Caladesi Island Tops List Of America's Best Beaches

DUNEDIN - No. 2 for the past couple of years, Caladesi Island has finally made it to the top of Dr. Beach's list of America's best beaches.

The designation was announced Thursday on MSNBC by coastal expert Stephen Leatherman, director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research.

It is the second time a Pinellas County beach has received top ranking. Fort De Soto Park won the honor in 2005. Caladesi Island State Park, ranked second in 2007 and 2006, is a 600-acre island in the Gulf of Mexico, two miles off Dunedin. The undeveloped barrier island, dotted with palm trees and mangrove stands, resembles what coastal Florida used to look like.

There are no paved roads, and the island is accessible only by boat or ferry. Amenities include cabana rentals, a cafe and a marina. Leatherman labeled it his favorite getaway beach, ideal for day trips.

Leatherman's announcement, made live via satellite from Caladesi Island, distinguishes the St. Petersburg-Clearwater area as the only Florida destination ever to have two beaches make it to the top of his list.

Pinellas beaches normally claim a spot on Leatherman's Top 10 U.S. Beaches list, which he has compiled since 1991.

He uses 50 criteria to make his selections, including sand quality, water cleanliness, the number and size of waves and the presence of wildlife.

The announcement, traditionally made before the Memorial Day weekend summer travel rush, had Pinellas tourism officials crowing.

"We're the only destination in Florida, despite all the Florida beaches, ever honored to have two No. 1 beaches on Dr. Beach's list," said David Downing, public relations director at the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. "For us to have two make it to the No. 1 spot makes it unique in Florida."

Although Fort De Soto Park was retired from Dr. Beach's list after its No. 1 ranking in 2005, it was named the top beach in the country this year by TripAdvisor, which calls itself the world's largest online travel community.

Caladesi Island now will be retired from the list as well.

"We are in a place right now having a lot of attention," Downing said. "And it really does reinforce one of our marketing slogans: America's award-winning beaches."

Other Florida beaches that made the grade are third-ranked Siesta Key, near Sarasota, and ninth-ranked Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne, near Miami. Rounding out the Top 10 are beaches in Hawaii, California, North Carolina and New York's Long Island.