America's Best Beaches, the famous annual top 10 list by coastal expert "Dr. Beach" (a.k.a. Dr. Stephen Leatherman), ranks Fort De Soto Park's North Beach as #1 in the United States.
The beach is located near St. Petersburg, on Florida's central west coast. In addition to its great natural setting, Dr. Leatherman claims: "Fort De Soto Park offers something for everyone. There's great fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, bird-watching, camping, biking, walking trails and a dog park. There's even a 105-year old fort on-site that's a landmark of Florida history."
Dr. Leatherman, director of the International Hurricane Center at Florida International University, compiles the annual listing of top beaches. More than 650 beaches throughout the United States are judged on a list of 50 criteria under four main areas: physical factors such as sand softness, and number and size of waves; biological factors such as color and condition of the water; presence of wildlife and pests; and human use and impacts such as lifeguard protection, far-reaching views and traffic.
