Soak up the sun on the ultimate Gulf Coast getaway

At Sabine Pass Battleground State Park, you'll find TONS of history packed in one little site! The background is pretty interesting: In a battle lasting less than an hour, Confederate Lt. Richard Dowling and his 46 men blocked a Union attack on Sabine Pass, an important Confederate port used for shipments of supplies. Take a "walking tour" on your smart phone and embrace yet another part of history featuring the Sabine river estuary at the end of the battle field.

After soaking in all of that Southern history, get a real Louisiana swamp and bayou experience in the heart of Lake Martin. See plenty of alligators and other wildlife as you cruise through this unique landscape with Champagnes Swamp Tour. The best time to take a tour? Around noon every day. It's $20 a person for the regular tour, with options for specials like like French tours, or outings for photography, kayaking or bird watching!

While on your adventure, you can even travel back to a much simpler time. Although small, the Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum offers a rich history lesson about the Cajun natives' connection with water transportation, the seafood industry, and much more. For just $3 a person, you can stay as long as you'd like and even relax on the back porch that overlooks the bayou! For music lovers, check out live local Cajun music every Tuesday and Thursday evening for just $1.

One of the finest Blues venues in the South, the family-run joint is totally one-of-a-kind! The Shed is a funky BBQ eatery with an authentic junkyard vibe. It's filled with antiques, games and other fun objects worth wandering among. Not only will the ambiance draw you in and make you feel at home, with live music and picnic table-style seating, but the food speaks for itself as well! Order a sampler platter to split and try the pulled pork, ribs, brisket, and all of the tasty sides. Wash it all down with a local beer and enjoy a relaxing night of down-home fun.

Right between the panhandle of Florida and Alabama, the beachfront campgrounds at the Gulf Shores / Pensacola West KOA are a perfect way to get out of the hustle and bustle and right into beachfront relaxation. Cabins and a lodge are also offered in addition to RV and tent sites, and the grounds provide a pool, hot tub, beaches and a fishing pier on beautiful Perdido Bay. There are karaoke parties on Saturday nights in the summer and even a pizza joint right on the property. It's so much like paradise, you might not want to leave!

Satisfy your sweet tooth while on the beach with Thomas Donut & Snack Shop, a locally owned favorite! In addition to dozens of delicious, handmade doughnut flavors, they also offer burgers, sandwiches, ice cream, and breakfast staples. You can expect a long line in the mornings, but also expect for some of the best doughnuts you can find! If you only pick up one snack, definitely make it the key lime donut... it's a real taste of Florida!

An estimated 1,800 to 400 years ago, native people created a large mound of oyster and clam shells, fish bones, and other remains over a 1,000 year period... and you can still see the shells today! Hike the trails around the marsh and forest of the park, kayak through the water, and learn about the rich history of this archaeological site. You might even get to spot some dolphins!