For the first time since Florida International University professor Stephen Leatherman, a.k.a. Dr. Beach, has been ranking the best beaches in the United States, a beach in Florida or Hawaii didn't make the top spot. Leatherman told The Associated Press of Ocracoke, "It's not the end of the world, but you can see it from here."
Just 300 yards of this nearly perfect beach has lifeguards, and it's that section Leatherman named to this list; however, very little separates it from the rest of the island, which has been protected from development as part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. "Here, you have 14 miles of unspoiled, undisturbed barrier beach," Dr. Beach told AP. "Where do you find that in the world?"
Ocracoke, which is at the southern end of the Outer Banks, is accessible only by boat or private plane. About 800 people live there year-round. It's not a place you go to play golf or be pampered in a spa. Leatherman says it is like going back in time.
Once a beach hits the No. 1 spot, it is retired from consideration for future lists so this is the last time Ocracoke will be part of this annual ranking. It was ranked No. 3 in 2006 and No. 2 in 2005. Leatherman evaluates swimming beaches on 50 criteria; each criterion is worth 1 to 5 points. No beach has ever earned all 250 points, but Ocracoke was in the 230s.
The top 10 beaches in the U.S.A.
- Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach in Outer Banks, North Carolina
- Caladesi Island State Park in Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
- Coopers Beach in Southampton, New York
- Hanalei Beach in Kauai, Hawaii
- Coast Guard Beach in Cape Cod, Massachusetts
- Hamoa Beach in Maui, Hawaii
- Main Beach in East Hampton, New York
- Coronado Beach in San Diego, California
- Lighthouse Point Park in Daytona Beach, Florida
- Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Florida
--From the Editors at Netscape
