‘Dr. Beach’ Puts North Carolina And South Carolina Beaches On His Top 10 For 2023
“Dr. Beach” is back with his annual ranking of America’s best beaches just in time for the busy Memorial Day travel weekend. According to Newser, “Dr. Beach” is the alter ego of coastal scientist Stephen Leatherman, a professor in the Department of Earth & Environment at Florida International University. He has been sharing his list of the nation’s top beaches for 33 years. Leatherman bases his rankings on 50 criteria, including the quality of the sand and waves, the number of visitors and presence of lifeguards, as well as the likelihood of spotting wildlife.
This year, a beach along the Florida Panhandle takes top honors. St. George Island State Park sprang up from the No. 4 spot on the 2022 list. Leatherman says the idyllic St. George Island State Park took the top spot in 2023 for its “miles and miles of unspoiled beaches.” It also helps that he didn’t see a single cigarette butt on his inspection. And since it’s a state park, there isn’t a lot of development on the beach, which cuts down on light pollution. That’s good for stargazers.”I think people are coming around to the point of view that our beaches are some of our greatest recreational areas,” added Leatherman.
Summer can’t get here quick enough. I can hardly wait until I smell the salt air, my feet hit the sand, and that big beautiful ocean is in front of me. North Carolina and South Carolina are also each represented on Leatherman’s 2023 list. South Carolina’s Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island is up one spot from No. 9 to No. 8 this year. Likewise, Lighthouse Beach in Buxton on North Carolina’s Outer Banks rose one spot from No. 6 to No. 5. I’ll be there in July. You can see the rest of the list below.
Dr. Beach’s Top 10 U.S. Beaches for 2023
- St. George Island State Park, Florida Panhandle
- Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Oahu, Hawaii
- Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
- Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
- Lighthouse Beach, Buxton, Outer Banks of North Carolina
- Coronado Beach, San Diego
- Wailea Beach, Maui, Hawaii
- Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina
- Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii
- Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
North Carolina Ranks Among The Top States For Summer Vacation 2023
1. Virginia
Room Availability Score: 73.4
Room Affordability Score: 55.1
Crime Rate Score: 85.8
Sunlight Score: 51.0
Attractions Score: 77.5
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100): 68.8
I thoroughly enjoyed spending time in Charlottesville, going to Monticello, and wineries. Virginia is also home to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, Busch Gardens, and Kings Dominion. And you can be a short drive from Washington DC (which I’m convinced everyone did as a summer vacation except my family).
2. Florida
Room Availability Score: 100
Room Affordability Score: 24.4
Crime Rate Score: 61.3
Sunlight Score: 81.6
Attractions Score: 67.3
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100): 66.9
Gulf and Atlantic Beaches, The Keys, Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Sea World, and almost every other family activity imaginable. My only surprise is it wasn’t first on the list.
3. Illinois
Room Availability Score: 63.2
Room Affordability Score: 73.4
Crime Rate Score: 71.5
Sunlight Score: 53.0
Attractions Score: 71.4
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100): 66.5
Of course the home to one of the nation’s largest cities- Chicago would make the list. I’ve only been to the airport, however, but may be going this fall. So let me know what I should do!
4. Georgia
Room Availability Score: 87.7
Room Affordability Score: 67.3
Crime Rate Score: 49.0
Sunlight Score: 69.3
Attractions Score: 57.1
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100): 66.1
Savannah is one of my favorite cities in the country, then of course there is Tybee Island, St. Simons Island, or numerous other beaches. And Atlanta offers so much for families to do including the Georgia Aquarium (read about my recent visit here), the Coca Cola Museum, and College Football Hall of Fame.
5. Ohio
Room Availability Score: 69.3
Room Affordability Score: 83.6
Crime Rate Score: 57.2
Sunlight Score: 34.6
Attractions Score: 73.4
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100): 63.6
Tourism highlights in Ohio include Cedar Point (on my bucketlist), the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame, multiple zoos, and a special shout out to the house from A Christmas Story.
6. Indiana
Room Availability Score: 53.0
Room Affordability Score: 91.8
Crime Rate Score: 59.2
Sunlight Score: 44.8
Attractions Score: 59.1
Full disclosure I had to Google this one as Indiana was not on my short list, nor did I think it would make this one. But some popular tourist attractions in Indiana include Holiday World, The Children’s Museum on Indianapolis, and Indiana Dunes National Park.
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100):
7. Kentucky
Room Availability Score: 38.7
Room Affordability Score: 93.8
Crime Rate Score: 63.3
Sunlight Score: 55.1
Attractions Score: 55.1
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100): 61.2
Kentucky Bourbon and the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky would make more of an adult vacation for me. But don’t let that fool you there are plenty of others things to do including the Louisville Slugger Factory for baseball lovers, Mammoth Cave National Park, and the National Corvette Museum.
