Lake Charles is Your Louisiana Playground

(Images by Ruksana Hussain)

Exhibits at the Imperial Calcasieu Museum.

The state of Louisiana is synonymous with a few things—NOLA, Mardi Gras, Creole and Cajun culture, food, and music—but you better add Lake Charles to that list! The area offers much to experience away from the crowds that visit some of the other larger cities. Here’s just a quick glance…

See and Do

To better familiarize yourself with your surroundings, a trip to the Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point is recommended. The exhibits give you an inkling of some of the experiences you can expect during your time in the area. Next, head out on the trail itself, all 180 miles of it, which I am told takes a full day to cover or multiple visits to take it all in at a leisurely pace. Imperial Calcasieu Museum is a good spot for a stop to understand the Mardi Gras history and heritage while also viewing work by local artists in the adjoining gallery. There are quite a few costumes on display and plenty more in storage to keep the exhibits rotating over the months. One thing you cannot miss here are the zydeco tunes. Immerse yourself in zydeco history with music from local faves such as Brandon Ledet and Harold Guillory, who continue to keep the

Mardi Gras is a great time to visit Lake Charles.

musical tradition alive. The sound of the accordion and some of the specific instruments used are unique and easily recognizable from miles away. The City Hall, a historic venue, offers arts exhibits but local artists and a few traveling exhibits as well. Request a guided tour to learn more about the building and the displays. For shopping, look no further than Flock of Five Gift and Art Emporium for souvenirs and items made by local artists. The 7,000-sq-ft shopping destination is housed in an old post office building and can be quite the maze of unexpected surprises so give yourself ample time to spend here. If you have time for a drive through, then the Charpentier historic district is a gift! The Victorian style architecture from the1800s is fascinating. There were no architects of record until later years so this is basically the style of the carpenters that lived there then, and it’s quite fascinating to observe the details. For your stay, may we recommend the Golden Nugget Hotel, which does have that casino feel but without the crowds of Vegas! Depending on the location of your room, you could witness some nice views of the sunset and/or overlooking the pool. Soak in the large bathtub and enjoy the spacious room, which also has a work desk and booth so whether this is a leisure or work trip, you are covered.

Dine and Wine

The dining options here are plenty and each impresses in its own way. Drago’s at L’Auberge is your spot for charbroiled oysters, and Daiquiris and Dogs is one of the new restaurants at the hotel, with a king cake daiquiri offering to entice. Insane Sausage, a family-owned business, has found a loyal following in the last year or two. The number of sausage options here are overwhelming but to start with the top sellers is probably a good idea. In this case, that would be the crawfish, steak and shrimp, and boudin.

Your taste buds will have quite the party with local delicacies galore.

For your traditional meal of a hearty crawfish boil and accompaniments, Seafood Palace is the spot. Residents and visitors flock here for local delicacies. Get ready to work with your hands because eating crawfish is its own art and skill! It is served with boiled potatoes and corn, and sides you can try include boudin balls, gumbo, pistolette, and more. Luna Bar and Grill is a great dinner spot, what with the eclectic wall murals and musical references everywhere. Chef Dave Evans and team offer fabulous bites—the luna tuna is the famed dish, but every single one on the menu is just as delicious and a must try while here.

Bodega Wine Dive is where you want to head to for a comfy casual dinner, cozy atmosphere and some splendid drinks and bites. Their cocktails are winners as are the pizzas and the grilled cheese sandwiches. For a one-of-a-kind dining experience, head on over to Crying Eagle Brewery, the only brewery in Lake Charles, and with a lovely outdoor area to boot. The craft brewery has beers you won’t find anywhere else, and sumptuous food to compliment the flavors. The Villa Harlequin proves a charming dinner spot featuring Italian food with a Louisiana twist. Chef Amanda

The outdoors beckon in Lake Charles. Finding a spot for a picnic or some morning yoga is a treat!

does not hold back in packing the flavor punch on every plate that leaves the kitchen. An apt venue for a quieter dinner or a big party celebration too if that’s what you are in the mood for.

To start the next day of sightseeing, have breakfast at Coffee:30. Beignets, breakfast sandwiches and other goodies welcome you to the morning. Another spot to caffeine up is The Village Coffee House in Sulphur. Aside from hearty breakfast offerings, you will find it interesting that they also have a ‘pay what you want’ concept for some of their items!

While the crowds head to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, you can experience it at Lake Charles instead. The family friendly version lasts a few hours and sees much of the city turning up for the parade. Indulge in all the music, fun, food and festivities along a few miles’ stretch while collecting colorful beads, little toys, candy and more thrown by float participants into the crowd. If you are lucky, you might have a bag of little treats to take home after the event along with some fabulous memories!

Read more on www.travelerandtourist.com Nature Edition Mar-Apr 2022