• Restaurants + Bars
  • Entertainment
  • Arts
  • Real Estate
  • City Life
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • City Guide
  • Events
  • Charity Guide
  • Subscribe
  • Cities
  • Austin
  • Dallas
  • Houston
  • San Antonio
  • Fort Worth
Cities
  • Austin
  • Dallas
  • Houston
  • San Antonio
  • Fort Worth
culturemap logo
  • Restaurants + Bars

    THE LATEST

    Brandon Watson: Playful San Antonio pizza joint unexpectedly folds after 3 years
    Downtown developments
    Playful San Antonio pizza joint unexpectedly folds after 3 years
    By Brandon Watson
    Teresa Gubbins: San Antonio's buzzy vegan fast-food chain gets a shot on Shark Tank
    Vegan News
    San Antonio's buzzy vegan fast-food chain gets shot on Shark Tank
    By Teresa Gubbins
    Hannah J. Phillips: Acclaimed San Antonio chef to debut new Austin restaurant and bar
    Curing Austin
    Acclaimed San Antonio chef to debut new Austin restaurant and bar
    By Hannah J. Phillips

    SPONSORED BY

  • Entertainment

    THE LATEST

    Hannah J. Phillips: Legendary Texas troubadour Robert Earl Keen storms into San Antonio for final tour
    Feelin' Good Again
    Texas troubadour Robert Earl Keen storms San Antonio for final tour
    By Hannah J. Phillips
    Steven Devadanam: Texas baseball legend Nolan Ryan's new film hits San Antonio for one night only
    all aboard the express
    Baseball legend Nolan Ryan's new film hits San Antonio for one night
    By Steven Devadanam
    Alex Bentley: Emergency takes college friends through one dark and funny night
    Movie Review
    Emergency takes college friends through one dark, funny night
    By Alex Bentley

    SPONSORED BY

  • Arts

    THE LATEST

    John Egan: Texas philanthropist's art collection hauls in $363.1 million at Christie's auction
    Big sale in the Big Apple
    Texas philanthropist's art collection hauls in $363.1M at auction
    By John Egan
    Chantal Rice: Wildly popular Santa Fe art experience Meow Wolf opens 2 Texas portals
    Imagination station
    Wildly popular Santa Fe art experience Meow Wolf opens 2 Texas portals
    By Chantal Rice
    Hannah J. Phillips: Ancient Roman treasure found at Texas Goodwill now on display in San Antonio
    Rome or bust
    Ancient Roman treasure found at Goodwill now on display in San Antonio
    By Hannah J. Phillips

    SPONSORED BY

  • Real Estate

    THE LATEST

    Arden Ward: San Antonio's average home price inches closer to $400,000 in new report
    Real Estate Report
    San Antonio average home price inches closer to $400,000 in new report
    By Arden Ward
    John Egan: San Antonio housing market booms with new homes for sale, report says
    Building boom
    San Antonio housing market booms with new homes for sale, report says
    By John Egan
    John Egan: $45 million mansion makes a splash as most expensive home for sale in Texas
    Livin’ large
    This $45 million mansion is the most expensive home for sale in Texas
    By John Egan

    SPONSORED BY

  • City Guide

    THE LATEST

    : Bite - San Antonio
    Restaurants
    Bite - San Antonio
    : Biga on the Banks
    Restaurants
    Biga on the Banks
    : Mixtli
    Restaurants
    Mixtli

    SPONSORED BY

  • Events

    THE LATEST

    : San Antonio Botanical Garden presents Steve Tobin: "Rooted"
    5.26.22 | 9:00 am
    San Antonio Botanical Garden presents Steve Tobin: "Rooted"
    : McNay Art Museum presents "Picasso and Braque: Radicals"
    5.26.22 | 10:00 am
    McNay Art Museum presents "Picasso and Braque: Radicals"
    : McNay Art Museum presents "The Great Stage of Texas"
    5.26.22 | 10:00 am
    McNay Art Museum presents "The Great Stage of Texas"

