I was pleased to read the article by John Flesher (AP) naming “Dr. Beach’s” top five Great Lakes beaches. The list comes from an analysis by Stephen Leatherman of Florida International University, who is also known as “Dr. Beach”.
Doctor Beach at the beach :-)
Leatherman looks at 50 beach-quality factors. Flesher reports that Dr. Beach’s criteria focuses on water quality, sand quality and safety, with cleanliness a must.
Here are Dr. Beach’s picks for the Great Lakes (you can read Leatherman’s write-up here and about him here):
- Lake Michigan’s dunes of Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore (Empire, MI)
- Lake Erie’s Presque Isle State Park (PA)
- Lake Superior’s Sand Point Beach at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Munising, MI)
- Lake Huron’s Bayfield Main Beach (Ontario, CA)
- Lake Michigan’s Oak Street Beach (Chicago, IL)
Honorable mentions were given to Lake Michigan’s North Beach (Racine, WI) and Grand Haven State Park (Grand Haven, MI).
Circling the Lakes 
I’ll have to add Oak Street Beach to my 2012 Lake Michigan circle tour to check out for myself. I so agree with you about Sleeping Bear! In fact trying to figure out if I can stop there on way north in August. Out of my way for sure, but such a fantastic, even sacred place.
Can’t imagine how Oak Street Beach made the list, but Sleeping Bear Dunes ~ oh yes!