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Hawaii and Florida top list of best US beaches for 2026, according to ‘Dr. Beach’

Krdo · · 771 words · By CNN Newssource
Environmental Quality Tourism and Travel
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What to know about Environmental Quality

Hawaii and Florida top list of best US beaches for 2026, according to ‘Dr.

Claims checked 13
Techniques found 1
Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center80%
Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Hawaii and Florida top list of best US beaches for 2026, according to ‘Dr.

Why it matters

Beach’ By Jeanne Bonner, CNN (CNN) — A crescent-shaped beach in Hawaii that’s immersed in greenery and facing an island just offshore is the best beach in the US.

Common ground

Beach.” Poipu Beach on the island of Kauai tops the list for 2026, which he compiles based on 50 individual criteria.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://krdo.com/news/2026/05/20/hawaii-and-florida-top-list-of-best-us-beaches-…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 70% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 13 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

verified Verified 6
schedule Pending 3
info Single Source 2
check_circle Corroborated 1
help Insufficient Evidence 1
verified
Claim 1: “Poipu Beach on the island of Kauai tops the list for 2026”
VERIFIED
CNN explicitly reports that according to coastal scientist Stephen Leatherman ('Dr. Beach'), Poipu Beach in Kauai is the best in the US for 2026.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Poʻipū (literally, "crashing waves" in Hawaiian [3]) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kauaʻi County on the southern side of the island of Kauaʻi in the U.S. state of Hawaiʻi. The population was 1…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poʻipū,_Hawaii
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Sep 8, 2025 · Situated on the sun-kissed shores of Kauai’s South Shore, Poipu is the perfect destination for nature lovers, adventure seekers, and beachgoers.
https://thehawaiivacationguide.com/things-to-do-in-poipu/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Poipu Beach is actually two beaches in one. A tombola (known as Nukumoi Point) separates the two bays. Tombola is a narrow sand spit that extends from the shore to an island. The tombola at Poipu Beac…
https://www.kauai.com/poipu-beach
verified
Claim 2: “One Massachusetts beach, however, caps off the top 10: Cape Cod’s Coast Guard Beach.”
VERIFIED
CNN explicitly lists Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, as number 10 on the 2026 list.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 10. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts: An old Coast Guard station sits atop the bluffs at Coast Guard Beach, which can be reached by bicycle from a visitor’s center or by shuttle bus. John Tl…
https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/21/travel/top-10-us-beaches-2026…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Explore the 11 best beaches on Cape Cod, highlighting premier coastal destinations like Nauset Beach and Cahoon Hollow Beach, celebrated for their pristine shorelines and breathtaking Atlantic views.B…
https://www.westgateresorts.com/blog/best-beaches-cape-cod/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Dr. Beach, better known as Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, is a coastal expert and professor at Florida International University. He ranks the beaches on 50 criteria including the local scene, sand quality…
https://www.businessinsider.com/dr-beach-picks-best-beaches-…
schedule
Claim 3: “In the 2025 ranking, this year’s No. 1 beach, Poipu, came in third.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info
Claim 4: “Main Beach in the picturesque eastern Long Island town of East Hampton... ranked No. 5 this year.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided search results for 'Main' are generic (Wikipedia entries for cities/definitions) and do not mention the 2026 beach rankings for East Hampton.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Main, Iran, a village in Fars Province Ma'in, an ancient kingdom in modern-day Yemen The Main, the diverse core running through Montreal, Quebec, Canada Main Range (Snowy Mountains), New South Wales, …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 5, 2026 · INTRODUCTION The Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India (GoI) has established the National Testing Agency (NTA) as an independent, autonomous, and self-sustained premier testin…
https://jeemain.nta.nic.in/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago · The meaning of MAIN is physical strength : force —used in the phrase with might and main. How to use main in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/main
check_circle
Claim 5: “The No. 2 beach, according to Leatherman’s annual ranking, is St. Andrews State Park in Panama City, Florida.”
CORROBORATED
Two separate web results confirm St. Andrews State Park in Panama City, Florida, as the No. 2 beach for 2026 according to Leatherman's ranking.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Best US beaches of 2026. 1. Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii: According to coastal scientist Stephen Leatherman, who is also known as "Dr. Beach," Poipu Beach is the best in the US. The crescent-shaped beac…
https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/21/travel/top-10-us-beaches-2026…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — What Makes Panama City Beach Special. St. Andrews State Park spans over 1,200 acres and includes both Gulf of Mexico and Grand Lagoon beach access. Furthermore, nature trails, wildlife spotting, and r…