    SPONSORED BY

  • Subscribe
  • City Life

    THE LATEST

    : San Antonio hospital named among top 5 in Texas in new report
    good heatlh
    San Antonio hospital named among top 5 in Texas in new report
    By John Egan, InnovationMap
    John Egan: San Antonio slides down U.S. News’ list of best places to live
    Reduced ranking
    San Antonio slides down U.S. News’ list of best places to live
    By John Egan
    John Egan: Affluent San Antonio neighbor named No. 7 richest county in Texas
    In the money
    Affluent San Antonio neighbor named No. 7 richest county in Texas
    By John Egan

    SPONSORED BY

  • Fashion + Beauty

    THE LATEST

    Steven Devadanam: Texas superstar Simone Biles unveils new clothing line full of girl power
    GOAT GEAR
    Texas superstar Simone Biles unveils clothing line full of girl power
    By Steven Devadanam
    Hannah J. Phillips: Texas jewelry maven Kendra Scott clocks in with timely new collection
    Clocking In
    Texas jewelry maven Kendra Scott clocks in with timely new collection
    By Hannah J. Phillips
    Hannah J. Phillips: River Walk hotel unveils spa makeover and luxurious new treatments
    Spa Time
    River Walk hotel unveils spa makeover and luxurious new treatments
    By Hannah J. Phillips

    SPONSORED BY

  • Home + Design

    THE LATEST

    Holly Beretto: Step back in time inside 9 grand and historic Galveston homes on popular tour
    living history
    Step back in time inside 9 grand and historic homes on Galveston tour
    By Holly Beretto
    Lindsey Wilson: Cozy additions and calming colors top Zillow's 2022 home trends
    Do's for 2022
    Cozy additions and calming colors top Zillow's 2022 home trends
    By Lindsey Wilson
    Chantal Rice: San Antonio interior designer unveils DIY style kits for home makeovers
    The whole kit and caboodle
    San Antonio designer unveils DIY style kits for home makeovers
    By Chantal Rice

    SPONSORED BY

  • Travel

    THE LATEST

    Alex Bentley: Art of Banksy comes to Texas in immersive events with signature secrecy
    Traveling Street Art
    Art of Banksy comes to Texas in immersive events with big secrecy
    By Alex Bentley
    Teresa Gubbins: Texas-based Southwest Airlines unrolls big suite of service upgrades
    Airplane News
    Texas-based Southwest Airlines unrolls big suite of service upgrades
    By Teresa Gubbins
    Stephanie Allmon Merry: Step inside the Upside Down at Texas mall's new Stranger Things experience
    El, yeah
    Step inside the Upside Down at Texas mall's Stranger Things experience
    By Stephanie Allmon Merry

    SPONSORED BY

  • Charity Guide
  • Tastemaker Awards
Promoted articles are produced by CultureMap sponsors and not by the editorial staff.
Home » Travel
into the woods
New tiny cabin vacation homes root in East Texas for ultimate escape
Big bet
Luxury casino-resort near Texas border gambles on $500M expansion
LATEST NEWS
San Antonio hospital named among top 5 in Texas in new report
Get Out and Explore

All the must-do activities during a getaway to Lake Charles, Louisiana

All the must-do activities during a getaway to Lake Charles, Louisiana

By CultureMap Create
May 7, 2019, 1:00 pm
Enlarge
Slideshow
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Close to Texas but worlds away. Photo by Lindsey Janies
Crawfish boil
Try to time your vacay during crawfish season. Photo courtesy of Visit Lake Charles
Creole Nature Trail in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Seek out the Creole Nature Trail. Photo by Lindsey Janies
Crying Eagle Brewing Co. in Lake Charles, Louisiana
The local craft beer scene is excellent. Photo courtesy of Visit Lake Charles
Golden Nugget casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana
 Golden Nugget Lake Charles and L'Auberge Casino Resort sit side-by-side. Photo by Lindsey Janies
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Crawfish boil
Creole Nature Trail in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Crying Eagle Brewing Co. in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Golden Nugget casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana

In Lake Charles, Louisiana, you'll find classic Cajun and Creole cuisine, untouched marshlands, local festivals and festivities, high-rolling nightlife, music, and locally owned shops, eateries, and breweries.

Downtown Lake Charles is a walkable area with a hyper-local focus. Here, you can experience Alexander Art Studio, complete with a larger-than-live mural on the outside of the building, which is a must-stop photo opportunity. You can find fleur-de-lis paintings, souvenirs, and specialty items. A short distance away, you can enjoy Boombox Frozen Pops and Ice Cream, Botsky's Gourmet hot dogs, and myriad other interesting finds from one of the Lake Area's favorite restaurants, Luna Bar & Grill, to the newly opened Panorama Music House.

