Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches of 2010

>Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Fla.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Coopers Beach, Southampton, N.Y.

Coastal expert Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research and known as "Dr. Beach," announced his 20th annual Top 10 Beaches list on May 28. He has compiled the list annually since 1991 using 50 criteria, including water quality and temperature, cleanliness, weather, sand, safety and facilities. Here are Dr. Beach’s top 10 picks for 2010, along with the No. 1 beaches from the five prior years.

1. Coopers Beach, Southampton, N.Y.: This white-quartz sand beach in the village of Southampton on the south shore of Long Island, N.Y., is a dramatic site to behold. It is hundreds of yards wide, backed by large sand dunes covered by American beach grass and interspersed with extravagant mansions. You’ll find some of the best beach access in the Hamptons here, along with a snack bar serving lunch and drinks.
Slide show text by Robin Dalmas, Bing Travel.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Coronado Beach, San Diego, Calif.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Fla.

2. Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Fla.: With some of the finest, whitest sand in the world, this beach attracts sand collectors from all over. Siesta Beach has clear, warm waters that are a swimmer’s dream. A unique underwater formation of coral rock and caves helps create a crescent-shaped beach that is perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving. This beach is hundreds of yards wide and is great for volleyball and other recreation.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Coronado Beach, San Diego, Calif.

3. Coronado Beach, San Diego, Calif.: This veritable oasis by the sea is the toast of Southern California. It boasts lush subtropical vegetation, a unique Mediterranean climate and fine sparkling sand. Beachgoers flock here for mild surf and great ship watching. The local landmark, Hotel del Coronado, was built more than 100 years ago and offers spectacular architecture and Old World elegance. Kings, sheiks, actors and actresses have stayed at this property, where food and drinks are served on the beach.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Main Beach, East Hampton, N.Y.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

4. Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks of North Carolina: The country’s first national seashore is a barrier island that bulges far offshore. It provides some of the best board surfing along the East Coast and features the most famous lighthouse in the U.S. Cape Hatteras attracts beachgoers to its historic villages as well as nature lovers who enjoy beachcombing and fishing.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Main Beach, East Hampton, N.Y.

5. Main Beach, East Hampton, N.Y.: Main Beach provides the perfect blend of nature and a manmade environment. Wealthy summertime residents flock here to beaches protected by a conservation easement that dates back more than 300 years. Main Beach is a great place for celebrity spotting; many actors and actresses visit for the idyllic setting in a small village. The big, wide sandy beach made of quartz has towering sand dunes and beautiful clean, clear blue water. Pedal a bicycle to avoid parking and take in the beautiful vista.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Mass.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii

6. Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii: This beach was named in honor of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, a gold-medal Olympic swimmer who is credited with introducing surfing to the outside world. Kahanamoku Beach is bordered by the Ala Wai small boat harbor and the Hilton Hawaiian Village catamaran pier. A shallow offshore reef protects this beach from big waves, making it a great swimming area for families with children.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, S.C.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Mass.

7. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Mass.: This beach, accessible by bicycle or via shuttle bus from the Salt Pond Visitor’s Center, was formed when a sand spit attached to the eroding glacial cliffs. The sand is fairly coarse, so the beach slopes steeply into the water. The picturesque old Coast Guard station still sits atop the glacial bluffs, allowing for a spectacular view of the Nauset Spit barrier system and bay. In summer, beachgoers tend to take quick, refreshing dips in the ocean, as water temperatures only reach 60 to 70 degrees.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, S.C.

8. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, S.C.: This public beach on the southern end of Kiawah Island is approximately 25 miles south of Charleston. Tennis and golf are featured here, as well as interpretative tours of the island’s flora and fauna. This is a nature-lover’s coast, so visitors should pack their canoes and kayaks to paddle through the tidal inlets or walk down to St. Sam’s Inlet to see thousands of birds. The water is not clear here, but it is clean and provides for fantastic seafood. Visitors can also pack their bicycles, since the sand is compact enough to ride along the 10-mile long barrier island.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Fla.

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii

9. Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii: Ernest Hemingway once said that Hamoa Beach was the world’s best beach. It’s certainly the most famous of Maui’s Hana beaches. This crescent-shaped beach, a mixture of coral and lava sand, is rimmed by cliffs and covered by coconut palms and flowering vegetation. The beach is actually inside a breached volcanic crater. To get to Hamoa Beach, one has to take the “Road to Hana,” the treacherous drive with sporadic guardrails and drop-offs of more than 1,000 feet. Take it slow on this road, which has more than 50 one-way bridges.

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2009: Hanalei Bay Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches, 2010: Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Fla.

10. Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Fla.: This beach at the southern tip of Key Biscayne provides clear, emerald-colored waters and gentle surf. The 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.

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2008: Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, Fla.

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2009: Hanalei Bay Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Dr. Beach named Hanalei Bay Beach as his No. 1 beach in 2009. Hanalei Bay is a spectacular white crescent-shaped sand beach that is considered by residents and visitors to be the most beautiful beach setting in Hawaii. The two-mile long strand is lined by palm trees and has a backdrop of waterfalls and mountain peaks that range up to 4,000 feet high. One of the best views of the beach is from the Princeville Hotel on the high bluff to the east. The other end of this wide coral sand beach is anchored by a high lava point that extends into the ocean. This panorama has been the inspiration for many paintings and photo shoots. 

>Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2007: Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, Outer Banks, N.C.

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2008: Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, Fla.

Caladesi Island State Park took the No. 1 spot in 2008. It is north of Clearwater Beach, three miles off shore from Dunedin, and is one of the few undeveloped barrier islands left in Florida. Your imagination can get a vigorous workout here. While walking the three miles of beaches, it's easy to imagine yourself as a 16th-century Spanish explorer looking at the New World for the first time. Or, enjoy the Robinson Crusoe fantasy of having a tropical island to yourself. The Gulf Coast barrier island's unspoiled beauty offers a glimpse of Florida the way it looked centuries ago. Caladesi offers excellent opportunities for swimming, fishing, shelling, boating and nature study.

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2006: Fleming Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2007: Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, Outer Banks, N.C.

Ocracoke Island was Dr. Beach’s No. 1 pick in 2007. Big surf and coarse-grained beaches, some of the finest wild beaches in the country, are the rule here. The water quality is at the top of the charts, as there is literally nothing out here to pollute it. This island can be reached by a state ferry from Cape Hatteras. Don't come here expecting to play golf or stay at a resort hotel, however. The main pursuits are swimming (best at the Airport Beach area), shelling (especially on the north end) and general beachcombing along the 16-mile long shore. It's also fun to ride bicycles through the historic village of Ocracoke on the southern end of the island.

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2005: Fort De Soto Park, North Beach, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2006: Fleming Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii

Fleming Beach Park was the No. 1 spot in 2006. This popular beach is great for swimming when the ocean is calm, but riptides may develop when the surf rises. The beach is long, wide and sandy and is surrounded by ironwood trees that provide wonderful shade. Take caution when swimming, however, due to the steep slope of the beach that causes a backwash even during calm seas.

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2006: Fleming Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii

Dr. Beach's Top Beach for 2005: Fort De Soto Park, North Beach, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Fort De Soto Park was the No. 1 spot in 2005. It consists of seven miles of beaches and two fishing piers along with picnic and camping areas within its 900 unspoiled acres. The island is easily accessible by a causeway from St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach. A historic fort built during the Spanish-American War can be found on Mullet Key, the largest of the five islands that make up this unique area. The park also features a 235-site family camping area directly on the Gulf of Mexico, with luxury facilities that include picnic tables, grills, water, electricity, washers, dryers, sanitary disposal stations, modern restrooms, showers, play areas and a camp store.

飞之畅…阿拉斯加游轮之旅 五

游轮回到温哥华前在阿拉斯加停靠的最后一站是Ketchikan. 一个沿着海岸线和山脚发展出来的狭窄的小城。那里有一个木屋街很有名，因为曾是给伐木工人娱乐的红灯区，至今还保存着当时的妓院楼，木屋街沿着一条河流的岸边建造，河里满是从海中逆流回转的三汶鱼。

木屋红灯区

Welcome to Ketchikan

小城太小，从头逛到尾个钟头就够了，城后面却是不尽的绵延的山麓，湖泊和水道在山谷间相互交映，那里的山以釜削般陡峭和云雾缭绕出名，进山不容易，但是并不是不能够。

我们在这最后一站决定玩一点惊险刺激的玩意儿，因为我们想进大山里去？如何进去？乘水上飞机！

水上飞机（Floatplane）一般多是小型飞机，在机身下方装有一或两个浮筒，将机身与水面分离，有些飞机在机翼两边还装有小型辅助浮筒，以避免飞机因为往两侧倾斜有翻覆的危险。据说第一架水上飞机是由法国工程师Henri Fabre于1910年展示的。而正式有水上飞机这个称呼则是1913年英国丘吉尔所提出的。

我们的飞行员据说是个在当地拥有飞行小时最多的中年男人，我想像中的飞行员都是穿着皮夹克带着飞行帽酷酷的男人，当我们下了接我们去水上飞机公司的汽车，迎面走过来的男人满面笑容，穿得却很随便，一点都不酷，好像是我们邻家大叔般的感觉，他就是我们的飞行员！

