Lake Charles

A serene place like no other, Lake Charles in Louisiana is located on the bed of three Rivers, Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. It has a population of around 71,000 people and is considered a major center of petrochemical refining, manufacturing companies and education. It is home to beaches, trails, casinos, golf courses and of course, culinary delights.

Pre-dominantly influenced by British and French, Lake Charles is a place of Cajun cuisine. A lot of Cajun kitchens adorn this lake city. Cajun food consists of spicy dishes such as jambalaya, crawfish etouffée, and a lot of such dishes which might be difficult to pronounce but easy to swallow. Bell peppers, onions and celery are called the ‘holy trinity’ which is used in any Cajun cuisine blending them with spices and herbs. The good Cajun cuisine restaurants in Lake Charles, to name a few, are Cajun Café, Hackett’s Cajun Kitchen, and Leonard’s Food Quarters.

In the downtown of Lake Charles, there is a relaxing park which is worth a visit. It is called Bord Du Lac Park and has trails for walking, picnic tables, and children’s playground. It is a replica of the first oil well in Louisiana and has a memorial of 9/11 too. If not anything else, a walk by the lake would freshen up your senses!

If golf is your cup of tea, then Contraband Bayou Golf Club at L'Auberge Du Lac is the place to be. The flora and fauna at this flat 18 holes course is, as interesting to look at, as playing golf here. It is next to a beautiful resort L’Auberge Du Lac which houses a casino to enhance your experience.

Kids and adults alike love the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu located on Kirby Street, Lake Charles. This museum is a must visit to see some of the most fantastic costumes ever on display. The museum has the largest collection of magnificent and colorful Mardi gras costumes on the Gulf coast. Highlights of the museum are the animated mannequins that tell the story of Mardi gras and the talking chickens.

The Mcneese Cowboys are from Lake Charles and they host football games at the Cowboy Stadium, which is also referred to as ‘The Hole’. This stadium can seat around 17,000 people and the field has artificial turf. An art of the state stadium double the size of this one is being constructed now, which would have a climate controlled seating.

To show off your groovy dance moves or just to have a happy hour, ‘Cowboys Nightclub’ is a popular bar in the area. And ‘Yesterdays’ is a country music bar to satiate your palate of a glimpse of country life in a bar. Casinos are in plenty too for burgeoning nightlife adventure. People in Lake Charles love to party, as much as, they love to eat. You would find something to do each and every night when you are down here in Lake Charles.