Coopers Beach, Southampton, NY, named top beach; others in Hawaii, Fla., NC, SC, Calif., Mass.

NY’s Southampton beach tops Dr. Beach’s 10 best

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Here is the list of top 10 beaches for 2010 from Stephen P. Leatherman, director of Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research, also known as Dr. Beach. He has compiled the list annually since 1991 using 50 criteria, including water quality and temperature, cleanliness, weather, sand, safety and facilities.

1. Coopers Beach, Southampton, N.Y.

2. Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Fla.

3. Coronado Beach, San Diego.

4. Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks, N.C.

5. Main Beach, East Hampton, N.Y.

6. Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki, Honolulu.

7. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Mass.

8. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, S.C.

9. Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii.

10. Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Fla.