HANALEI, Hawaii — Hanalei Bay, a remote, 2-mile crescent-shaped beach on Kauai where the emerald mountains meet the sparkling sea, was selected No. 1 on “Dr. Beach” Stephen P. Leatherman’s 2009 list of top 10 U.S. beaches, which was to be released today.
Hanalei beat out other shores stretching from San Diego to Cape Cod. It features postcard views from every angle and is untouched by the feverish development that has transformed the coastlines of other islands. It’s cherished by both locals and tourists as the perfect spot to swim, surf, snorkel or simply escape.
The runner-up was Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Fla. The others: Coopers Beach in Southampton, N.Y.; Coronado Beach, San Diego; Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii; Main Beach, East Hampton, N.Y.; Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks, N.C.; Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Fla.; Coast Guard Beach on Cape Cod, Mass.; and Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island, S.C.
