Have you ever heard of the annual Dr. Beach contest? Well, every year since 1991, Stephen Leatherman, a professor at Miami’s International University has come up with his Dr. Beach list which consists of 50 different criteria to determine the top 10 beaches in the United States. When a beach hits the number 1 spot it is removed from the list to give other beaches a chance. The list is then reset so former winners can get back on the list. Since the reset was established in 2016, 3 Florida beaches have reached the number 1 spot!
In 2023, St. George Island State Park in the Florida Panhandle was voted #1. St. George Island State Park is located on the east end of St. George Island which is a census designated place in Franklin county off the Gulf of Mexico. Access to the park is by way of a 4 – mile long bridge. The park offers a variety of recreational activities such as beaching, kayaking, canoeing, birding, boating, fishing and camping. There are 60 campsites with water and electricity on the park grounds.
The winner in 2020 was Grayton Beach State Park. Grayton Beach State Park is also located in the Panhandle between Panama City Beach and Destin. Grayton Beach is one of the most popular beaches in all of Florida with crystal white sand and beautiful blue – green waters. It is consistently considered one of the best beaches in the United States.
2017 saw Siesta Beach in Siesta Key near Sarasota, Florida take the #1 place. Surely one of the reasons Siesta Beach won in 2017 was the fact that its sand is made up of 99% quartz which comes from the Appalachian Mountains. Even on the hottest of days the sand feels cool underfoot.
( Image of Siesta Key Beach with its 99% quartz sand )
In 2008, Caladesi Island State Park reached number 1 on the list. The park is reachable primarily by boat and is located north of Clearwater. White crystal quartz sand also fills these beaches with a soft and cool underfoot experience for beachgoers.
Located in Southwest Florida, north of downtown Naples, the barrier island beach in Delnor – Wiggins Pass State Park was voted the Number One best beach in 2015. Again, being a beach on the west coast of Florida, Delnor – Wiggins has white sand and crystal clear waters. Many recreational activities are found in the park and beach such as swimming, snorkelling, paddleboarding, shelling and fishing. There is also a big wildlife presence including bald eagles, osprey’s and manatees. Some areas of the park remain closed due to the effects from Hurricane Ian in 2022.
Other top beaches in Florida that have gained the top spot are Fort DeSoto Park in St. Petersburg in 2005. St. Joseph Peninsula in Port St. Joe in 2002. Saint Andrews State Park in Panama City in 1995 and Bahia Honda State Park in Big Pine Key in 1992.
