Every Memorial Day Weekend, Dr. Beach releases his Top 10 Best Beaches in America list. But how does he decided which beaches make the list? This blogger had the rare opportunity to spend a couple of days on some Southwest Florida beaches with Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, aka, Dr. Beach, to learn the science behind his assessments. He’s considered to be America’s foremost beach expert.

Oh yes, although a beach vacation is fun, evaluating 650 public recreational beaches is a scientific adventure. In fact, there are 50 pieces of criteria Dr. Beach uses to rank a beach with a maximum of 250 points to be earned. Has any beach earned a perfect score? Not quite, but close with 240 points. That would be Hawaii’s Kaplua Beach in Maui.

So how does he grade beaches? He touches the sand to determine hardness, he examines sand to determine grain size and composition, he swims in the water to feel the temperature. He also reviews EPA and safety reports to ensure there are no water quality issues and water-related deaths.

He uses tools such as sifters, measuring tape and geologic hand lens. He also used a dye ball to monitor the water’s current. This was most interesting because it looked like a dry, orange sponge. When tossed into the Gulf of Mexico, it slowly dissolved into a neon-greenish-yellow color and it was obvious where the current flowed. He said he used to use red but swimmers thought it looked too much like blood.

Although there are fab beaches throughout the country, Dr. Beach is concerned with swimming beaches. If it’s too cold or too murky, chances are, it won’t make the cut. Easily accessible is another important element in determining a top 10 beach.

Throughout the year, Dr. Beach visits about 100 beaches and has contacts throughout the country who update him on the status of the beaches he’s unable to visit. Come Memorial Day, he releases his Top 10 Best Beaches in America list. Will any of our favorite beaches make the list? We’ll just have to wait and see. If not this year, there’s always next year.

Can you guess the first beach Dr. Beach ever visited? It is Myrtle Beach when he was six-years-old.

Sea turtle nesting season is May 1 through October 31. This is a time period when the marine reptiles lay eggs on popular coastal beaches such as those in Florida, South Carolina and Mexico. Visitors vacationing on beaches where sea turtles lay eggs need to take care especially by turning off lights, using window blinds and not disturbing turtle nests which should be marked by a local turtle patrol.

Earlier this month, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment announced the upcoming release of “Turtle: The Incredible Journey,” a family documentary directed by National Geographic Explorer’s Nick Stringer. The award-winning film follows the life of a loggerhead turtle on its 9,000-mile, two year journey from hatching to maturity to its return to its original Florida nesting grounds.

A threatened species, the loggerhead turtle has one of the most difficult and longest migratory patterns of any marine animal. For example, sea turtles hatched on Florida’s east coast make their way from sand into the ocean and begin a journey that can span the entire Atlantic Ocean and eventually return decades later to that same beach.

“This is a remarkable story crafted by one of the world’s most gifted documentary filmmakers,” said Scott Helmstedter, Chief Creative Officer for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. “Turtle: The Incredible Journey does what our parks have been doing for more than five decades: inspire, enrich and entertain. Helping bring this film and its powerful message of the fragility and beauty of our oceans to the public is what SeaWorld is and what we have always been about.”

“Turtle: The Incredible Journey” opens the same week as SeaWorld San Diego’s Turtle Reef, a new attraction showcasing this extraordinary species in a 300,000-gallon aquarium with a massive underwater viewing gallery.  The attraction also features thousands of tropical fish, a touch-screen interactive tracking map where guests can learn about sea turtles and SeaWorld’s rescue efforts.  Turtle Reef also includes a new ride that takes guests on a thrilling rescue mission of their own.

Initial theatrical markets set for June 24 include New York, Los Angeles and theaters near three primary SeaWorld locations: San Diego, San Antonio and Orlando.  The film’s official premiere is scheduled for Tuesday, June 21 at the large-format 3D theater at SeaWorld in San Diego.

Expansion plans call for the release of the film to additional theaters and cities throughout July and August, with a target of more than 200 locations. The film will be distributed in partnership with Hannover House by SeaWorld’s newly formed SeaWorld Pictures division.  Hannover House is the entertainment unit of Target Development Group.

This seems like a great film to watch with the family before heading out on a beach vacation so be sure to find time to see it before packing your bags.

Image Source: PRNewsFoto/SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Jason Collier

Americans living in big cities and small towns are encouraged to nominate their favorite towns and attractions to be named points of interests (POI) for the inaugural Best of the Road contest. This road race is hosted by Rand McNally and USA TODAY and will enlist five teams who will drive from New York to Los Angeles in search of the best small town in America.

Now through May 23, Americans can nominate their favorite POI and the top ones will land a permanent spot on Rand McNally’s new travel Web site and a place in the 2013 Rand McNally Road Atlas, as well as on USA TODAY’s Travel Web page. It could be the Best Beach, Best Ball of Twine, Best Fishing Hole, or another must-see attraction.

To celebrate the Best of the Road, Rand McNally and USA TODAY are promoting the summer’s best road rally. Beginning June 23, five teams of at least two travelers will depart New York bound for Los Angeles seeking out America’s best whatever before the July 15 finish. Their mission is to leave no landmark unturned and discover every local secret by traveling back roads and scenic highways. Rand McNally and USA Today will pick the teams.

Teams will visit towns in their assigned category and fans can come along on the journey through video, photos and updates posted on www.bestoftheroad.com, Facebook and Twitter. USA Today and travel.usatoday.com will also cover the rally beginning June 23.

Interested in applying for the Best of the Road? Teams of at least two members (minimum age of 25) are asked to upload a video one-minute in length or less showcasing their skills as a cross-country traveler to www.bestoftheroad.com between May 2 and May 23, 2011. Best of the Road Rally contestants will be announced on May 31, 2011.

Visit www.bestoftheroad.com for the legal information and to nominate your town and/or attraction.