LAKE CHARLES, La.— Say the words “Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana,” and your listener will probably think of two things: music and food. The Lake Charles region has both in abundance, with music from Cajun folk to Zydeco and Swamp Pop and food from crawfish etouffée to alligator sauce piquante. There are many reasons to enjoy local sounds and delicacies, since the Festival Capital of Louisiana has more than 75 festivals and special events each year, including Mardi Gras, the Contraband Days Pirate Festival, the Black Heritage Festival, the Cajun French Music & Food Festival and the Calcasieu-Cameron Fair.

In addition to our unique culture, Southwest Louisiana's natural and historical treasures as well as its casino gaming entertainment offer many options for visitors. Lake Charles, the hub of the region, overlooks a picturesque lake with the only white sand inland beach along the entire Gulf Coast. Here you'll find the Charpentier Historic District, a nearly 40-block area of restored Victorian homes that is listed on the National Historic Register. The Lake Charles area is home to seven museums with detailed exhibits on railroads, regional history, the Mardi Gras Museum with the largest costume display in the world, a hands-on children's museum and the Brimstone Museum Complex.

Louisiana is known nationwide as a “Sportsman's Paradise,” and the southwest corner has its share of that natural wonder. The Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, also known as "Louisiana's Outback," is a 180-mile drive through Calcasieu and Cameron parishes, offering ample opportunities for seeing wildlife such as exotic birds and alligators. You can see wildlife refuges as well as Gulf beaches. If you like to hunt fowl or fish, we have some of the best duck and goose hunting in America and a legendary reputation for fishing.

For those who enjoy more urban pleasures, Southwest Louisiana features the Golden Nugget Lake Charles, a $700 million resort with 12 restaurants, night clubs, heated pool, golf course and extensive retail outlets; L'Auberge Casino Resort with its lazy river, golf course, spa facilities, entertainment, restaurants and more; the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel with restaurants, a sweeping view of the lake and entertainment options; and Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel, with quarter horse and thoroughbred racing, off-track betting, video poker and slot machines. In addition, the Lake Charles Civic Center hosts theatre and musical shows.

From casino gaming, to the wild game found in the great outdoors, we have it all. For more information, contact the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau at (337) 436-9588, or (800) 456-SWLA or visit www.visitlakecharles.org.

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