Community Corner

Dr. Beach Names Coronado 2nd Best Beach in America

The coastal expert gives Coronado high marks in his annual list of sandy wonders.

Stephen Leatherman, aka “Dr. Beach,” recently announced his 21st annual list of the Top 10 Beaches in America. The coastal expert ranked Coronado No. 2, after the top-billed Siesta Beach in Sarasota, FL.

Leatherman, who serves as director of Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research, has been publishing his list of best beaches since 1991. The winners are judged by 50 different criteria, including: sand softness, number of sunny days, beach width at low tide, water temperature, air temperature, smell (seaweed, rotting fish, etc.), rip currents, water color, amount of rain, safety record, amenities (showers, bathrooms, etc.), trash upkeep and general ground maintenance. 

Dr. Beach called Coronado “a veritable oasis by the sea, measuring hundreds of yards wide.” The local beach was recognized for its “lush subtropical vegetation, unique Mediterranean climate and fine sparkling sand,” Leatherman said in a press release. The view of the , with its “spectacular architecture and Old World elegance,” was also cited as a major perk of the beach’s location.

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Siesta Beach was given the top honor for its beautiful sand. The Florida beach “boasts that it has the finest and whitest sand in the world, and I cannot argue with this claim. The powdery sand is nearly pure quartz crystal,” Leatherman said on his website.

“The beautiful blue-colored water is clean and clear, making it so inviting to bathers and swimmers,” he added.

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After Siesta Beach and Coronado, other winners in the Top 10 list included: Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki, HI; Main Beach, East Hampton, NY; Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks, NC; St. George Island State Park, FL; Beachwalker, Kiawah Island, SC; Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, MA; Waimanalo Bay State Park, Oahu, HI; and Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, FL.


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