For some people, choosing the right beach for vacation is serious business. (It’s me — I’m some people.) I want all things from one beach trip: beautiful white sand, easy water access for paddleboarding and dark skies for starwatching (not to mention sea-turtle protection). I also want charming boutiques, unusual activities and the hubbub of other happy vacationers.

This year, instead of trying to force one beach to be everything, I went to two, both about a seven-hour drive from Nashville. Here’s my tale of two beaches.

Gulf Shores, Ala.

Usually, when people refer to Gulf Shores, Ala., they’re talking about three communities officially called “Alabama’s Beaches.” That includes, from east to west, Orange Beach, Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan, a 30-mile strip along the Gulf Coast that encom

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