(Mellow Wanderer) The Big Kahuna of beaches scores for the second year in a row. Once again, Hawaii comes out on top. Waimanalo Bay Beach Park on Oahu is #1, the best in America, according to Dr. Beach, who is Dr. Stephen Leatherman, director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University.
Dr. Beach issues his annual best list just before Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial start of summer’s beach season. Leatherman started dissecting America’s beaches with a surgeon’s precision 25 years ago. He’s a certified beachnik!
Waimanalo Bay Beach Park leapfrogged to #1 in 2015 from 4th place in 2014. Last year’s winner, Duke Kahanamoku Beach, also on Oahu, was put on Dr. Beach’s Hall of Fame list so it and previous #1’s can’t be repeat winners.
So what makes Waimanalo so special? Here’s Dr. Beach’s diagnosis based on 50 scientific criteria:
“Waimanalo Bay Beach Park is located in the northeastern corner of Oahu in the countryside and is often missed by tourists as they cruise through the small village. Waimanalo Bay is Oahu’s longest beach–extending for more than five miles; it is a great for walking and beachcombing in the soft white sand. The wind is always blowing onshore because of the Trade Winds, making it safe for sail boats. This sandy coral beach slopes gently into the turquoise oceanic waters. Be cautious when swimming offshore because the ocean deepens fairly quickly, and strong currents are sometimes present. Look for the lifeguard tower so that you can swim in protected waters. There are restrooms and showers along with shady areas courtesy of the ironwood trees. In addition to swimming, the shallow sand bar provides for good body-boarding.”
Now I’m salivating, ready for a Tiny Bubbles ukulele jam. No other state has had more beaches in Dr. Beach’s top spot than Hawaii. Florida is the perennial runner-up. Barefoot Beach in Bonita Springs, Florida is a bridesmaid again, coming in second place two years in a row- 2014 and 2015.
Here now is Dr. Beach’s Top 10 List of America’s Best Beaches:
1. Waimanalo Bay Beach Park, Oahu, Hawaii
“This beach on the windward side of Oahu is off the beaten path. Waimanalo Bay boasts of the longest beach in Oahu with the best beach along this five-mile beach being Waimanalo Bay Beach Park. The white coral sand is bathed by the turquoises blue waters. The Ko’olau Mountains provide a beautiful backdrop view. Hawaiians who live on Oahu frequent this area.”
2. Barefoot Beach Preserve County Park, Bonita Springs, Florida
“This beach in Southwest Florida is 8,200 foot long and located in a 342 acre park. The surf is gentle with waves generally being measured in inches, and the water is very shallow, making this a great beach for bathing and swimming for families. The sand is fine and contains many small shells.”
3. St. George Island State Park, Florida
“The Florida panhandle beaches are known for their powdery, super white sands. The sand here is squeaky clean (just rub your feet on the dry sand and hear it squeak). The State Park beach is on the eastern end of the island. Pathways take you across the “walking” dunes to the bayside. Stingrays are sometimes resting in the shallow waters so shuffle your feet when entering. Birding and fishing are very popular activities.”
4. Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii
“This pocket beach is rimmed by cliffs covered with palm trees and beautiful flowering vegetation. This crescent beach, which is a mixture of coral and lava sand, is the most famous of Maui’s Hana beaches. The beach is actually inside a breached volcanic crater. To get to Hamoa Beach, one has to take the “Road to Hana”, the treacherous road with drop-offs of over 1,000 feet and sporadic guardrails, which can be an adventure in itself! Taking it slow on this road, with over 50 one-way bridges, is the safest bet.”
5. Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks, North Carolina
“Bulging far offshore of the mainland coast as a barrier island, Cape Hatteras was the first National Seashore. Providing some of the best board surfing along the East Coast, as well as the most famous lighthouse in the United States, Cape Hatteras attracts beachgoers to its historic fishing villages. Nature lovers adore the excellent beachcombing and superb fishing.”
6. Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Florida
“Cape Florida State Park, located at the southern tip of Key Biscayne, provides clear, emerald-colored waters and gentle surf. This fine, white coral sand beach is great for swimming, as waves are knocked down by a large sand shoal offshore. In addition, the Cape Florida Lighthouse allows for a breath-taking view of this beautiful beach.”
7. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
“Coast Guard Beach, accessible by bicycle or shuttle bus from the Salt Pond Visitor’s Center, was formed where a sand spit attached to the glacial cliffs. The sand is fairly coarse, so the beach slopes steeply into the water. The picturesque old Coast Guard station still sits atop the glacial bluffs, allowing for a spectacular view down upon the Nauset Spit barrier system and bay. During the summer, beach-goers take quick, refreshing dips in the ocean as water temperatures only reach 60-70 degrees.”
8. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina
“South of Charleston, Beachwalker Park is the public beach located on the southern end of Kiawah Island. This is a nature-lovers coast so visitors should pack their canoes and kayaks to paddle through the tidal inlets. It is also fun to walk or bicycle down to Captain Sam’s Inlet to see thousands of birds. The water is not clear here, but it is clean and provides for fantastic seafood for low-country cooking. There is concern about the proposal to build 50 houses and a steel revetment on the sand spit in terms of its impact on animal life and visitor access.”
9. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, Naples, Florida
“This 166-acre beach park is characterized by sea oats on the sand dunes, backed by cabbage palms and woodlands that provide shaded picnic areas. The beach is composed of fine white sand and millions of seashells. An observation tower within the park allows visitors a good view of this natural enclave within an urbanized area. There are bathrooms, changing stalls, and outside rinse showers. Head to the beach early in the morning or late afternoon in order to avoid the crowds and traffic backups during the prime vacation season.”
10. East Beach, Santa Barbara, California
“East Beach is located on the eastern end of the four-mile stretch of beach parks. There are a dozen volleyball courts, picnic tables, playground, bathhouse with showers and full-service restaurant at this beach. Santa Barbara beaches are considered the American Riviera.”
So much for my earlier prediction in a previous post. I bet the house on Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island in South Carolina. Guess I’ll have to pull-up stakes and take cover under a palm tree on Waimanalo Bay Beach Park. Just me and my ukulele!
