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Searching for sun and George Sand this summer ? Siesta Beach in Sarasota , Florida , may be just what you ’re looking for . This crescent of fine white Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin takes the top expansion slot on a beach list that ’s been rank America ’s coastline since 1991 .

Stephen " Dr. Beach " Leatherman , a professor of geomorphology at Florida International University , releases his list of the top 10 public beaches each May . His ranking system take into report sand timber , H2O caliber , amenities , rubber and direction . Last year , a snorkeling paradise on the Hawaiian Island of Oahutook the top situation , while Siesta Beach came in a close arcsecond . This twelvemonth is the 2nd time that Siesta Beach has won the No . 1 spot on the best beaches list ; it also earned that distinction in 2011 .

dr. beach top beaches 2017

Siesta Beach in Florida won the top spot on Stephen “Dr. Beach” Leatherman’s list this year for its white-sand beach and warm, clear water.

" With some of the finest , whitest sand in the mankind , this beach attracts sand collector from all over , " Leatherman wrote in his description of the winning beach . " Siesta Beach has vindicated , warm H2O idealistic for swimming . The beach is 100 of cubic yard broad in the frame of a crescent due to anchoring of shoreward rocks to the due south . " [ See photo of the Best Beaches of 2017 ]

Ranking beaches

Leatherman uses 50 criteria to rank beach , including their size , the womanishness of their sand , the temperature of the water , and the safety for swimming . In late years , he ’s slant environmental management more heavily and awarded bonus points for beaches that veto smoking . ( Cigarette butts are one of themost prevalent types of litterfound on coast and waterways . )

Each beach on the listing stands out for its own peculiar ground . Kapalua Bay Beach is a prime placement for snorkel diving . Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach on the Outer Banks is peaceful and undeveloped . Coast Guard Beach in Massachusetts is chilly but beloved by surfers . Coronado Beach in San Diego is wide and level , and is surrounded by wizardly restaurant and amenity such as the Hotel del Coronado , a sprawling resort built in 1888 , Leatherman said .

A beloved beach

Siesta Beach took the top bit thanks to its blue slope and warm , clear waters without many grave electric current . The Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin is subdued , and the beach is wide . The 99 percentquartz sandmakes the beach a democratic place for sand carving contest and beach volleyball game .

Sarasota County latterly flesh out the parking area at the beach and also function a free trolley to the beach to skip down on machine traffic . lifesaver police the beach , and there are picnic tables and a recently construct resort area . Smoking is not banned on the beach , and Florida jurisprudence prevents local government from shun smoking , according to theSarasota Herald - Tribune .

The beach is also accessible , with destitute beach wheelchairs available for no charge and ADA Beach Access Mats that can be roll out over the soft sand to provide a pathway for wheelchairs or pram . grant to the Sarasota County authorities , the top spot on Leatherman ’s list is far from the beach ’s only accolade . It also has been recognized by the Great International White Sand Beach Challenge for having the finest , whitest George Sand in the earth , and it has appear at least twice on TripAdvisor ’s Travelers ' Choice Awards .

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