Dr. Beach announces his picks for America's best beaches in 2024

Coastal scientist Stephen Leatherman, Dr. Beach to his fans, has released a list of America’s best beaches, just in time for Memorial Day weekend – the unofficial start of summer.

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If you want to brag to your friends about visiting the best beach in the country, you’ll probably need to pack your bags for the airport.

Duke Kahanamoku Beach on the island of Oahu tops the list, according to Leatherman.

“It is the widest beach on this world-famous stretch of sand and protected by an offshore coral reef, making it a good beach for families with children. The nearby Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon is also a favorite swimming and swimming spot,” said Leatherman, a professor in the Department of Earth and Environment at Florida International University in Miami.

Ranking second is Coopers Beach in Southampton, New York. According to Leatherman, Coopers Beach made the list because it “is hundreds of yards wide, made of grainy white quartz sand” and is “backed by large sand dunes covered in American beach grass interspersed with large mansions extravagant.”

“Some of the best beach access in the Hamptons is on Coopers Beach, and a snack bar serving lunch and drinks is also located here.”

Leatherman is the author or editor of 16 books and has written more than 200 journal articles and technical reports, including articles in Science and Nature. He evaluates the beaches and produces the annual list since 1991.

Here are the top 10 beaches for 2024:

1. Duke Kahanamoku Beach: Oahu, Hawaii

2. Coopers Beach: Southampton, New York

3. Wailea Beach: Maui, Hawaii

4. Caladesi Island State Park: Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida

5. Beachwalker Park: Kiawah Island, South Carolina

6. Main beach: East Hampton, New York

7. Poipu Beach: Kauai, Hawaii

8. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park: Naples, Florida

9. Coast Guard Beach: Cape Cod, Massachusetts

10. Coronado Beach: San Diego, California