Ernest Hemmingway once said that THIS BEACH was the world’s best beach - Best Beaches on Smart Green Travel on Green 960 AM San Francisco

Ernest Hemmingway once said that THIS BEACH was the World’s Best Beach – Best Green Beaches

National Geographic joins Smart Green Travel to reveal what is a Green Beach? Plus, I’ll share my Top 10 beaches, the ones to get too, before they become certified green.

I turned to the Clean Beaches Council, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that runs the Blue Wave beach program in the U.S. to identify the top 10 beaches.

Are you tanning with a green conscious? Ready for some swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, or none of that? Smart Green Travel is all about finding places where it’s just you and the sun – that’s all you need, huh?

I can see them, your buns planted firmly on a delightful beach, where the only oil you’re seeing is from a bottle with high SPF levels, so you can rub it on your legs.

For most beach-goers, assessing a beach is simple. Is the sand good for castle construction? Is ice cream readily available? Is the water warm and relatively jellyfish-free? If not, no problem–there are plenty of other beaches in the sea.

But what about a truly special beach? One with unique physical features–such as sand comprised of tiny, star-shaped shells or a stunning mountain backdrop–where the water is super clean and the sand isn’t in danger of vanishing because solid environmental management policies are in place? And let’s not forget the opportunity to swim with dolphins, snorkel over barrier reefs and spot birds and other local wildlife.

All ten beaches were chosen for their unique geologic features, innovative management practices and progressive environmental safeguards. None of them are currently designated Blue Flag or Blue Wave, for the most part because they haven’t been developed to the extent necessary for certification. We suggest you go before they are.

Click here for a look at a few of the world’s breathtaking beaches.

Are you a fan of Angel Island? TourismCares.org cleans up the island and hopes you can join their mission. Hear this amazing story of commitment to preserving our future.