Plan Your Trip

What's Hot
Meeting Planner
Travel Planner

Sports Organizer
Media
About CVB
Site Map

  


PR Archive
Images
PR Services
  Home  Media

ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER AREA BEACHES RANK AMONG TOP 10 IN ‘DR. BEACH’ ANNUAL SURVEY

--No Other Destination Has Three Top Public Beaches --

CLEARWATER, FL (May 1999) -- Caladesi Island State Park, Fort De Soto Park and Clearwater Beach, in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area, were rated among the top beaches in the U.S. by Florida International University's Dr. Stephen Leatherman. His annual beach survey, which was released yesterday, ranked Caladesi Island State Park number six, behind four beaches in Hawaii and St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, Florida. Fort De Soto park ranked number seven, rising two places in the ranking since last year. Clearwater Beach was named top city beach in the Gulf region.

   Dr. Leatherman, a coastal geologist known as "Dr. Beach," compiles the annual listing of the top 20 beaches. More than 650 public beaches throughout the United States are judged on a list of 50 criteria falling under four main areas: physical factors such as sand softness and number and size of waves; biological factors such as the color and condition of the water; whether wildlife and pests are present; and human use and impacts such as lifeguard protection, far-reaching views and traffic.

   The St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area is the only single destination in the continental United States with two beaches in the top 10. Dr. Beach also rated the country's best city beaches by region. In the Gulf region, Clearwater Beach was rated number one.

   "We have 35 miles of great, white-sand beaches in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area," said Carole Ketterhagen, executive director of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. "They are a perfect complement to our world-class museums, attractions and nature-based activities."

Seven of the top 20 beaches were in Florida. The list of top 20 beaches for 1999 includes:
  1. Wailea, Maui, HI
  2. Kaunaoa, The Big Island, HI
  3. St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, FL
  4. Hanalei Beach, Kauai, HI
  5. Kaanaplai Beach, Maui, HI
  6. Caladesi Island State Park, FL
  7. Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg, FL
  8. Hamoa, Maui, HI (private beach)
  9. Cape Florida State Recreation Area
  10. Ocracoke Island, NC
  11. St. George Island State Park, FL
  12. East Hampton Beach, NY
  13. Westhampton Beach, NY
  14. Perdido Key, FL
  15. Siesta Beach, FL
  16. Cape Hatteras, NC
  17. Poipu Beach Park, Kauai, HI
  18. Hanauma Bay, Oahu, HI
  19. Coast Guard Beach, MA
  20. Carpenteria State Beach, CA

   For more information on the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area, write to Dept. DCI, St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, 14450-46th Street North, Suite 108, Clearwater, Florida 33762. For hotel reservations or a Visitor Discovery Guide call 1-800/345-6710.



Designed by Hydrogen Media, Inc. © 2000
All rights reserved. Terms of Use and Disclaimer.
Copyright ©1999 St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area CVB. All rights reserved.
Copyright Privacy Policy Terms of Use