Dr. Beach Gives Two Florida State Parks High Marks

Dr. Stephen Leatherman, better known as Dr. Beach, is a professor at Florida International University who is known for ranking the top 10 beaches in America each Memorial Day. This year, Dr. Beach named two Florida state parks -- Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park -- on his list. Needless to say, the Florida State Park system is trumpeting the news.

Florida State Parks hosts visitors year-round who experience the best of our diverse natural and cultural sites, including nearly 100 miles of sandy beaches, said Florida State Parks Director Donald Forgione on Tuesday. St. George Island and Bill Baggs Cape Florida state parks provide scenic beaches and outstanding recreational opportunities."

The Florida Panhandle beaches are known for their powdery, super white sands, Dr. Beach noted about St. George Island. The sand here is squeaky clean (just rub your feet on the sand and hear it squeak). The state park beach is on the eastern end of the island. Pathways take you across the walking dunes to the bayside. Stingrays are sometimes resting in the shallow waters so shuffle your feet when entering. Birding and fishing are very popular activities.

Regarding Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne, Dr. Beach also had kind words: Cape Florida State Park, located at the southern tip of Key Biscayne, provides clear, emerald-colored waters and gentle surf, he noted. This fine, white coral sand beach is great for swimming, as waves are knocked down by a large sand shoal offshore. In addition, the Cape Florida Lighthouse allows for a breathtaking view of this beautiful beach.