水上小飞机停浮在海面上。一同飞行的还有两位从科罗拉多来的美国夫妻，一架小飞机，除了飞行员在驾驶员的位置，他邀请少年人我的儿子做他的“副驾驶”，和他并肩而坐，我们家另外三人坐在第二排，后面坐着那两个美国人，总共七个人把小飞机塞得满满的。大家刚坐定，带上头盔耳机，飞行员就发动了引擎！

小少年当然是异常兴奋，做梦都没想到，他一下子变成了副驾驶！不敢置信间只见飞机下面的浪花翻滚，小飞机已然在水面上加速向前！就在我和女儿的手紧握得出汗之际，只见飞行员轻轻一推操作杆，飞机一下子脱离水面升上了空中！窗外，先是蓝色的天空和白云，渐渐的，蓝色的海水绿色的山峦还有彩色的民居像一幅山水画卷徐徐地在我们眼前展开，那种感觉犹如在梦中，好像不是很真实却又是那么实实在在。

耳机里传来飞行员的声音，他告诉我们需要讲话或问问题，都可以通过带在头上的耳际和话筒，因为飞机噪音大。随着飞机上升到一定的高度，机身平稳下来，飞行员开始向我们介绍山里的情形。我们要去的地方叫‘Misty Fjords National Monument’，翻成中文是：雾峡国家自然特区。那是一个世界上最雄伟壮观、依然保持远古时代冰川形成的自然原始地貌、占地两百多万亩的山林！它自 1978 年被国家划成自然特区，其中大约百分之十的山林成了野生动物保护区，国会保留90%的山林区为矿产业预留区，那可能是世界上最大的金属矿产储藏地！那绝对是不容被轻易触碰的。所以，在那里，我们可以看到真正的阿拉斯加！那我们从书里读到的、我们曾听说的、曾向往的原始面貌的阿拉斯加！那茫茫林海相连鬼斧神工刀削的万丈高崖、珍珠般晶莹剔透的高山湖泊和锦缎般蜿蜒缠绕的海水内道（Inside Passage）, 还有雪白的瀑布如银色链子倒挂在绿色的山岩……变换多端的景观让我的眼睛应接不暇. 

就在我们恨不得多生两双眼睛才能把所有的美景尽收眼底的时候，飞行员让我们注意前方高山顶上的白色斑点，随着飞机的渐渐靠近，我们看清那白色的斑点原是山顶上悠闲的高山山羊群！

不知是不是太激动了，还是飞得太高了，我感觉到空气的稀薄，氧气不足，我开始大口大口的呼吸气，可是仍然觉得心慌气短，飞行员大概感觉到我的异样，让我安静下来，我停止左顾右盼的转动和观看外面风景的激动，闭目安静地坐了几分钟，那种要晕过去的感觉终于过去了。

经过近一个小时的飞行，我们已完完全全进入浩瀚的大山林里，而就在我们惊叹于高山顶上有个的蓝色湖泊时，飞行员告诉我们他将停在这个高山湖之上，让我们亲自走进大山体验山林的神秘。

走出停在湖水上的小飞机，那是一个不大的山谷，不远处的山坡地上，有着整年不融的皑皑积雪，湖水在山风的吹拂下泛着蓝粼粼的波光，湖边的青草夹杂着叫不出名的野花，山里清冷纯净的空气中有一阵阵野外牲畜粪便的气味，我的两个孩子欢呼着在草地山坡上跑着，一边大叫：“This is Discovery Channel!”  还真是的，在这渺无人烟的地方，我们仅有的七个人仿佛是勇敢探险的探险队员！

这次的水上飞机之行真是太棒了！终于下了决心克服自己惧高症订下飞行之旅的人，在我们全家的赞扬声中，终于舒畅开怀地哈哈大笑了起来！

水上飞机

飞行员和“副驾驶”

副驾驶兼摄影师

勇敢的小乘客

浪花飞溅

飞向蓝天

机翼下的美丽

真正的阿拉斯加

万丈山岩

山顶山的山羊

雾峡山水

彩色的山水

驶向高山湖泊

停在湖上

皑皑积雪

世外仙境

Discovery Channel

低空掠过飞翔飞翔

山中湖泊

鬼斧神工

晶莹剔透

银河尘落

无言的土地

待续

佩琳的办公地…阿拉斯加游轮之旅 四

居奴（Juneau）是阿拉斯加州的首府，位于阿拉斯加州的东南角上，离西雅图有九百英里之遥。那里的人口只有三万， 经济的主要来源是政府主控的矿产业， 旅游业和渔业。

