne, Fla.
Coast Guard Beach. Cape
Main Beach. East Hampton, N.Y.
Cod, Mass.
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