The Best Beaches

A University of Maryland professor who calls himself "Dr. Beach" has released his annual rankings of the nation's top 20 beaches, and once again Main Beach in East Hampton is among the stars of the strands.

Mind you, it ranks no higher than 15th. But that's okay - the first 13 are all either in Hawaii, on islands that developers have never heard of, or in Florida, on outlying keys or part of state park preserves. Number 14 is in North Carolina, but again on an island - Ocracoke, well off the coast and almost inaccessible.

What is remarkable about Main Beach's standing (and that of its near neighbor, Dune Road beach in Westhampton, rated 16th) is that they are world-class beaches not because of their location but despite it. In spite of the fact that the Hamptons are accessible to some 10 million people in the tristate area, its most popular beaches remain pristine.

The Maryland professor is Stephen Leatherman, a coastal engineer who has seen our beaches at first-hand.

"The beaches are open for sunbathers, but they don't allow off-road vehicles to rampage up and down," he explained. "There are designated areas for fishermen. There are good hotels and restaurants nearby, but they're not right on the beach."

Nature's gifts - the broad sands, the size of the waves, the temperature of the water - are part of the criteria, of course, but only a part. It is our stewardship that matters most.