When I was in the Army, one of my sergeants gave me a bit of advice: travel as much as you can.  He told me that nothing helped him appreciate life more than seeing all that it had to offer, and you won't be able to see any of it if you hole yourself up in the barracks.

I've been heeding that advice since then, and really have seen some beautiful places in this world.  Some are so grand that it takes your breath away, others are so serene that it brings your breath, and a bit of sanity, back to you.

Here is one of the serene scenes that is fairly accessible to all of us in Acadiana: a short drive to Gulf Shores, Alabama.

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