US's Best Beaches

For some reason, I'm always dubious about people ranking the United States' best beaches. Maybe it's because the qualities that make up a great beach are so personal. Do you prefer solitude or a place where the hordes hang out playing volleyball? Where bodacious babes walk the sands or where not a soul can be seen for miles? Where the waves kick ass for surfing, or where the water is glassy and serene? See what I mean?

So that aside, I guess it is still obligatory to post this article on the world's best beaches. I'm also very dubious about the so-called "expert" who ranks these beaches. Stephen Leatherman is a the Florida International University researcher who has been issuing his beach report since the 90s, and while he may have some academic/professioonal cred to make these rankings, I have to say I remain dubious. Or maybe I'm just jealous at his job.

Anyhoodle, here are the top ten.

# Fort De Soto Park - North Beach. St Petersburg, Fla.
# Ocracoke Island. Outer Banks, N.C.
# Hanalei Bay. Kauai, Hawaii
# Caladesi Island State Park. Clearwater, Fla.
# Fleming Beach. Maui, Hawaii
# Coast Guard Beach. Cape Cod, Mass.
# Coronado Beach. San Diego, Calif.
# Cape Florida State Park. Key Biscayne, Fla.
# Main Beach. East Hampton, N.Y.
# Hamoa Beach. Maui, Hawaii 

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