Great Lakes Best Beaches

Erin Riopelle: peacefully ~Enlarge

It happened again May 22.

With the predictability and reliability of Christmas or the Fourth of July, news coverage of America's Best Beaches list exploded on the eve of Memorial Day weekend. The product of the self-proclaimed Dr. Beach, Stephen Leatherman, the list celebrated beaches from Hawaii to Massachusetts.

Nothing wrong with that -- but as observers have said for years, it should be renamed "America's Best Saltwater Beaches" list. Dr. Beach has no room on his list, apparently, for freshwater beaches. But those of us who know and love the Great Lakes do. And it's time we developed and publicized the Great Lakes Best Beaches List.

Although ocean coast inhabitants may think of Great Lakes beaches as polluted, or usable only for a short time of the year, most Great Lakes beaches worthy of the name are gorgeous and available for year-round enjoyment.  Much of the year, that may mean walking the beaches' edges, soaking up the beauty of the big sky and loud waves, but it's still enjoyable. 

And from mid-June to just after Labor Day, full immersion -- and carefree, languid days -- are possible on most Great Lakes recreational beaches. There is simply nothing better in life than a Great Lakes summer beach day.

Dr. Beach's grading system involves 50 criteria with a sliding scale from 1 to 5. My proposed Great Lakes beach criteria are more subjective, and not comprehensive. My criteria largely embrace memories of satisfying, unhurried days of bright sun, clean sand, healthy water, the sound of joyful children, and the rhythm of waves.

I also haven't visited many of the most famous Great Lakes beaches. So I invite you to nominate your favorite Great Lakes beach to join my start-up list of 3. Please provide a picture if possible.

1. Ludington State Park, Michigan.

2. Warren Dunes State Park, Michigan.

3. Pinery Provincial Park, Ontario.