For 21 years, Stephen P. Leatherman (aka “Dr. Beach”) has helped kick off summer by releasing his annual list of Top 10 U.S. Beaches. This year, by popular demand, he is releasing a new kind of list: his recommendations for Top 5 Great Lakes beaches. Why the Great Lakes, you ask? Given that they are bound by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, wouldn’t it be nicer to just go to sunny Florida? Great Lakes beaches may beckon for several reasons. Beachgoers won’t have to deal with sharks or jellyfish. Freshwater may be more refreshing than saltwater. For some folks, the lakes’ proximity to home might help them slash their gasoline bills. And the Great Lakes are also home to some spectacular scenery, including Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on Lake Michigan. Leatherman called these beautiful sweeps of sand “some of the most spectacular coastal dunes in the world.” Furthermore, if Bing Travel readers are any indication, the Great Lakes are fabulous. Praise for these northern sands poured in after we published Top 10 U.S. Beaches. A reader named Mike posted this comment: “The Great Lakes have some of the finest beaches in the world. Where I live on Lake Michigan, we have sugar sand beaches for hundreds of miles, coastal sand dunes and crystal fresh waters.” A reader named Rob posted this comment: “The west Michigan shoreline of Lake Michigan has some of the most beautiful beaches on the planet, along with crystal clear fresh water. Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore needs to be on everyone’s bucket list.” Leatherman weighed about 60 factors to assess overall beach quality and devise his final Top 5 list. Coastal communities were asked to complete a survey and submit sand samples. The survey was developed with the assistance of Shannon Briggs, PhD with the Water Resources Division, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality; and Erin Dreelin, Associate Director of the Center for Water Sciences at Michigan State University. “I make an overall evaluation of the Great Lakes beaches with clean water and beach safety being the primary determinants, followed by environmental quality and management,” Leatherman said. One of the factors, for example, is whether the public is alerted if the beach becomes unsafe, unsanitary or unhealthy. Any beach that has had a couple of closures for health reasons would automatically be eliminated from the Top 5. How does Leatherman’s assessment compare with the Natural Resources Defense Council’s report on dirty beaches that was released on July 29? Results from the latter study revealed that the most frequently contaminated beach water samples were those taken from the Great Lakes. But the two reports are like comparing apples and oranges. The NRDC’s report, funded by the EPA, was designed to look at beaches that are more likely to have contamination problems, therefore skewing the results toward dirty beaches. Leatherman’s assessment, meanwhile, looked at beaches across the board. Swimmers should note that the freshwater Great Lakes do have a dangerous element in common with marine beaches. “Surprisingly, rip currents do occur in the Great Lakes, and 25 people drowned last summer, which was particularly high,” Leatherman said. “Strong onshore winds kick up the waves and stir the water, making detection of these dangerous currents difficult to impossible.” To that end, Leatherman has developed a new water tracer (dye ball) to make the currents visible. Watch a video to see the dye ball in action and learn how to escape a rip current. What is your favorite Great Lakes beach? Post a comment below. Robin Dalmas is a travel writer, editor and producer for Bing Travel.
For 21 years, Stephen P. Leatherman (aka “Dr. Beach”) has helped kick off summer by releasing his annual list of Top 10 U.S. Beaches. This year, by popular demand, he is releasing a new kind of list: his recommendations for Top 5 Great Lakes beaches.
Why the Great Lakes, you ask? Given that they are bound by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, wouldn’t it be nicer to just go to sunny Florida?
Great Lakes beaches may beckon for several reasons. Beachgoers won’t have to deal with sharks or jellyfish. Freshwater may be more refreshing than saltwater. For some folks, the lakes’ proximity to home might help them slash their gasoline bills. And the Great Lakes are also home to some spectacular scenery, including Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on Lake Michigan. Leatherman called these beautiful sweeps of sand “some of the most spectacular coastal dunes in the world.”
Furthermore, if Bing Travel readers are any indication, the Great Lakes are fabulous. Praise for these northern sands poured in after we published Top 10 U.S. Beaches. A reader named Mike posted this comment: “The Great Lakes have some of the finest beaches in the world. Where I live on Lake Michigan, we have sugar sand beaches for hundreds of miles, coastal sand dunes and crystal fresh waters.” A reader named Rob posted this comment: “The west Michigan shoreline of Lake Michigan has some of the most beautiful beaches on the planet, along with crystal clear fresh water. Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore needs to be on everyone’s bucket list.”
Leatherman weighed about 60 factors to assess overall beach quality and devise his final Top 5 list. Coastal communities were asked to complete a survey and submit sand samples. The survey was developed with the assistance of Shannon Briggs, PhD with the Water Resources Division, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality; and Erin Dreelin, Associate Director of the Center for Water Sciences at Michigan State University.