8. Iowa (TIE)
Room Availability Score: 30.6
Room Affordability Score: 95.9
Crime Rate Score: 65.4
Sunlight Score: 46.9
Attractions Score: 61.2
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100): 60.0
Sorry to an Iowans this one really has me scratching my head. I mean I’d visit if my team made the College World Series again. But the top 10 best places for vacation? That’s a no from me. Tourist attractions on Google lead me to the Field Of Dreams, Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption, and Maquo Caves State Park.
8. New Jersey (TIE)
Room Availability Score: 46.9
Room Affordability Score: 36.7
Crime Rate Score: 91.9
Sunlight Score: 32.6
Attractions Score: 91.8
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100): 60.0
I’ve heard great things about New Jersey beaches, and of course, being a short drive (or more realistically train ride) to New York City gives New Jersey points as well.
10. California (TIE)
Room Availability Score: 97.9
Room Affordability Score: 16.3
Crime Rate Score: 36.8
Sunlight Score: 91.8
Attractions Score: 51.0
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100): 58.8
As one of the largest states of course there is a lot to do in California. I’ve been on numerous summer vacations there and enjoyed things such as the beaches of southern California, San Diego, Disneyland, and Long Beach. Then there’s Napa Valley, San Fransisco, Carmel-by-the-sea, Yosemite National Park, and the list goes on and on.
10. Pennsylvania (TIE)
Room Availability Score: 81.6
Room Affordability Score: 40.8
Crime Rate Score: 67.4
Sunlight Score: 18.3
Attractions Score: 85.7
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100): 58.8
With tons of history to explore Pennsylvania is a great summer vacation spot. Philadelphia has tons to offer dating back to pre-American Revolution times.
12. Maryland
Room Availability Score: 42.8
Room Affordability Score: 46.9
Crime Rate Score: 69.4
Sunlight Score: 42.8
Attractions Score: 89.7
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100): 58.3
Proximity to DC certainly boosts Maryland on this list as well. Then there’s Ocean City, as well as a variety of museums and aquariums.
13. New York
Room Availability Score: 83.6
Room Affordability Score: 22.4
Crime Rate Score: 81.7
Sunlight Score: 14.2
Attractions Score: 87.7
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100): 57.9
You knew New York would make this list, though being so far down in borderline criminal. If for no reason other than New York city but there’s also upstate New York and Niagra Falls.
14. Texas
Room Availability Score: 95.9
Room Affordability Score: 53.0
Crime Rate Score: 28.6
Sunlight Score: 93.8
Attractions Score: 16.3
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100): 16.3
Austin has long been on my bucket list, and of course Waco and the Chip & Joanna compound. Galveston, Dallas, Houston, the San Antonia Riverwalk? Texas is another one that needs to be higher on this list in my opinion.
15. Arizona
Room Availability Score: 89.7
Room Affordability Score: 48.9
Crime Rate Score: 46.6
Sunlight Score: 100
Attractions Score: 18.3
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100): 56.7
The Grand Canyon State makes for a perfect summer vacation, though it will be a hot one. The Pheonix Zoo as well as Scottsdale are worth a visit. And the views in Sedona certainly live up to expectations. Perhaps add on a visit to Flagstaff as well.
16. North Carolina
Room Availability Score: 91.8
Room Affordability Score: 57.1
Crime Rate Score: 30.7
Sunlight Score: 57.1
Attractions Score: 44.8
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100): 56.3
At 16th on the list, we finally get to North Carolina. While I as a child asked why Charlotte had an airport because who would come here for vacation, I now see that North Carolina is a great vacation spot. From incredible beaches to the mountains and of course everything in between. I probably don’t have to tell you how great North Carolina is.
17. Mississippi
Room Availability Score: 32.6
Room Affordability Score: 85.7
Crime Rate Score: 44.9
Sunlight Score: 73.4
Attractions Score: 40.8
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100): 55.5
Between Ocean Spring and Biloxi there’s plenty for tourists to do in Mississippi. If you’re like me and love college football and towns perhaps pay a visit to Oxford and or Starksville.
18. Michigan
Room Availability Score: 65.3
Room Affordability Score: 65.3
Crime Rate Score: 79.6
Sunlight Score: 28.5
Attractions Score: 36.7
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100): 55.1
I seem to get a lot of targeted ads for Michigan tourism, highlights include the “coastal” (think Great Lakes) towns, cities like Detroit, and national parks.
19. Kansas
Room Availability Score: 26.5
Room Affordability Score: 97.9
Crime Rate Score: 32.7
Sunlight Score: 85.7
Attractions Score: 28.5
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100): 54.3
Kansas is another state that puzzles me making this list. But according to Google some of the most popular tourist attractions in Kansas include The Witchita Gardens, the Museum of World Treasures, and the Old Town Cowboy Museum.
20. Massachusetts
Room Availability Score: 44.8
Room Affordability Score: 10.2
Crime Rate Score: 98.0
Sunlight Score: 20.4
Attractions Score: 95.9
Summer Vacation Score (Out of 100): 53.9
Between big city life in Boston or the coastal New England paradises of Cape Cod and Marthas Vineyard, I fully support Massachusetts being on this list.
