America's Best Beaches, 2012

The following table lists the top ten best beaches to visit in the United States for 2012, according to Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, author of America's Best Beaches. In addition, find a list of the previous top-rated beaches in America below.

	Name	Location
1.	Coronado Beach	San Diego, California
2.	Kahanamoku Beach Waikiki	Oahu, Hawaii
3.	Main Beach	East Hampton, New York
4.	St. George Island State Park	Florida panhandle
5.	Hamoa Beach	Maui, Hawaii
6.	Coast Guard Beach	Cape Cod, Massachusetts
7.	Waimanalo Bay Beach Park	Oahu, Hawaii
8.	Cape Florida State Park	Key Biscayne, Florida
9.	Beachwalker Park	Kiawah Island, South Carolina
10.	Cape Hatteras	Outer Banks, North Carolina

Previous Winners of the Best American Beach Award

(excluded from 2012 list)

Year	Name	Location
2011	Siesta Beach	Sarasota, Florida
2010	Coopers Beach	Southampton, New York
2009	Hanalei Bay	Kauai, Hawaii
2008	Caladesi Island State Park	Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
2007	Ocracoke Lifeguard Beach	Outer Banks, North Carolina
2006	Fleming Beach Park	Maui, Hawaii
2005	Fort DeSoto Park	North Beach, Florida
2004	Hanauma Bay	Oahu, Hawaii
2003	Kaanapali	Hawaii
2002	St. Joseph Peninsula State Park	Florida
2001	Poipu Beach Park	Hawaii
2000	Mauna Kea Beach	Hawaii
1999	Wailea Beach	Hawaii
1998	Kailua Beach Park	Hawaii
1997	Hulopoe	Hawaii
1996	Lanikai Beach	Hawaii
1995	St. Andrews SRA	Florida
1994	Grayton Beach SRA	Florida
1993	Hapuna	Hawaii
1992	Bahia Honda SRA	Florida
1991	Kapalua Bay Beach	Hawaii

Released since 1991, 650 major public recreational beaches in the U.S. are rated according to 50 criteria. Source: Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman (aka Dr. Beach), author of America's Best Beaches and professor of environmental studies at Florida International University.

Top Ten Best Honeymoon Destinations

Travel Statistics

America's Best Beaches, 2008