Best beaches list bypasses city

But Clearwater Beach's reputation as one of the best city beaches isn't crumbling; this year's rankings by ""Dr. Beach'' highlight nightlife.

By MAUREEN BYRNE

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 26, 2000

CLEARWATER -- Clearwater Beach didn't land on one of "Dr. Beach's" lists this year.

But no need to worry.

Instead of identifying the country's best city beaches, Dr. Stephen Leatherman, known as Dr. Beach for his annual ranking of the United States' best beaches, this year picked the top 10 beaches with nightlife.

Clearwater Beach still has the soft, white sand and ideal swimming conditions that landed it on the best city beach list last year. But when it comes to partying, Miami's South Beach rules. The stretch of trendy clubs and restaurants is the only Florida beach that made it on the nightlife list.

And though Leatherman didn't publish a list of favorite city beaches this year, he said Clearwater Beach is still No. 1 on at least one list.

"It's still the best city beach on the gulf," he said Thursday from his office at Florida International University in Miami. Leatherman is a coastal geologist for the school's Laboratory for Coastal Research and International Hurricane Center.

The professor's trips are financed by the university. Leatherman uses 50 criteria to make his selections, including wave size, current strength, sand quality, water color, lifeguard protection and amenities such as hotels and restaurants.

Leatherman said Clearwater Beach scores well virtually across the board. "It really meets a lot of people's expectations," he said.

Mayor Brian Aungst was pleased with Leatherman's comments. Clearwater Beach's distinction appears in Leatherman's 1998 book America's Best Beaches.

The mayor said Leatherman's comments were particularly sweet in light of recent criticism of a new entryway to Clearwater Beach that includes a traffic circle, or roundabout.

"Gee, in spite of all the complaints of the roundabout, what does that tell you?" Aungst said. "It is a terrific beach. We are working hard to make it even better in the future."

Leatherman also released on Thursday his annual list of top 20 beaches in the nation, which he has composed since 1991. He'll appear on CBS' Early Show this morning touting his selections, which include Caladesi Island State Park, an island west of Dunedin; and Fort De Soto Park, a county park at the southern tip of Pinellas County.

Caladesi is ranked No. 6 and Fort De Soto is No. 7. The spots are the same as last year's ranking.

Leatherman trumpets Fort De Soto and Caladesi for their water quality, swimming conditions, clean beaches, emphasis on wildlife and on-site amenities, such as snack bars and showers.

"We're pretty proud of the fact that we made the list again," said Chris Dorrier, a secretary for Gulf Islands Geo Park, which includes Caladesi Island.

Four other Florida beaches, including Siesta Beach (No. 15) and St. George Island State Park (No. 11), also made the top 20 list. The best beach in the country this year, according to Leatherman, is Kaunaoa Beach, Hawaii.

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