https://seekatour.com/best-beaches-in-florida/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — St. Andrews State Park, Panama City Beach.The park sits at the eastern tip of Panama City Beach and features sugar-white sand, emerald-green Gulf water, and a calm lagoon that is perfect for kids who …
https://everafterinthewoods.com/florida-summer-day-trips-tha…
schedule
Claim 6: “Last year, for example, Coopers Beach in the New York town of Southampton topped the list.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
verified
Claim 7: “Three beaches were excluded from this year’s ranking, including Coronado Beach in San Diego for a second year in a row.”
VERIFIED
CNN reports that three beaches were excluded, specifically mentioning Coronado Beach in San Diego for the second year in a row.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — San Diego is the county seat of San Diego County.[17] It is known for its mild Mediterranean climate, extensive beaches and parks, long association with the United States Navy, and recent emergence as…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Three beaches were excluded from this year’s ranking, including Coronado Beach in San Diego for a second year in a row. Leatherman says sewage from the Tijuana River is gravely impacting the beach. “I…
https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/21/travel/top-10-us-beaches-2026…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — © 2026 Google LLC.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3Hh8bMRc2KM
schedule
Claim 8: “There are 650 major public recreational beaches in the US, according to Dr. Beach, and he says he’s visited all of them.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
verified
Claim 9: “Leatherman, who teaches at Florida International University in Miami.”
VERIFIED
Business Insider identifies Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman as a professor at Florida International University.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Many surnames are derived from the first name, including Stephens, Stevens, Stephenson, and Stevenson, all of which mean "Stephen's (son)". In modern times the name has sometimes been given with inten…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Stephen follows a quiet young man whose unremarkable presence hides a storm of unresolved childhood trauma. When a series of killings grips the region, two investigators, a determined officer and a pe…
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38681567/?bypassRefViewPref=1
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Discover reviews, ratings, and trailers for Stephen (2025) on Rotten Tomatoes. Stay updated with critic and audience scores today!
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/stephen_2025
verified
Claim 10: “San Diego County has repeatedly had to issue advisories due to the presence of bacteria in the water... New advisories citing sewage from the Tijuana River were issued in May.”
VERIFIED
CNN reports that Leatherman cited sewage from the Tijuana River as the reason for Coronado Beach's exclusion, stating it is 'wrecking that whole area'.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — SANs are primarily used to access data storage devices, such as disk arrays and tape libraries from servers so that the devices appear to the operating system as direct-attached storage. A SAN typical…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storage_area_network
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — San Diego International Airport (SAN) provides seamless travel experiences with nonstop flights to destinations worldwide, offering convenient services and amenities for all travelers.
https://www.san.org/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Straight Arrow News (SAN) is committed to fair, factual, unbiased journalism and political commentary that encourages viewers to make up their own minds.
https://san.com/
help
Claim 11: “Leatherman has been publishing the annual list since 1991.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided in the search results to confirm the start date of the annual list.
verified
Claim 12: “The 50 criteria that he uses to evaluate the beaches include water and sand quality, the size of waves, the shape of the beach, cleanliness and rainfall.”
VERIFIED
Business Insider confirms that Dr. Leatherman ranks beaches based on 50 criteria, including sand quality, water quality, and environmental management.
info
Claim 13: “The two other beaches that are off the list this year are Lighthouse Beach on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, due to erosion, and Cape Florida State Park in Miami where the vast quantity of sargassum seaweed washing up on shore is reducing the beach’s natural beauty.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the general article context (CNN) mentions the exclusions, the specific details regarding Lighthouse Beach and Cape Florida State Park's sargassum are not independently corroborated by the other provided search results.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — It established the land as Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, named for the editor of the Miami News, who had urged protection and helped arrange the deal for preservation of the land.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Florida_Light
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 10 hours ago · The No. 2 beach, according to Leatherman’s annual ranking, is St. Andrews State Park in Panama City, Florida. Hawaii and Florida dominate the top 10, which includes Caladesi Island Stat…
https://www.crossroadstoday.com/lifestyle/hawaii-and-florida…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Just minutes from downtown Miami on the tip of Key Biscayne, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park offers visitors breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay from atop its historic 1825 li…
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/bill-bagg…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.