Sarasota beach tops Dr. Beach's '11 list

My friends in Sarasota - one of my favourite spots in Florida - are celebrating the news that "Dr. Beach" (better known as Dr. Stephen Leatherman), has named the city's Siesta Key Beach as the Best Beach in America for 2011.

The good doctor, who has been called a "son of a beach" by many communities not happy that he doesn't include their stretch of sand in his annual list, is a beach specialist who rates coastlines all across the United States.

However, it's always Florida's beaches which seem to top his list, and for good reason - they are the best in North America, hands down!

In Dr. Beach's previous surveys, St. Petersburg's Fort De Soto Park beach has been the top contender but this year Siesta Key edged it out. Not to worry - Parents magazine recently picked Fort De Soto as the best "family" beach in America in its annual  survey.

When I visited Fort De Soto Park a few years ago, I also discovered it features a "dog beach" and that had some people howling. However, the dog beach - it was a secluded stretch not often used - has become as popular as the human beaches in that wonderful park.

The beaches in Florida's Panhandle and on Sanibel Island are also among my favourite beaches in Florida.

I've complied my own list of Top Beaches so go to http://www.travelife.ca/ and have a look under "On The Marc" to see how my list compares with Dr. Beach's.