LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA

WHAT TO SEE & DO

    Quaint shops, great museums, and fabulous Victorian homes are just a few of the reasons to visit Lake Charles. This year's Holiday Home Tour will feature 6 magnificent houses, with advance tickets a must and only $25 for the December 7th event.

   The Imperial Calcasieu* Museum (*pronounced cal-ca-SHOO) on Sallier Street houses a wonderful collection of local history memorabilia and an art gallery, plus has the famous 300-year-old Sallier oak tree on its property. The gift shop sells stunning gold- or silver-dipped actual oak leaves from the Sallier for only $5 each in pendant or pin form. Admission is only $2 adults; $1 children.

   Housed in the Central School Arts & Humanities Center is the must-see Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, with the world's largest collection of Mardi Gras costumes. Rooms and rooms of colorful apparel fill every nook and cranny, and a special children's area allows kids to dress for the carnival. See what it's like to ride a Mardi Gras float and learn the history of Lake Charles' family-friendly celebration. Adult admission $3; $2 for children or seniors.

   The Children's Museum on Broad Street contains 19,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits for kids and parents - 3 stories and 45 different venues all under one roof and sure to provide hours of education cleverly disguised as nonstop entertainment! In the "Heroes" learning area (photo left), children discover the important role played by policemen and firemen. Admission is $6.50 children/adults; $5 seniors/active military; under 2, FREE.

   Older kids and teens will love Ripperz Skate Park (photo, right). Helmet and pad rentals are available, and 3-hour skate sessions start at $7.

  Take Exit 20 off I-10 onto LA-27 South and you're on the spectacular Creole Nature Trail, over 180 miles of National Scenic Byway. While recent hurricane damage has some areas closed during revitalization, one spot you'll want to visit is among the places currently open: Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge, located at the end of Hwy. 3056 about 11 miles south of Lake Arthur (roughly 55 miles from Lake Charles). A nature drive, foot trails, and observation towers make this 35,000-acre refuge easily accessible and a fabulous place for fishermen, hunters, and nature lovers. Bird watching is extremely popular here, with one of the highest winter populations of feathery residents in the entire national refuge system.

   Shopping? Great deals and great places are everywhere, such as: (1) Factory Stores of America Outlet Mall in nearby Iowa, LA; (2) the Cottage Shops on Hodges Street, with a smorgasbord of jewelry, coffee, souvenirs, and more - I picked up a $57 pendant here at T-Fig for only $5.70; (3) Prien Lake Mall, with anchor stores like Dillard's and J.C. Penney's; (4) dozens of antique shops; and (5) The Baby Cottage Gift & Consignment Shop in nearby Sulphur, LA, featuring gently pre-owned maternity and children's clothing, plus unusual gift items.

   French Market Foods are produced in Lake Charles and bear the highly acclaimed Tony Chachere's label. Items are shipped worldwide and their website includes an extensive array of Creole cookery, including "turducken," a scrumptious poultry combination of turkey, duck, and chicken.

WHERE TO EAT

   Food reigns supreme in Lake Charles! From the simplest and most inexpensive of eateries to the exquisitely upscale, Lake Charles serves up delicious dishes in every price range. Lake Charles has its own take on Louisiana cooking, and the variety and flavors cover a range sure to please every palate.

   Steamboat Bill's has two local restaurants, one on Hwy. 14 and another on Lakeshore Drive. Dining is casual, prices are low, and the food is fantastic. House specialties include pistolettes, football-shaped rolls stuffed with shrimp or crawfish - and priced at under $2. Po-boy sandwiches include shrimp, oyster, crawfish, catfish, soft shell crab, and chicken. Other Cajun delights: boudin balls; etouffee; gumbo; red beans and rice; and unbelievably awesome potato salad. While you're on their website, check out their videos and music by The Bayou Gypsies.

  Topping the upscale is La Truffe Sauvage (The Wild Truffle; photo, right), with an incredible assortment of treats including Pheasant and Black Truffle Ravioli; Angus Beef Carpaccio; and Crabmeat Mary Louise, a dish of jumbo lump crabmeat cooked in a champagne cream sauce and served with asparagus, all tucked inside a fabulous puffed pastry - oh, and for dessert, Upside Down Chocolate Souffle. Dinner is by reservation Tuesday through Saturday between 6 and 10pm; (337) 439-8364.

  WHERE TO STAY

 Accommodations run the gamut from Motel 6 to numerous B&B's and the luxurious suites of local casino hotels. (Note: You can enjoy a long and comfy stay at a Lake Charles casino hotel without ever seeing or going near an actual casino.) A few spots to consider: (1) A River's Edge Bed & Breakfast, with tariffs as low as $75/night; (2) Isle of Capri Hotel (photo, left); (3) L'Auberge du Lac Resort; and (4) Whispering Meadows RV Park with a rate of $29.

TO FIND OUT MORE

   Click on any of the underlined attractions to be directed to their websites, or go to www.VisitLakeCharles.org, the official site of the Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau.  (Photos are courtesy of them or the individual websites/attractions on this page).

   And to try your own hand at some Cajun cooking, check out the 1,000+ recipes on www.RealCajunRecipes.com.