Heading into Memorial Day Weekend and the official start of summer, now is the time to start doing the research that matters. Namely, which beach are you going to visit to get your tan lines in order as soon as humanly possible? Thanks to the work of obsessive Florida International University professor Stephen Leatherman, the research has already been done for you. The professor has determined that Oahu’s Hanauma Bay is the best beach in America.
According to the Washington Post, Leatherman — who goes by the pseudonym Dr. Beach, for obvious reasons — has spent his entire professional life studying beaches and applying around 50 criteria to the appointment of a yearly “best beach”.
This year’s winner, Hanauma Bay, is “nestled inside a breached volcanic cone on the southeastern shore of Oahu, has some of the state’s calmest waters, most pristine beaches and world-renowned snorkeling over coral reefs that teem with colorful fish.”
For those travelers who may not be able to afford a trip halfway around the world, several beaches in the contiguous United States showed up in the rankings. Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Coronado Beach in San Diego, and Coast Guard Beach on Cape Cod all placed in the top ten.
Leatherman’s yearly list has arrived just in time to help you find the best beach near you. So what are you waiting for?
