The Answer:

According to Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, or "Dr. Beach," the country's best beaches are in Hawaii. Dr. Beach is a professor of environmental studies at Florida International University, and the author of America's Best Beaches. Of the 16 beaches he's given a top ranking to as of 2006, 11 are in Hawaii.

If you'd rather stay in the contiguous 48 states, try Florida. It got the other five spots.

For the complete list, including options elsewhere, see America's Best Beaches.

—The Editors