For more than 25 years, coastal expert Stephen Leatherman has ranked the nation's top beaches. Leatherman, who goes by the nickname "Dr. Beach," uses 50 criteria in his evaluations, including water and sand quality, the safety of the beach, and environmental management.
Take a guess which state contains four of the top ten U.S. beaches, then read on.
10. East Beach -- Santa Barbara, CA
9. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park -- Naples, FL
8. Beachwalker Park -- Kiawah Island, SC
7. Coast Guard Beach -- Cape Cod, MA
6. Cape Florida State Park -- Key Biscayne, FL
5. Cape Hatteras -- Outer Banks of North Carolina
4. Hamoa Beach -- Maui, HI
3. St. George Island State Park -- Florida panhandle
2. Barefoot Beach -- Bonita Springs, FL
1. Waimanalo Bay Beach Park -- Oahu, HI
Source: Dr. Beach