Some of the Best and Worst Beaches in America

Being a Midwesterner I've been pretty much landlocked for most of my life. I was near a beach when I lived down near the Gulf for a month doing job training and we visited my wife's in-laws in Myrtle Beach once, but that's about it for me as far as oceans and beaches go.

But I do dream about spending a lazy day at the beach now that we have the almost hundred degree heat here in St. Louis. I'd be sitting there in my comfortable hammock chair nursing a cold one with a beautiful woman at my side just like in the Corona Beer commercial.

After a while, I'd get up and go out to just where the ocean is lapping up on the sand to dip my feet into the water. It's really nice and it cools me off a little. As I turn around and head back to my chair I notice that there is a used syringe sticking out of my foot!

Beaches in the United States are getting more and more polluted just like the rivers, lakes, and the streams. I used to go fishing with my grandfather at Carlyle Lake over in Illinois. One time my grandfather was wading out in the lake and fishing.

When he caught a fish he would tie it on his belt. At one point he had so many that they almost swam away with him. Now that lake is so polluted that there aren't anymore fish in it and you wouldn't dare take a swim in it. It probably glows in the dark.

This year we had the second highest number of beaches in quite a few years that were closed at one time or another because of pollution. According to WebMD, here are some of the dirtiest beaches in America:

"In 2010, U.S. beaches were closed for 24,091 days, up 29% from 2009, according to the 21st annual beach water quality report, which was released by the Natural Resources Defense Council. (NRDC)"

The list includes "winning" beaches that test their water more frequently and "losing" beaches that don't. The best beaches also notify the public quickly if there is a problem.

Some of the best beaches are: Rehoboth Avenue Beach, in Sussex County, Dela, Dewey Beach, in Sussex County, Dela., Park Point Lafayette Community Club Beach, in St. Louis County, Min. and Hampton Beach State Park in New Hampshire. As you can see the list is pretty short.

Worst beaches include: Avalon Beach in California, Cabrillo Beach near Los Angeles, Kenton Beach in Florida, Texas: Ropes Park in Texas, and Beachwood Beach West in New Jersey.

For the complete list go to www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/ttw/200beaches.asp

Source: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20110629/near-record-high-number-of-beach-closings-in-2010?page=2