'Dr. Beach' Lists <br />the 10 Best Beaches <br />in America Florida International University's <br />Stephen P. Leatherman has revealed <br />his annual rankings of America's best beaches. Leatherman, a coastal research professor, <br />also goes by the moniker "Dr. Beach." He based the list on over 50 types of criteria, <br />including sand softness and safety. In ninth and tenth were<br />San Diego's Coronado Beach and <br />South Carolina's Beachwalker Park, respectively. Cape Cod's Coast Guard Beach <br />came in eighth place. In seventh place was Hawaii's <br />Hapuna Beach State Park <br />located on the Big Island. Another Florida beach, <br />Caladesi Island State Park <br />in Dunedin, was sixth. Fifth place went to <br />Lighthouse Beach <br />in Buxton. Hawaii nabbed two spots on the top 10 <br />with Oahu's Duke Kahanamoku Beach <br />claiming fourth. In third place was Southhampton <br />New York's Coopers Beach. North Carolina took two spots in the top five with <br />Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach coming in at no. 2. Taking the top spot was <br />the Florida Panhandle's <br />Grayton Beach State Park.
