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Image Gallery: The Top 10 Beaches of 2013

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Main Beach

Main Beach

(Image credit: Jens Karlsson, Flickr)

Main Beach, located in East Hampton on Long Island, N.Y., snagged the top spot on the Top 10 Best Beaches of 2013. (A general Hamptons photo shown here.) Wealthy and often famous summertime residents flock to the beaches, which are protected by a conservation easement that dates back some 300 years. "The big, wide sandy beach made of quartz has towering sand dunes and beautiful clean and clear blue water," according to Leatherman. In addition to the natural wonders, Main Beach is a great place to spot celebs.

This is the 23rd year of the Best Beaches list, put together by Stephen Leatherman, director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research in Miami, who is also called Dr. Beach. Check out the other hot spots for beachgoers. [Read full story]

Kahanamoku Beach

Kahanamoku Beach

(Image credit: Nikkiundmichi)

The beach is named in honor of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku (whose statue is shown here) who was a gold medal Olympic swimmer and credited with introducing surfing to the outside world, according to Leatherman. A shallow offshore reef protects Kahanamoku Beach from big waves, making it a great swimming area for families with children.

St. George Island

St. George Island

(Image credit: Tim Ross / Public Domain)

While Florida beaches took a dive on the 2010 list due to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, where tarballs on beaches were not uncommon, this year they're back, according to Leatherman. Even so, Leatherman said, the brilliant white sands and clear waters of St. George Island, located in northwestern Florida, were fortunately not even impacted last summer. "Stingrays are sometimes resting in the shallow waters so shuffle your feet when entering," Leatherman said. It's also a great place to see birds, like this ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis).

Hamoa Beach

Hamoa Beach in Maui, Hawaii.

(Image credit: Maui Convention and Visitors Bureau)

Hamoa Beach in Maui, like other Hawaiian spots, is sure to have beautiful blue water and plenty of sunshine. The half-moon-shaped beach is covered in gray-hued sand, a mix of ground coral and lava. One side, the left, has calmer waters than the other side, which is often swept by powerful rip currents, according to travel sites.

Waimanalo Bay State Park

Waimanalo Bay State Park

(Image credit: Public Domain)

Located on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, this beach park has ample parking, restrooms, outdoor showers, and a good beach for swimming. Leatherman says the beach may not be as stunning as some other Hawaiian paradises, it's save because big waves and dangerous currents are rare and lifeguards are present.

Cape Florida State Park

Cape Florida State Park

(Image credit: C. Rolph)

Cape Florida State Park, located at the south tip of Key Biscayne, boasts of emerald-colored water and gentle surf. The white coral sand beach is great for swimming, as a large sand shoal offshore absorbs wave energy. In addition, the Cape Florida Lighthouse (shown here) allows for a great view of the beautiful beach.

Cape Hatteras

Cape Hatteras

(Image credit: NASA)

Bulging far offshore of the mainland coast as a barrier island, Cape Hatteras was the first National Seashore, shown here in an aerial image taken in October 1999. The beach offers some of the best surfing along the East Coast and is famous for its lighthouse.

Coast Guard Beach

Coast Guard Beach

(Image credit: ©Christopher Seufert Photography, www.CapeCodPhoto.net.)

Coast Guard Beach was formed where a sand spit attached to the eroding glacial cliffs, according to Leatherman. Located on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, the sand is fairly coarse, resulting in a beach that slopes steeply into the water, where temperatures only reach 60-70 degrees F.

Coast Guard Beach

Coast Guard Beach

(Image credit: Image of Coast Guard Beach Cape Cod courtesy of MoreBeach.com.)

Coast Guard Beach, shown here in a webcam photo taken on May 26, 2011, was formed where a sand spit attached to the eroding glacial cliffs, according to Leatherman. Located on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, the sand is fairly coarse, resulting in a beach that slopes steeply into the water, where temperatures only reach 60-70 degrees F.

Beachwalker Park

Beachwalker Park

(Image credit: © Jason Tench | Dreamstime.com)

A public beach located on the southern end of Kiawah Island, S.C., the water isn't clear, but it's clean and is a great place for seafood, Leatherman said. Lots of activities here, including tennis, golf, interpretative tours of the fauna and flora of the island, and canoeing and kayaking. Leatherman says the sand is compact enough to bike ride along the 10-mile-long barrier island.

Jeanna Bryner
Managing editor, Scientific American

Jeanna Bryner is managing editor of Scientific American. Previously she was editor in chief of Live Science and, prior to that, an editor at Scholastic's Science World magazine. Bryner has an English degree from Salisbury University, a master's degree in biogeochemistry and environmental sciences from the University of Maryland and a graduate science journalism degree from New York University. She has worked as a biologist in Florida, where she monitored wetlands and did field surveys for endangered species, including the gorgeous Florida Scrub Jay. She also received an ocean sciences journalism fellowship from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. She is a firm believer that science is for everyone and that just about everything can be viewed through the lens of science.