FRANKLIN COUNTY, FL (WTXL) -- St. George Island once again finds itself on a list of the country's best beaches.
Dr. Julian G. Bruce State Park has been ranked third in this year's Top 10 Beaches in the U.S. by Dr. Stephen Leatherman, a coastal research professor better known as "Dr. Beach" at Florida International University.
St. George Island has made the list for the fifth time and maintained its third place ranking for three straight years.
The nine-mile beach park was judged on 50 criteria, from water quality and safety to activities and environmental factors.
"The Florida panhandle beaches are known for their powdery, super white sands. The sand here is squeaky clean -- just rub your feet on the sand and hear it squeak," Leatherman said in a statement. "The State Park beach is on the eastern end of the island. Pathways take you across the 'walking' dunes to the bayside. Stingrays are sometimes resting in the shallow waters so shuffle your feet when entering. Birding and fishing are very popular activities."
Topping the list this year is Waimanalo Bay Beach Park in Oahu, Hawaii, followed by Barefoot Beach Preserve County Park in Bonita Spring, Florida.