For luxurious surroundings, check out Las Vegas-style gaming at Golden Nugget Lake Charles and L'Auberge Casino Resort. These properties sit side by side and offer golf courses, spa facilities, restaurants, live entertainment, and amazing pools with a lazy river. The Isle of Capri Casino & Hotel has games of chance, restaurants, and a dance floor with live entertainment — great for anyone wanting to Cajun two-step. In Vinton, patrons can experience the heart-pounding thoroughbred racing action at Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel.

Please your taste buds by enjoying delicious Cajun/Creole food such as gumbo, jambalaya, crabs, and crawfish. Make sure to head to Lake Charles while crawfish season is in full swing (typically March, April, and May). You'll know by the spice in the air whenever you pass by a restaurant or boiling point that serves up this popular delicacy. You'll soon know why locals call crawfish "red gold."

If you are unable to make it to Lake Charles during crawfish season, you can always enjoy the bounty of the Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail. Or try the local spirits at Bayou Rum and YellowFin Vodka, and craft beer at Crying Eagle Brewing Company. Crying Eagle features a tap room, beer garden, gift shop, live music, and The Bistro, which serves up hot and delicious stone-fired pizza. It's the perfect combination with a cold brew. Additionally, the brewery is now open on Sundays: "Bacon, Eggs & Kegs" provides an opportunity to enjoy brunch items such as breakfast pizzas, frittatas, and beer mimosas.

You also owe it to yourself to dive into nature and explore outdoor adventures along the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road. The road features four wildlife refuges, walking trails out over the marsh, Gulf beaches, and endless opportunities to reconnect with nature and unplug from the day-to-day. The Creole Nature Trail is one of only 43 All-American Roads in the nation, and the sunrises and sunsets along the marshlands and Gulf beaches boast some of the most brilliant shades of pink, orange, gold, and violet.

For a relaxing escape, check out places to stay and things to experience at www.visitlakecharles.org.

Read These Next
Barrel racing rodeo
Saddle up for a summer of rodeo fun in Bandera, the Cowboy Capital
Elsewhere San Antonio
7 things to know in San Antonio food: River Walk bar plots new outpost
Robert Earl Keen
Texas troubadour Robert Earl Keen storms San Antonio for final tour
Barrel racing rodeo
Saddle up for a summer of rodeo fun in Bandera, the Cowboy Capital
Elsewhere San Antonio
7 things to know in San Antonio food: River Walk bar plots new outpost
Robert Earl Keen
Texas troubadour Robert Earl Keen storms San Antonio for final tour
  • Latest News
  • Most Popular
  • Groovy '70s San Antonio ranch with church, saloon, jail is only $3.9M
  • Saddle up for a summer of rodeo fun in Bandera, the Cowboy Capital
    - promoted -
  • 7 things to know in San Antonio food: River Walk bar plots new outpost
  • This Hill Country hot spot cashes in with $40 million in Airbnb income
  • Texas troubadour Robert Earl Keen storms San Antonio for final tour
See All Latest News >
  • Playful San Antonio pizza joint unexpectedly folds after 3 years
  • San Antonio hospital named among top 5 in Texas in new report
  • Art of Banksy comes to Texas in immersive events with big secrecy
  • Groovy '70s San Antonio ranch with church, saloon, jail is only $3.9M
  • 7 things to know in San Antonio food: River Walk bar plots new outpost
Vote Now
San Antonio Tastemaker Awards 2022
4/28
San Antonio sips, savors, celebrates the culinary scene at Tastemakers
4/26
San Antonio's best restaurant and chef crowned at 2022 Tastemakers
4/22
A taste of what's on the menu for the San Antonio Tastemaker Awards
Home | About Us | News Tips & Suggestions | Submit An Event | Submit A Charity | Advertise | Media Sponsorship | Jobs | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy
© 2022 CultureMap LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Be A CultureMap Insider
Get Our Emails
Sign Up

We will not share or sell your email address

Newsletters for exploring your city

Thank you for signing up Please verify your e-mail by following the link we just sent you.
Look for an e-mail from CultureMap <info@culturemap.com>