This Alabama beach ranks among the best in the U.S., says Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure has ranked an Alabama beach as one of the best in the country. The New York based travel magazine has listed Gulf Shores Public Beach on its rundown of the 25 Best Beaches in the U.S.

Travel + Leisure considered few pieces of criteria for the perfect beach, including the sand, the waves, the level of seclusion, the public transportation and accessible parking, the boardwalk, the activities, and the amount of foliage. Beaches on the list include Poipu Beach in Kauai, Hawaii; Ocean City, Maryland; Pope Beach in Lake Tahoe, Nevada; Oak Street Beach in Chicago, Illinois; Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina

Here’s what Travel + Leisure had to say about Gulf Shores Public Beach:

“Pretty palm trees, clear water, and pristine white sand make this beach a standout. It’s located close to the boardwalk, restaurants, and shops with easy access to parking. The well-kept beach is also a great place for activities like volleyball and boogie boarding in the relatively calm surf. And the $3 fee to enter the pier is worth the experience to watch the friendly fishermen, the hungry pelicans, and the occasional dolphins passing by.”

Gulf Shore Public Beach has undergone $15 million in renovations since 2019. That year, city officials also adopted a new set of regulations for half-mile stretch of public beachfront, including an ordinance to make the beach smoke-free.

[READ MORE ABOUT THE BEST BEACHES IN ALABAMA]