Dr. Beach releases a new list each year around Memorial Day weekend of the nations best beaches. For 2023, two Florida beaches were in his top 10, one of which can be found in Pinellas County.
Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman of Florida International University is known as Dr. Beach. He has been compiling a list of the top 10 beaches since 1989. He developed a list of criteria and his list as become one of the most highly sought out by beach goers AND beach towns.
Dr. Beach released his 2023 list as Memorial Day approaches. The top beach for 2023 is St. George Island State Park, just east of Apalachicola. However, another beach on the list is Caladesi Island State Park, near Dunedin and Clearwater, which ranked #4.
Raise your hand if youโre in need of a little island time! Have you ever visited the remote island of Caladesi Island State Park in Dunedin, Florida? ๐โ๏ธ๐ด #CaladesiIsland #Dunedin pic.twitter.com/PuttkfqUko
— St. Pete/Clearwater (@VSPC) January 30, 2023
Caladesi Island State Park can be reached by ferry or by private boats most easily from Honeymood Island. Dr. Beach noted its soft quartz sand, the boardwalks and the kayak/canoe trails through mangroves. The island is a bird sanctuary, so you can keep an eye out for seasonal visiting birds, shorebirds, brown pelicans, herons, egrets and other Florida birds. There is also an inland trail through a pine forest.
Last year, Caladesi Island State Park was ranked #2, so it continues to be among the top spots on Dr. Beach’s list.
[Source: Dr. Beach/