Ready for a coastal getaway? This Outer Banks beach ranks among the nation’s best
If you’re ready for a coastal getaway, a North Carolina destination may be the most ideal place to visit, a new report finds.
That’s because Lighthouse Beach in Buxton was named one of the best beaches in the country, according to results published Friday, May 19.
The Outer Banks beach ranked No. 5 in the nation after a Florida professor named Stephen P. Leatherman examined 650 places that are open to the public along U.S. coastlines. Leatherman — whose nickname is Dr. Beach — said he studied how each location performed in 50 categories, including those that measured the sand, water, safety and sunshine during tourist season.
“The survey was primarily designed for swimming beaches, but this information is also used to determine the best beaches for walking, scenery, sports, and other activities,” the coastal expert wrote on his website.
Lighthouse Beach was the only North Carolina destination to land a top 10 spot in the rankings. The beach — located on Hatteras Island — was home to the iconic Cape Hatteras lighthouse before it was moved in 1999.
These days, Dr. Beach gives the area a nod for its surf, thanks to nearby sandbars called Diamond Shoals.
“It is fun to stroll down to the Cape Point where a long sand spit often exists, making one feel somewhat like Moses because the waves are coming from both directions as you walk along this narrow string of sand in the ocean,” Dr. Beach wrote in a news release.
Lighthouse Beach received the honor after making it onto Dr. Beach’s list for at least the past two years.
Meanwhile, the Outer Banks barrier islands recently ranked as one of the nation’s top summer travel destinations. But it missed out on another similar list, with the honor instead going to the popular vacation spot of Asheville, McClatchy News reported.
In the more recent rankings, the nation’s No. 1 beach was St. George Island State Park in Florida. Rounding out the top five:
Duke Kahanamoku Beach in Hawaii
Coopers Beach in New York
Caladesi Island State Park in Florida
This story was originally published May 22, 2023 at 3:36 PM with the headline "Ready for a coastal getaway? This Outer Banks beach ranks among the nation’s best."
