Life's a beach. And, Siesta Key Beach is the number one beach in the 21st annual Top 10 Beach List, produced by coastal expert Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, Director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research.

Dr. Leatherman notes, "Siesta Beach in Sarasota boasts that it has the finest and whitest sand in the world, and I cannot argue with this claim; the powdery sand is nearly pure quartz crystal. The beautiful blue-colored water is clean and clear, making it so inviting to bathers and swimmers.

The beach is hundreds of yards wide, attracting volleyball players and beachcombers as well as those who just want to find their place in the sun. Waves at Siesta Key Beach are normally measured in inches and the beach gradually slopes into the Gulf waters, making it a very safe area for children.

"This beach park is complete with showers and bathrooms, snack bars, grills, picnic tables, shade trees, and a large parking area, which does fill up on summer weekends. Siesta Key Beach is a smokeless beach, earning extra points for cleanliness and environmental management. My favorite time to visit is after Labor Day when things have calmed down, and the water is still warm enough for swimming until November.

  Snowbirds from northern climes call this area home during the winter because of the great weather. The beaches are for exploring, but not swimming at this time of year, albeit I have been in the water as early as March."

As "Dr. Beach" (www.DrBeach.org), Leatherman has selected the annual Top 10 Beaches since 1991. Fifty criteria are used to evaluate beaches, which include water and sand quality as well as safety and environmental management. Dr. Leatherman is an internationally known coastal scientist who has published 17 books with the recent release of Rip Currents: Beach Safety, Physical Oceanography and Wave Modeling (CRC Press, May 2011) and hundreds of scientific articles about storm impacts, erosion and ways to improve beach health and safety. A new website (www.Beachfinder.org) has recently been developed to help you find other great American beaches.

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