Posted on: Friday, May 25, 2001
'Dr. Beach' calls Kaua'i's Poipu Beach America's best
Associated Press
| • Hawai'i, Florida strong on best beaches list • Dr. Beach site: www.topbeaches.com/ |
CAPE FLORIDA, Fla. — Ready for that beach vacation with the right mix of soft sand, crystal-blue water and swimming? Head to Hawai'i or Florida.
Poipu Beach Park on Kaua'i ranks No. 1 in the annual survey of America's best beaches, according to a Florida professor known as "Dr. Beach."
The beach, reknown for its golden coral sand, crystal-clear blue water and pulsating surf, is one of six Hawaiian beaches to rank in the top 20 of the 11th annual survey announced today.
"Hawai'i is America's paradise. It's where the mountains meet the sea," said Stephen Leatherman, a Florida International University coastal geologist who compiles the list as "Dr. Beach."
Florida scored seven beaches in the top 20, sharing one with Alabama, while the rest of the best are found in North Carolina, New York, California, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
Poipu Beach is great for swimming, snorkling and body surfing and offers crystal blue water with a visibility of 90 to 100 feet for divers.
"The beach itself is a golden coral sand. It's beautiful," he said.
St. Joseph Peninsula State Park along Florida's Panhandle southwest of Tallahassee ranks second in the survey. Leatherman said the combination of its pure quartz crystal sand, emerald green water and availability of small cottages helps make it a memorable outing.
"It's got everything you want to put together for a getaway beach," Leatherman said.
He announced this year's selection at Cape Florida State Recreational Area on the southern tip of Key Biscayne, just southeast of Miami. Cape Florida's beach ranked No. 9.
Other ranked Florida beaches are Caladesi Island State Park (No. 5), Fort DeSoto Park (No. 6), Siesta Beach (No. 13), St. George Island State Park (No. 16), and Perdido Key in Florida and Alabama (No. 17).
The leading Hawai'i beaches include Kaanapali (No. 3), Hanalei Beach (No. 4), Hamoa Beach (No. 7), Makena State Park (No. 12) and Hanauma Bay (No. 15).
Leatherman uses 50 criteria in three categories to rank the beaches, including sand size, water temperature, number of sunny days, wildlife and amenities such as nearby hotels and restaurants.
Hawaii beaches have won the top spot for the past six years. Last year, Mauna Kea Beach earned the top ranking. Top winners are excluded from the next 10 surveys.
Leatherman also rated the country's best regional beaches:
—Northeast: East Hampton Main Beach, New York.
—Southeast: Cape Florida State Recreational Area, Florida.
—Northwest: Cannon Beach, Oregon.
—Southwest: Santa Barbara East Beach, California.
Leatherman said he visits more than 100 beaches every year, including two trips to Hawaii, to compile the annual survey.
"It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it," Leatherman said.
