Tampa Bay’s Caladesi Island State Park is once again among nation's best beaches, according to Dr. Beach

For 33 years in a row, Florida International University coastal scientist Stephen “Dr. Beach” Leatherman has been ranking the best public beaches around the country, and this morning the good doctor released his prestigious  list of top tier sand.

This year, only two Florida spots made the cut.

Locally, Dunedin's Caladesi Island State Park came in at No. 4, in Dr. Beach's 2023 Top Ten Beaches in the country. The beach was previously ranked No. 2 in last year's list.

But the No. 1 overall ranking went to George Island State Park, in the Florida Panhandle, which jumped from No. 4.

Hawaii had three beaches make the cut, the most of any other state.

Dr. Beach's annual list is chosen by a 50-point criteria, which includes things like noise levels, traffic, smell, general access, algae levels, rip currents and even the slope of the beach.

Noticeably absent from this year's list was previous Dr. Beach winners Siesta Key and Grayton Beach State Park. Though, it's worth noting that Hurricane Ian's impact along the Southwest Coast may have played a factor, and over the last few years Florida has experienced some of the worst Red Tide algae blooms in recent history.

Here's the full 2023 list:

1. St. George Island State Park, Florida Panhandle

2. Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Oahu, Hawaii

3. Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York

4. Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida

5. Lighthouse Beach, Buxton, Outer Banks of North Carolina

6. Coronado Beach, San Diego

7. Wailea Beach, Maui, Hawaii

8. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina

9. Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

10. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

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