HYANNIS – A Cape Cod beach has once again made Dr. Beach’s Top 10 list for 2019 – despite the increased presence of great white sharks.
Coast Guard Beach in Eastham dropped one spot from last year to No. 6 on Dr. Stephen Leatherman’s list of top beaches in the country.
The coastal expert and professor at Florida International University ranks beaches using 50 different criteria.
Leatherman said the beach has clean sand, clean water and great views from the cliffs.
“It’s also vistas, beautiful areas where the cliffs meet the barrier beaches and the marshes,” he said.
Leatherman said Coast Guard Beach is a beautiful area to explore. He said he likes to walk down to the inlet and back.
“My only reservation is I hope the great white sharks stay offshore,” he said.
Leatherman said the beach did fall one spot on his list because of the two shark attacks off the Outer Cape last summer.
A New York man was bitten in August off Truro and survived. A Revere man was attacked off Wellfleet in September and was killed.
“That is a concern. I am watching that so I just hope there aren’t any more attacks anywhere on Cape Cod,” he said.
Leatherman said the beach remains very safe due to the presence of lifeguards and the use of warning flags that depict images of sharks.
Dr. Beach said there are many other great beaches across Cape Cod, especially through Wellfeet, including Cahoon Hollow Beach.
“I’m sure it is going to be a great summer on Cape Cod. I always love being up there,” Leatherman said. “It is an idyllic place to be and I love the cliffs by the way – very picturesque.”
Kailua Beach Park on the Hawaiian island of Oahu topped this year’s list.
“It is a beautiful place,” Leatherman said. “It’s got white, fine, coral sand.”
Every year the University of Hawaii hosts its sand castle building contest at the beach.
“It’s very super fine and super soft,” Leatherman said.
The water has a turquoise color and there are typically no waves, which makes it very safe for swimming.
Rounding out the rest of the list are:
2. Ocracoke Lifeguard Beach, Outer Banks, North Carolina
3. Grayton Beach State Park, Florida panhandle
4. Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
5. Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Oahu, Hawaii
7. Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
8. Hapuna Beach State Park, Big Island, Hawaii
9. Coronado Beach, San Diego, California
10. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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