Lake Charles
Located on the west side of Cajun Country, the Lake Charles area is known as Louisiana’s Playground with its blend of contrasts from elegant resorts to wildlife refuges teeming with life.

Where To Grab a Bite
Meet meat-maker extraordinaire Matthew Frugé at the Sausage Link to sample boudin and other Cajun sausages (337-625-2030), and stop by B&O Kitchen & Grocery to pick up some fresh cracklins (337-625-4637).
For white tablecloth French-inspired meals, visit La Truffe Sauvage. Or, get your fill of local flavor and music at Rikenjak’s, Paul’s Rib Shack, Crying Eagle Brewing Company or Luna Bar & Grill. 

Where To Stay
The Golden Nugget and L’Auberge Casino Resort are side-by-side, elegant resort properties with an array of dining experiences, lazy rivers with swim-up bars, entertainment, games of change, spa facilities and golf courses. The properties are within walking distance, so it’s easy to have twice the fun! 

Parking It
Start your exploration of the 180-mile-long Creole Nature Trail All-American Road at the Adventure Point, an interactive free, fun attraction that prepares you for understanding the wildlife, culture and landscape of the trail. It’s your jumping off point for the Louisiana Outback. 

Grab Some Culture
For one-of-a-kind art shopping experiences, Alexander Art Studio in Lake Charles and Flock of Five (conglomeration of artists) in Sulphur are two premier places to find extraordinary and creative art pieces, jewelry, décor and more. For a complete list of museums and galleries, log on to www.visitlakecharles.org, or to meet local artists and explore their work, check out the Heartbeat Tour: www.visitlakecharles.org/heartbeat.