Sparkling towers reflecting off a glistening lake below. The chance to win cash and prizes. Pristine golf courses. Upscale restaurants and luxurious pools. Star-studded shows. The casinos in Lake Charles seem to have it all, or so it seems, because they draw thousands of tourists from East Texas to the bayou state each year. But there is so much more to this mid-sized city just two-and-a-half hours east of Houston.
For 10 years, I have been married to a Lake Charles native, which means I have probably visited Lake Charles close to 50 times. And yet, in all that time, I have never set foot in a casino. The truth is, most of our visits have been spent at my in-laws’ home, but even when we have decided to get out of the house, the casinos have not come to top of mind. Those are for the tourists, I tend to think. You know how it is: the locals know all the best places.
Of course, the other activities in Lake Charles are hardly a secret. They are usually listed in the convention and visitor’s information. Yet, they are often overlooked. If you’re an outdoorsperson, a foodie, or an explorer looking for a taste of Cajun culture–pay attention. You might need to take a drive one weekend to grab yourself a little piece of paradise.
Most people think you have to go all the way to Lafayette or New Orleans to catch a Cajun vibe, but that would be far from the truth. Lake Charles has a rich history and celebrates it with events like the Contraband Days Pirate Festival, the Cajun Music & Food Festival, and a family-friendly Mardi Gras celebration. There are several festivals each month that include authentic Cajun Cooking or Cajun/Zydeco music.
If you want to explore the culture of Southwest Louisiana on your own, stop at Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point in Sulphur, just west of Lake Charles off I-10. This visitor center has free, hands-on displays and activities for both kids and adults alike. During our visit there, my family had the most fun “playing along” with a Cajun and Zydeco band. You can learn how and where to spot alligators and migrating birds, learn about other native Louisiana wildlife, and get maps so you can create your own tour of the Creole Nature Trail and other regional attractions.
At the Creole Nature Trail, you can pick up a guide to the Boudin Trail, where you will learn locations to go for the best boudin – a tasty Cajun sausage filled with rice, meat and spices – many of which are located in Lake Charles. To try lots of varieties of boudin from around Louisiana in one place, drive an hour east to Scott, which hosts the annual Boudin Festival each April. In addition to Boudin and other Cajun treats, the festival features arts and crafts vendors from around the region as well as live entertainment.
Two well-established Lake Charles restaurants that are popular with locals and visitors alike, for fresh seafood and traditional Louisiana fare, are Steamboat Bills on the Lake and Pats of Henderson. While Pats offers an upscale dining experience with a full bar in a crisp white plantation-style building, Steamboat Bills is as downhome as you can get, with orders placed at the counter and food served on red-checked tablecloth laden tables.
If you haven’t already heard, Louisiana is often called the sportsman’s paradise, and for good reason. Hunting and fishing are two of the biggest pastimes in the bayou state, and there are many outdoor activities to enjoy in Southwest Louisiana. The Calcasieu River flows into Lake Charles, past the port and into Prien Lake, and ultimately down through Calcasieu Lake into the Gulf of Mexico. Each of these bodies of water, along with bayous in and around Lake Charles, offer opportunities for water skiing, fishing, and kayaking.
Google “hunting lodges near Lake Charles” and you will find numerous lodges that lease open land and organize hunts for deer hunting and duck hunting. There are even guided excursions where you can hunt for alligators in the swamps.
If you want to get outdoors, but the backcountry isn’t your thing, no worries. There are several acclaimed golf courses in the area (beyond the ones at the casinos) that are open to the public, and Lake Charles even has a lakefront beach! It’s a great place to go to catch some rays during the summer and is set up with sand volleyball courts and shaved ice stands.
History buffs and art lovers have a lot to enjoy in Lake Charles. The city is home to multiple museums, including the Imperial Calcasieu Museum, which showcases the history, culture, and art of southwest Louisiana all the way back to the Attakapas and other Native American tribal life; the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, which boasts the largest collection of Mardi Gras costumes in the world; and the Dequincy Railroad Museum just 30 minutes north of downdown Lake Charles. The 1911 Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center has three stories of traveling art exhibits plus two permanent galleries, including the Black Heritage Gallery.
Each spring, Lake Charles hosts a jazz festival and art walk; then in the fall, visitors can enjoy the Lake Charles Film & Music Festival and Artfest/Culture Fest Louisiana. Visiting rodeo lovers can enjoy the Southwest District Livestock Show and Rodeo in late January, and the Iowa Rabbit Festival is held each March.
Just a short 20-minute drive east of Lake Charles, Bayou Rum and Distillery in Lacassine offers tours and tastings Tuesday through Saturday. There, visitors can learn how rum is made from locally grown sugar cane and molasses and try the multiple varieties Bayou Rum makes. If beer is more your taste, check out Crying Eagle Brewing Company, which offers tours of its 10,000 square-foot brewing facility, plus a tap room and outdoor beer garden for visitors to enjoy.
Other tours in the area include haunted history and ghost tours, horse and carriage city tours, and swamp tours. Lake Area Adventures offers guided boat and kayaking tours, as well as kayak rentals for individuals wanting to explore Lake Charles’ waterways on their own.
Whether you’re looking to add to a casino trip or just wanting a weekend away amid a backdrop of Cajun culture, Lake Charles has plenty to see and do to make it a worthwhile visit within an easy drive from anywhere in southeast Texas.
For more information, go to visitlakecharles.org.
Postcards Magazine
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Huntsville, TX 77342
