The 10 Best Beaches in the U.S. Are ...

With summer around the corner, it’s time to bring out the sunblock, pack the cooler bag and get ready to head for the beach. The question is, which beach? "Dr. Beach" has the answer.

As a professor and director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University, Stephen P. Leatherman knows a thing or two about where the best beaches in the U.S. are.

Since 1991, Leatherman said he has been conducting his own survey, analyzing the 650 major public recreational beaches in the U.S. and seeing how they rated according to his 50-criteria list.

Leatherman recently released his 2019 list of the 10 best U.S. beaches, and taking top honors is Kailua Beach Park in Oahu, Hawaii. With its expansive white sand coral beach and small waves, it is the ideal spot for swimming and kayaking. If the picturesque beauty and water activities is not enough, the fact that Kailua Beach Park has lifeguards on duty, free parking, bathrooms, beach showers, picnic tables, volleyball courts and kayak rentals all boost its ratings.

Coming in at second in Leatherman's list of the best U.S. beaches for 2019 is Ocracoke in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Although much wilder and with bigger surf, this beach offers natural beauty that is worth taking advantage of.

Grayton Beach State Park in the Florida Panhandle is third on the list, and Leatherman explains why.

"This beach boasts of its sugar-white sand and emerald green water where development has been restrained, so big sand dunes still dominate the landscape," he said. "At the same time, all the amenities of great restaurants and accommodations are close by in the old town of Grayton Beach or Seaside."

Located on the south shore of Long Island, in the village of Southampton, lies Coopers Beach, the fourth beach on Leatherman's list of the top U.S. beaches. What makes this spot so special is its vast expanse of beach "made of grainy white quartz sand" that is flanked by sand dunes covered and extravagant mansions.

Rounding off the top five U.S. beaches, according to Leatherman, is Kahanamoku Beach, located on the west end of Waikiki Beach.

"It is the widest beach on this world-famous stretch of sand and protected by an offshore coral reef, making it a good beach for families with children," Leatherman noted. "The nearby Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon is also a favorite bathing and swimming spot. This is one of the most picturesque beaches in the USA with the iconic Diamondhead volcano in the distance."

The 10 best U.S. beaches for 2019 is as follows:

1. Kailua Beach Park, Oahu, Hawaii
2. Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, Outer Banks of North Carolina
3. Grayton Beach State Park, Florida Panhandle
4. Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
5. Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Oahu, Hawaii
6. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
7. Caladesi Island State Park Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
8. Hapuna Beach State Park, Big Island Hawaii
9. Coronado Beach, San Diego, California
10. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina

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