PRESS
RELEASE: May 28, 2015
DR. BEACH RANKS FOUR FLORIDA
BEACHES
IN NATION’S TOP 10
~Three of the
Top-Ranked Beaches are Florida State Parks ~
 Sea
oats anchor the dunes on the white sandy beaches of Dr. Julian G. Bruce St.
George Island State Park in the panhandle.
TALLAHASSEE,
Fla. -
Four Florida beaches are listed among the best in the nation in the annual Top
10 Beach List for 2015: Barefoot Beach in Bonita Springs ranked #2, St. George
Island State Park in the Panhandle ranked #3, Bill Baggs Cape Florida
State Park in Key Biscayne ranked #6 and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in
Naples was ranked #9. Florida State Parks include more than 100 miles of
beaches and are a tremendous driver for the state’s tourism industry, creating
jobs and economic opportunities.
Governor Scott said, “I am excited that
four of our beautiful beaches have been named to the Top 10 Beach List for
2015, three of which are located in Florida State Parks. We recently announced
that 28.4 million visitors came to Florida so far this year- an all-time record quarter for tourism. Our
great beaches and state parks help us welcome families from across the world to
our state each year, and we look forward to continuing to welcome even more visitors
to the Sunshine State.”
With
increasing numbers of visitors to Florida, these beaches help drive the tourism
industry by creating economic opportunities and jobs throughout the Sunshine
State."
Last
year, Florida boasted 98.9 million visitors and more than 27 million people
visited Florida’s state parks and trails from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014,
generating nearly $2.1 billion in direct economic impact from parks and trails.
“Florida
Beaches are a fantastic draw for residents and visitors,” said Donald Forgione,
director of the Florida Park Service. “Last year we enjoyed a record-breaking
number of visitors and having three state parks on Dr. Beach’s list again this
year is an honor that will provide excellent exposure for our award-winning
state park system.”
The
list is produced by coastal expert Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, also known as
“Dr. Beach,” a professor at Florida International University. Every year, since
1991, Dr. Beach has released the top 10 beaches using 50 criteria he created to
rate the nation’s best beaches. Criteria to determine the ranking of the
nation’s top beaches include beach material, water temperature, sand softness,
smell, trash and litter, safety record and algae in the water.
Three of
the four nationally ranked beaches are found within Florida State Parks.
While all three offer sandy beaches and places to sunbathe, each also
offers unique experiences.
St.
George Island State Park is known for its miles of undeveloped beach – the
perfect landscape for enjoying a day in the sun. Visitors can swim, canoe,
boat, fish, hike, camp and study nature at this highly acclaimed state park.
Two natural boat ramps provide access to the bay for small boats. Anglers can
catch flounder, redfish, sea trout and other fish off the beach or in the bay.
Few parks offer better opportunities for shelling, which is a major draw for
tourists.
Bill
Baggs Cape Florida State Park offers a beautiful setting for sunbathing, but
also has other amenities that draw visitors year round. It is home to the
oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade County; a historic lighthouse that was
built in 1825 and reconstructed in 1846. Visitors come to the park to swim,
bike and kayak. Anglers can throw in their lines from the seawall along
Biscayne Bay for some of the region’s best shoreline fishing. The park offers
two restaurants, or picnickers can reserve pavilions and use their own grills.
Delnor-Wiggins
Pass State Park is home to numerous shorebirds and wildlife. Visitors enjoy
many activities like snorkeling the reef, hiking, bird-watching, fishing,
picnicking and shelling. Boaters have the opportunity to experience the
delicate natural estuaries of the Cocohatchee River, leading to the Gulf of
Mexico. Experienced rangers and volunteers provide guided tours of the beach
and surrounding area.
Florida State Park beaches have consistently scored high in Dr. Beach’s surveys with
five parks previously ranked number one.
- Caladesi
Island State Park, Dunedin, 2008
- St.
Joseph Peninsula State Park, Port St. Joe, 2002
- St.
Andrews State Park, Panama City, 1995
- Grayton
Beach State Park in Northwest Florida, Santa Rosa Beach, 1994
- Bahia
Honda State Park, Florida Keys, 1992
Plan
your visit to a Florida State Park at www.floridastateparks.org.
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