Florida beaches consistently rank in the Top 10, and this year the Sunshine State scored three top slots. While two Florida beaches — Lighthouse Point Park in Daytona Beach and Siesta Beach on Siesta Key in Sarasota — that made the cut are new to the list, it was no surprise that Caladesi Island State Park took second place again this year.
Caladesi Island State Park
Repeatedly on Dr. Beaches' annual short list of Top Beaches, Caladesi Island State Park is best enjoyed by fishing, shelling or studying nature. Located on the Gulf of Mexico, sand dunes line the open beach with turtles and shore birds finding it the perfect location for nesting. Periodic storm tides cover the area limiting the plant diversity, but sea oats and palmetto are two of the most hardy.Ferry service is available from the mainland, departing hourly with weather permitting. Picnic pavilions, bath houses and a park concession provide additional amenities to make your visit to Caladesi more enjoyable. Boaters can enjoy the bayside marina where overnight docking is permitted.
Caladesi Island State Park is located west of the city of Dunedin (north of Clearwater) on the Gulf Coast. Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m. to sundown, 365 days a year. Pets are not permitted in many areas. Saltwater fishing licenses are required in Florida. Admission fees are $4.00 for up to 8 people per private boat and kayakers $1.00 per person. Fees vary for parking at Honeymoon Island and ferry to Caladesi Island. Pavilion fees are $32.10 per pavilion with reservations two weeks in advance. Call 727-469-5918 for further information.
Lighthouse Point Park
In their first edition, the authors of Florida Beaches ranked this beach "the finest beach in Daytona Beach," but by the time the second edition went to print, the beach had fallen out of favor because of the well-intentioned-but-gone-awry 1999-2000 efforts of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers to extend the North Jetty, but not the South.Although I'm not familiar with the current status of the beach, apparently conditions have improved enough for Dr. Beach to place Lighthouse Point Park ninth on his 2007 Top 10 Beaches.
This state-owned but county-run facility is located on the north side of Ponce DeLeon Inlet. The 52-acre park boasts legendary fishing, an oceanfront pavilion, swimming and nature trails.
Lighthouse Point Park is open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Admission is $3.50 per vehicle. Call 386-756-7488 for more information.
Siesta Beach
Last but not least, Siesta Beach on Siesta Key in Sarasota was ranked #10 by Dr. Beach. While all the beaches on Siesta Key are winners, Siesta Key Public Beach located at the south end of Beach Road is the nicest. The sand is made up of white, fine-grained and mostly quartz crystals, the green waters of the Gulf invite a swim and plenty of people-pleasing amenities make you comfortable. You can't ask for too much more.Siesta Key Beach is open from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. Parking is free.
Top 10 Beaches 2007
- Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, Outer Banks, North Carolina
- Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin, Florida
- Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
- Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii
- Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
- Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii
- Main Beach, East Hampton, New York
- Coronado Beach, San Diego, California
- Lighthouse Point Park, Daytona Beach, Florida
- Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida
Dr. Beach
The way Dr. Leatherman began rating the nation's beaches and how he became affectionately named "Dr. Beach" is an interesting story that had its beginning in childhood. What is especially interesting is that in a few short years, he has turned his passion into a legend, and he has become practically an icon.Dr. Leatherman has been a coastal scientist with 30 years of international experience studying storm impacts, erosion and way to improve beach health. He is Florida International University's director of the International Hurricane Research Center and the Laboratory for Coastal Research. The center is also home to the National Healthy Beaches Campaign founded by Leatherman.
