Which MA Beach Made 'Dr. Beach' Top 10?

EASTHAM, MA — Coast Guard Beach in Eastham this year was again included on the annual "Dr. Beach" rankings of the 10 best beaches in the country. Hawaii's Kapalua Bay Beach in Maui this week was ranked No. 1 while Coast Guard Beach was ranked No. 5.

Coast Guard Beach has an important place in American history — the Mayflower made landfall there in 1620. The beach includes bicycle trails. Seals, plovers, and terns frequent the area. It was the only New England beach included on the rankings, which were compiled by Stephen "Dr. Beach" Leatherman, a Florida professor and beach expert who started his annual list in 1991.

Rankings are based on factors including sand softness, water temperature, rain, rip current and safety records.

Dr. Beach Top 10 Beaches 2018

1. Kapalua Bay Beach - Maui, Hawaii
2. Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach - Outer Banks of North Carolina
3. Grayton Beach State Park - Florida panhandle
4. Coopers Beach - Southampton, New York
5. Coast Guard Beach - Cape Cod, Massachusetts
6. Lighthouse Beach, Buxton - Outer Banks of North Carolina
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

Dr. Beach: Top 10 Beaches 2018 (PDF)

Coast Guard Beach this week was also named one of the best beaches on Cape Cod by Condé Nast Traveler.

Related:

• Best Cape Cod Beaches: Condé Nast Traveler
• Live Coast Guard Beach camera

Photo credit: Maria Cormack-Pitts/Patch