Siesta Beach, Caladesi Island Named Among America's Best

SIESTA KEY, FL — Just in time for the kickoff of the long Memorial Day weekend, Dr. Stephen Leatherman, also known as “Dr. Beach,” has released his annual roundup of America’s 10 best beaches. Two of those beaches happen to be along the central Gulf Coast of Florida.

After making the list in second place in 2016, Sarasota County’s Siesta Beach took first place in the 2017 rankings. The beach was also named number one in America and fifth best in the world in TripAdvisor’s 2017 Travelers’ Choice Awards rankings.

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“Siesta Beach boasts that it has the finest, whitest sand in the world, which attracts sand collectors and beach lovers from all over the world,” Dr. Beach explained of the 2017 top pick. "The clear, clean waters along this gently-sloping beach-face make for ideal swimming.”

Caladesi Island State Park in Dunedin came in seventh place in this year’s ranking. The only other Florida beach to make the top 10 list was Grayton Beach State Park in the Panhandle.

Hawaii’s Kapalua Bay Beach in Maui earned second-place honors. North Carolina's Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach came in third place this year.

For more than 25 years, Leatherman “has reviewed, evaluated and ranked beaches and coastal areas throughout the world,” his website explains. “In addition to his annual ranking of America’s best beaches, he works tirelessly to increase awareness about the dangers of rip currents.”

Rankings are based on such factors as beach size, sand softness, water temperature, amount of rain, rip currents and safety records, among other criteria.

For more information about Dr. Beach’s rankings and to see the full top 10 list, visit his website.

Photo courtesy of Sarasota County