Lake Charles Travel Guide

  Cajun Band
by Nevada_Dan
  • Cajun Band
      Cajun Band
    by Nevada_Dan
  • American Alligators
      American Alligators
    by Nevada_Dan
  • Cajun Jam Session
      Cajun Jam Session
    by Nevada_Dan
  • Frisky Alligators
      Frisky Alligators
    by nevadadan
  • Welcome to La Truffe!
      Welcome to La Truffe!
    by Bunsch

Pro

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 Gambling, Contraband Day's festival 


Con

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 Almost everything else 


In a nutshell

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 For wildlife lovers, hunters or fishermen, a great getaway spot 

 

Explore Lake Charles

Things to Do  

Alligator and heron watching

Alligator and heron watching, Lake Charles

 mrclay2000 Says:  The lowlands and bayous surrounding Lake Charles along the Creole Scenic Byway are full of egrets, herons and alligators. Fishermen and fishing boats by the dozen normally cram every waterway searching for crawdads, bass and other tasty critters. The farther south you go the... 

Contraband Days Festival

Contraband Days Festival, Lake Charles

 Jmill42 Says:  Contraband Days is a big festival held during the first 2 weeks of May each year. It is a festival celebrating a local legend. According to this legend, a pirate named Lafitte hid his treasure somehwere along the banks of Lake Charles while trying to flea from capture. 

Sabine National Wildlife...

Sabine National Wildlife..., Lake Charles

 John_P_LSU Says:  Sabine National Wildlife RefugeIncludes a 1.5 mile marsh trail with superb views of wildlife, interpretation stations, and an observation tower. Very nice! 

Click on map for points of...

Click on map for points of..., Lake Charles

 John_P_LSU Says:  Click on map for points of interest...[image obtained from internet] 

Hotels  

Restaurants  

La Truffe Sauvage: Outstanding cross-cultural dining

La Truffe Sauvage: Outstanding cross-cultural dining, Lake Charles

 Bunsch Says:  My AAA guide suggested a restaurant called La Truffe Sauvage just off the interstate in Lake Charles. This turned out to be inspired guidance, because I had a fabulous meal. I did feel a little weird in a fine restaurant all by myself -- linen tablecloths, a pianist and... 

Steamboat Bill's: Great Cajun Seafood

Steamboat Bill's: Great Cajun Seafood, Lake Charles

 Ken_Weaver Says:  The restaurant was very unimpressive from the outside and when I got inside I was even more unimpressed with the decor....lots of red and white, tacky fences between sections of the dining room. However, looks can be deceiving. You walk up to the cashier and order, while... 

Nightlife  

OB's: The "happenist" joint in town..

OB's: The "happenist" joint in town.., Lake Charles

 Jmill42 Says:  OK, thats not saying much. Lake Charles is definitely NOT known for its nightlife scene. Lafayette is much better and is only 50 minutes away. But, if you have to party down in Lake Chuck, then OB's is one of the longest running places in town. Whatever you want. 

L'Auberge du Lac: Most Stylish Casino In Lake Charles

L'Auberge du Lac: Most Stylish Casino In Lake Charles, Lake Charles

 Ken_Weaver Says:  This casino is very new and very stylish, perhaps the most impressive building in the area. The hotel stands out for miles on the flat bayou landscape. The staff is very personable and professional. While I didnt see any signs, one would feel very uncomfortable if not... 

Isle of Capri Casino: Hang on to Your Cash

Isle of Capri Casino: Hang on to Your Cash, Lake Charles

 Ken_Weaver Says:  I was there on Oct 9 for the first day of operation after Hurricane Rita. The casino was built as a veritable fortress and didnt receive much damage. There are four restaurants in the casino but only one was open that night. The casino floors were packed however with people... 

Transportation  

Lake Charles Regional Airport

Lake Charles Regional Airport, Lake Charles

 Jmill42 Says:  This is the "red-headed stepchild" of all airports. Pray you never have to fly in or out of here. The people working here are nice, though.Seriously, Continental and Delta service this airport. But, as you can see from their website, they actually had to get businesses to... 

Private car is a mustand only one airline.

Private car is a mustand only one airline., Lake Charles

 tacofrogcheese Says:  The airport (LCH) is served by only Continental Express to Houston with 4 or 5 flights a day. It is a very expensive airport to fly into since CO controls the market. Taxis can only be called and cannot normally be hailed. The public bus is not very extensive. 

Private car is a mustand only one airline.

Private car is a mustand only one airline., Lake Charles

 tacofrogcheese Says:  The airport (LCH) is served by only Continental Express to Houston with 4 or 5 flights a day. It is a very expensive airport to fly into since CO controls the market. Taxis can only be called and cannot normally be hailed. The public bus is not very extensive. 

Local Customs  

A few differences in culture and customs in SWLA

A few differences in culture and customs in SWLA, Lake Charles

 Nevada_Dan Says:  Some differences between the rest of the this country and southwest Louisiana. It is unlikely you will hear Spanish spoken in this region. Most speak English, with a thick southern accent. If you are around older people they likely will speak Cajun French as their first... 

Expect Politeness!

Expect Politeness!, Lake Charles

 Ken_Weaver Says:  I was always amazed at the politeness with which I was addressed while being there. Whenever I asked a yes or no question, I always got a crisp "Yes, sir!" or "No, sir!" When I would thank someone, the response was always "Yor Welcum" 

Graveyard Protocol

Graveyard Protocol, Lake Charles

 mrclay2000 Says:  Like much of Louisiana, Lake Charles is either at or barely over sea level. Graveyards throughout the state often show mausolea above ground to avoid seepage and flooding characteristic of extensive shallows. Though the graveyard depicted is nothing like the countless tombs... 

What to Pack  

Bring the Mosquito Repellent
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2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Ken_Weaver 392 reviews

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: The first few days after Hurricane Rita, I hardly noticed the mosquitos. However, the last 4 days I was there I was eaten alive by mosquitos even with repellent.

Written Oct 15, 2005

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Off The Beaten Path  

Drive the Creole Nature Trail...
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1.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

John_P_LSU 285 reviews

Drive the Creole Nature Trail National Scenic Byway, a 180 mile loop-trail to the coast and back.

www.creolenaturetrail.org
[image obtained from internet]

Written Aug 26, 2002

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Sports & Outdoors  

McNeese State
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3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Jmill42 1072 reviews

The McNeese State Cowboys are a division I-AA school. They are a very good I-AA. Actually, at this moment they are the number 1 ranked I-AA school. The stadium is pretty good and the environment is as well. So, if you are in town on a home date and need your sports fix, then MSU is actually a good place to get it. Their baseball team is pretty decent as well. The most famous alum, however, is in basketball. Joe Dumars, who was the starting guard beside Isiah Thomas for the Detoit Pistons of the NBA for their two consectutive championships in the early '90s.

Updated Jun 11, 2003

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Favorites  

Me and Ray Charles

Me and Ray Charles, Lake Charles

 Ken_Weaver Says:  One of the great characters that I met was a guy actually named Ray Charles. He worked for a contracting company that supported the Citgo Refinery. He supervised a group of workers that grilled our meats on huge live charcoal pits. He also could get me just about whatever I... 

Route to the Sea

Route to the Sea, Lake Charles

 mrclay2000 Says:  Lake Charles (the lake) communicates with both the Intracoastal Waterway (that runs all the way to New York City) and the Gulf of Mexico by a narrow channel between the southern tip of the lake and the gulf. Commuters can cross the channel via a traffic ferry that runs on a... 

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Map of Lake Charles