Just in time for the summer, Dr. Stephen Leatherman has done a spot of hard work and compiled a handy list of the Top 10 beaches in the United States. Now in its 20th year, "Dr. Beach," as he is called, announced his list just prior to Memorial Day weekend, as is his tradition since 1991.

The list compiled by Dr. Beach gives a wealth of information about each beach, including recommended activities and their history. Dr. Beach's descriptive list can be found at his site here. For more supplemental information, practical tips and independent reviews see the list below:

Rank	Beach	Pics & Video	Comments, Reviews, Maps, etc.
1	Coopers Beach in Southampton, New York	Video of Coopers Beach	Comments & Reviews
2	Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Florida	Video of Siesta Key Beach	Map with a series of reviews of independent resorts offered by Google Maps.
3	Coronado Beach in San Diego, California	Video of Coronado Beach	Google Map with a series of reviews of independent resorts offered by Google Maps.
4	Cape Hatteras in the Outer Banks of North Carolina	Video of Cape Hatteras	Comments & Reviews
5	Main Beach in East Hampton, New York		Comments & Reviews
6	Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii		Google Maps (No reviews yet)
7	Coast Guard Beach in Cape Cod, Massachusetts	Video of Coast Guard Beach	Comments & Reviews
8	Beachwalker Park in Kiawah Island, South Carolina		Comments & Reviews
9	Hamoa Beach in Maui, Hawaii	Video of Himoa Beach
10	Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne, Florida	Video of Cape Florida State Park	Google Maps Bill Baggs Cape Florida Park

A quick and easy way to locate the beaches on Dr. Beach's list.

The Director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research and world-renowned coastal scientist, Dr. Beach has published 16 books and hundreds of scientific articles about storm impacts, erosion, and ways to improve beach health and safety. The man knows his beaches, and keeps his eye out for a lot more than just the best beach bodies. Dr. Leatherman takes this research very seriously, and judges the various locations based on over 50 characteristics, including water quality, temperature, sand quality, cleanliness, safety and environmental management.

Proving to be the best-kept secret up until now, Coopers Beach in Southampton, New York took the top prize with its comfortable amenities and exquisite white sand. "When most people think of a beach vacation destination, they go south. I kind of think the east end of Long Island is a well-kept secret for most Americans," Leatherman says. Though Cooper's Beach may mourn never making the list again (Leatherman retires top beaches from consideration in future lists), typically those in the number one spot see up to a 20 percent hike in visitors.