“I make an overall evaluation of the Great Lakes beaches with clean water and beach safety being the primary determinants, followed by environmental quality and management,” Leatherman said. One of the factors, for example, is whether the public is alerted if the beach becomes unsafe, unsanitary or unhealthy. Any beach that has had a couple of closures for health reasons would automatically be eliminated from the Top 5.
How does Leatherman’s assessment compare with the Natural Resources Defense Council’s report on dirty beaches that was released on July 29? Results from the latter study revealed that the most frequently contaminated beach water samples were those taken from the Great Lakes. But the two reports are like comparing apples and oranges. The NRDC’s report, funded by the EPA, was designed to look at beaches that are more likely to have contamination problems, therefore skewing the results toward dirty beaches. Leatherman’s assessment, meanwhile, looked at beaches across the board.
Swimmers should note that the freshwater Great Lakes do have a dangerous element in common with marine beaches. “Surprisingly, rip currents do occur in the Great Lakes, and 25 people drowned last summer, which was particularly high,” Leatherman said. “Strong onshore winds kick up the waves and stir the water, making detection of these dangerous currents difficult to impossible.” To that end, Leatherman has developed a new water tracer (dye ball) to make the currents visible. Watch a video to see the dye ball in action and learn how to escape a rip current.
What is your favorite Great Lakes beach? Post a comment below.
Robin Dalmas is a travel writer, editor and producer for Bing Travel.
Ottawa Beach @ Holland State Park, Holland Michigan is the best!
My favorite for the past 70 years is on Lake Superior. It is so peaceful, quiet, clean, and unpopulated. So, I will never say where it is unless you pay me the modest sum of $20,000
Walnut Beach at Ashtabula, Ohio on beautiful Lake Erie
How could you possibly miss the Ludington, Mi state park and city beach. Hands down the best in Michigan!
Negwegon State Park - rarely are there more than 8 people on this beach, probably because it is SO secluded. We take our beach mattresses (floaties) out into the water as far as we can walk, climb onto them and FLOAT back to shore. THE BEST
My favorite beach on the Great Lakes is Central Beach in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Park. Dunes for hiking, soft clean sand and best of all... no people... unlike the rest of the Duneland beaches.
Whitefish Dunes, Door County, WI is always amazing and clean!
Check out 'Warren Dunes' State Park in lower SW Michigan (just N of Indiana border)! Can you make it to the top of the Dunes?
My personal favorite family beach is Neshotah Beach at Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Fully maintained by the city, it has a park with other recreational facilities nearby, a beach house, wide open golden sand with parking next to it, and crystal clear water (on most days). A little cool, but when it is 90 degrees or higher inland, sitting at 75 degrees on this beach is heaven!
My decond favorite is just a few miles north at Point Beach State park. More secluded and not as maintained, but for a natural setting it can't be beat. Same golden sand dunes and clear crisp water. Camping in the park is available right off the beach.
I am surprised "Dr. Beach" missed these two gems!
I loved your pictures of the beaches presented, however there is one beach that is not mentioned that I think should be and that is The beaches and sand dunes at Kohler-Andrae State Park. I guess I am partial to this unique area, because I don't live far from the park and have been going there every year for the past 35 years.
Take your pic. Begining in the National Lake Shore near Chesteron, IN and strecting about 15 miles east to the Indiana/ Michigan Boarder. The South Shore of Lake Michigan gives you every thing you want in a great lakes beach. Sugar sand, huge sand dunes, miles of nature trails, great cities with several non-beach ammenities, 1 hour from downtown chicago, accessable by car or train, and one of the only beaches that let you crack open a beer without fear. However the best part of this beach is the sunset makes the water sparkle like diamonds. You can also see the Chicago skyline from across the lake.
Just perfect
Sandy Island Beach/ Boaters Beach-Sandy Creek NY. Great access from sandy pond or Lake Ontario. Miles of white sand and salmon past the breakers!
We love Kohler Andrae beach, north of Milwaukee. But we also love Little Girl's Point, north of Ironwood, Michigan.
Sad the Traverse City public beaches did not make the list. They are also up there and some call it the gold coast of the north. Great Beaches, lots of activities! Cherry Festival in beginning of July and Film Festival at the end. What could be better than movies on the beach at night!
Ludington, MI has the best beaches at both the Lake Hamlin area and the Lake Michigan part. This is definitely my favorite beach, like joegreiner above. There can be thousands of people at this state park and it still seems private and isolated.
