Tourism

Dr. Beach Taps Caladesi Island As 2008's Top Beach

Cape Florida State Park Near Miami Also Made The List

MIAMI (CBS4) ― If you want to hit this year's Best Beach in the U.S. pack the car and head just north of Clearwater to Caladesi Island.

It's been the selected as Dr. Beach's number one pick for 2008.

Florida International University professor Dr. Stephen Leatherman, known as Dr. Beach, tapped Caladesi Island State Park as his top pick over beaches along the Eastern Seaboard, California and Hawaii.

Other top beaches in the Sunshine State include South Florida's own Cape Florida State Park off Miami and Siesta Beach in Sarasota. Cape Hatteras in North Carolina made the list along with Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island, South Carolina; Main Beach in East Hampton, New York; Coronado Beach in San Diego; and Hamoa Beach, Hawaii.

Click Here for all of the top beaches in 2008.

So what made Caladesi Island State Park this year's top pick?

Formed by a hurricane in 1921, which separated it from nearby Honeymoon Island, the fine, white quartz sand of Caladesi's beaches became a state park in 1968. Leatherman says the waves are generally low on Caladesi, which adds to its family friendly atmosphere. Caladesi also boasts showers, restrooms, kayak and beach chair rentals, and a snack bar where burgers and beer are available.

"It's an island getaway," said Leatherman, who noted that despite being in the densely populated Tampa Bay-area, many nearby residents have never visited Caladesi.

Unless visitors have a boat, it costs $9 to take a ferry ride to the remote island and there's a four hour time limit on stays.

Caladesi, which ranked second on Leatherman's list last year, will now be retired.

Click Here to see a list of previous winners.

(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

---