The 13 miles of Ocracoke's pristine beaches on Cape Hatteras National Seashore have been listed on the "Top Ten List of America's Best Beaches for 1999."

Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, better known as 'Dr. Beach,' is a beach erosion specialist for Florida International University. He uses some 50 criteria such as sand softness, water color, pests, and visual obstructions when making his best beach list.