Top Ten Beaches in the United States

Perdido Key (Perdido Chamber of Commerce)

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Sugar-white sands, clean water, and great body surfing: The beach on Perdido Key is a prime spot for jumping in and getting wet. While not exactly a secret from condo developers, this super swimming hole is still a get-out-the-magnifying-glass dot on the map. A 247-acre barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico's Florida/Alabama border, the Key offers wide, white, sandy beaches, rolling sand dunes covered with sea oats, and camera-worthy wildlife like the osprey, dolphin, and loggerhead turtle.

How great is this beach? Stephen P. Leatherman (also known as Dr. Beach), America's beach guru and a professor at Florida International University of Miami, ranked Perdido among America's best in 2000. His factors? Everything that's important to a swimmer and beachcomber: sand softness, wave size and current strength, water color and quality, and lifeguard protection.

Essentials:

Admission to the park is $2 per vehicle. For more info, call 850-492-1595.

Tip:

Don't forget your mask and fins or at least be sure to rent them—the snorkeling is awesome.