居奴城起建于阿拉斯加成为美国领土的十三年之后，因为黄金的被挖掘，人潮涌入形成市镇。这个城市近一两年来知名度大增，皆因为出了个美女州长，而且这个美女州长还成了美国副总统的竞选人！

萨拉佩林初出现在美国公众眼中的时候，我只当她是一只“花瓶”，明眼人都看得出她只是共和党人和麦凯恩对付民主党和奥巴马的一个“权谋”。和我们属同辈中人的佩琳出生大家庭，选美出名，曾是阿拉斯加州的加冕小姐，真正的美女！ 即使年过四十，在美国政坛上仍让人有种“娇艳欲滴”的新鲜感。

虽说对她的“打破天花板”的壮志豪言我深表同情， 却从不认为年轻资浅的她真能突破希拉里创下的美国政坛女强人的纪录。所以对于有关伴随她的纷纷扰扰的传言， 不过是姑妄听之。奥巴马刷新了美国的历史，佩琳又回到居奴做她的阿拉斯加州的州长。

今年的七月可以说是美国的多事之夏，媒体头版新闻一爆再爆！南卡州长失踪密会情妇性丑闻；“天王巨星”麦克尔杰克逊猝然离世；美国独立节还没到，曾经的副总统候选人、阿拉斯加州长萨拉佩林忽然宣布辞去州长的职位！

佩琳自2006年当选州长，其中半年时间参加总统竞选，真正专心管理自己的州的时间恐怕最多一年左右，2010年才是她州长任期到线。辞职，她自己解说是既不愿连任就把位置让给别人！不浪费纳税人的钱！ 无论她是厌倦了政治， 难以承受美国政坛的残酷；还是她有比州长更大的抱负， 为将来的总统竞选作准备。我倒觉得这对于她本人和家庭也许是一件好事！

我曾经在她辞职的不久前读到一篇新闻周刊上有关她上高中的青少年的女儿怀孕生子的文章，虽然那时的佩琳对此表示仍然以女儿自强不息独立自主为荣，我却觉得青春期的女儿怀孕，做妈妈的难辞其咎！我可以肯定那其中让她无法忍受的罪恶感被她很好的掩饰起来，难说那不是日后引她辞职的成因之一。但是，她自己作为四十岁而怀孕的高龄产妇，在得知肚中的孩子患有唐氏综合症后仍坚持生产，这份坦然面对的勇气和气度，不是一般的女人所能拥有的！对此，萨拉佩琳不容我们小觑！

在居奴的那天，我们下了船，我就一直在唠叨萨拉佩琳的事情，从选举到辞职，从阿拉斯加小姐到副总统提名人……十岁的女儿在一旁问我：“妈咪，你会不会参加竞选？”我想我大概是说多了，赶紧解释：“宝贝儿，妈妈不喜欢政治！更何况我觉得还是做一个普通女人比较幸福！”

在居奴的一大早，我们全家要了辆出租车去看山里的另一个大冰河：Mendenhall Glacier 曼登豪冰川。继续我们对冰川的敬仰和崇拜，那是一个大约有十二英里长的冰河，不幸的是这条冰河每年正以惊人的速度后退萎缩，现在的游客中心本是上个世界六十年代冰河前锋所在，今天的冰河已退到大瀑布以后了。

看完冰川，我们又回到市中心，听出租司机推荐在一个专卖阿拉斯加螃蟹的小店铺前下来，品尝巨大的阿拉斯加螃蟹的大腿之后，沿着居奴的商业店铺往山坡上不久前佩琳的办公大楼信步而去。

州政厅可能是居努最高的大厦了，外表看上去还算现代化，里面却觉得有些老旧，与加州政厅无法相比，真正让人觉得像个小乡镇的政府所在地。

上了二楼，电梯一出来就是美国国旗，接着就看见墙上近几届州长的照片，佩琳的大头照当然是处在其中，看着她照片下面的在任时间，感叹她已然成为阿拉斯加的历史！ 十多天前她已从这栋大楼中退出。

走进州长办公室，门口有位州府工作人员，友好地向我们打招呼，还给了我们每人一枚小别针，上面有阿拉斯加州的旗帜。我谢过她开玩笑地对她说：“我们从加州来，是佩琳的粉丝！”女儿当真了，走出大楼时还追问我：“妈咪，你真是佩琳的Fans吗？”我哈哈大笑，告诉女儿：我欣赏所有长得漂亮且有头脑的女人，仅此而已！

居奴一景

居奴远眺

市政厅

州长办公室

历届州长

佩琳办公地

阿拉斯加蟹

皇帝蟹腿

Mendenhall Glacier

冰川近景