And yet, it’s still not nearly as crowded as nearby Florida panhandle beach destinations.

The beach during sunrise at Gulf Shores & Orange Beach in Alabama

Credit:Courtesy of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

A fishing boat in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in Alabama

Courtesy of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

Gulf Shores boardwalk with a public statue

Jon Mattrisch/Travel + Leisure

Gulf State Park Nature Center in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in Alabama

Courtesy of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

Beach in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in Alabama

Courtesy of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

The shops at The Wharf at Gulf Shores & Orange Beach in Alabama

Courtesy of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

Exterior of Fishers in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in Alabama

Courtland William Richards/Courtesy of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism