19 Things To Do In Lake Charles, Louisiana

From the glaze of shiny new casino resorts to the rippling surfaces of ancient rivers and lakes, there's plenty to explore in southwest Louisiana. Don't miss Lake Charles, a place with much to entertain you on a weekend trip. Incorporated in the mid-1800s, the town has gorgeous architecture, miles of shoreline from various lakes and the Calcasieu River, and a rich history that includes pirate legends. 

Golf pristine links or sip local brews. Take an eco-tour or lounge along a lakeside beach–you'll find some surprises among the expected fare here. In addition to museums, casino resorts, and local restaurants, the city of Lake Charles is also a destination for festivals. Come for Mardi Gras or for the iconic Louisiana Pirate Festival in May. 

Whether you want to adventure into "Louisiana's Outback," visit one of the city’s many art institutions, or fish on the water, there is plenty to do in Lake Charles. 

Get Outside

Splash Around At The Beach

You’ll find a few beaches in this corner of southwest Louisiana, including stretches at the city’s casino resorts. The most popular of the city’s beachfronts is North Beach, located off Exit 29 next to the tourist bureau. Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, the state’s only inland white-sand beach has a promenade and plenty of space for families to build sand castles, picnic, play volleyball, and relax by the water. 

visitlakecharles.org, N. Lakeshore Dr.

Wander Down The Lakefront Promenade

Down the way from North Beach is the Lakefront Promenade. Following Lakeshore Drive and the Lake Charles shoreline, this walkway has war memorials, fountains, a pirate ship playground, and family-friendly parks, like Board Du Lac Park and Millennium Park. Many of the city’s festivals are held here throughout the year. 

visitlakecharles.org, 900 Lakeshore Dr. Lake Charles, LA 70601

Fish At Prien Lake Park

Overlooking the waters of Prien Lake, this 29-acre park has a splash pad, a kid’s playground, walking paths, picnic areas, an amphitheater, several pavilions, and free wifi. Fish in the brackish water include croaker, redfish, and flounder.  

visitlakecharles.org, 3700 West Prien Lake Rd. Lake Charles, LA 70601 

Tee Off At Gray Plantation

Built in 1999, this semi-private course has been rated one of the best golf courses in the state. Non-member rates begin around $49 for a round, although prices drop later in the day. Stop by the Sports Club, which has eight clay tennis courts, two hard courts, a Junior Olympic pool, and a cafe. 

grayplantationgolf.com, 6150 Graywood Pkwy. Lake Charles, LA 70605

Experience Arts And Culture

Enjoy A Festival Or Two

Lake Charles has named itself "the Festival Capital of Louisiana," and it has a strong case. The city hosts more than 75 festivals each year. There are the typical events, like Mardi Gras (this is Louisiana, after all) and celebrations of Cajun food, as well as some more unusual fêtes: Since the 1950s, buccaneers have been sailing down the Calcasieu River, “capturing” the mayor, and taking over the city during the annual Louisiana Pirate Festival each May. Celebrating famed pirate Jean Lafitte, who hid out in the area centuries ago, the family-friendly event has carnival rides, a boat parade, a kid’s costume contest, cook-offs, and more. 

louisianapiratefestival.com, 900 Lakeshore Dr. Lake Charles, LA 70601 

Take In The Architectural Charm Of The Charpentier Historic District

Wander downtown Lake Charles, and you’ll no doubt happen upon the Charpentier Historic District, a concentration of homes dating to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The district spans 40 walkable and drivable blocks filled with architectural interest thanks to the many charming gingerbread-trimmed Victorian houses designed by local carpenters over the years. The area, on the National Register of Historic Places, has museums, galleries, and a theater. After exploring the Charpentier District, head over and tour the historic Margaret Place, too.

visitlakecharles.org, 1205 N. Lakeshore Dr. Lake Charles, LA 70601

Experience Fat Tuesday At The Mardi Gras Museum Of Imperial Calcasieu

If you think you can only find a memorable Mardi Gras in New Orleans, think again. This is one of southwest Louisiana’s best-loved traditions, too, and you can find celebrations in and around Lake Charles. The Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu commemorates those celebrations and shares with visitors deep dives into the history of the festival and its vibrant costumes and traditions. 

Note: After hurricanes damaged the museum in 2020, the facility is moving to a new location and is temporarily closed until 2025.

facebook.com, 641 Enterprise Blvd. Lake Charles, LA 70601

See Local Art At The Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center 

Located in a beautiful Italianate building, the Historic City Hall Arts and Culture Center is a must-visit spot in Lake Charles. The old city hall, opened in 1911, was converted into a public art gallery in 2004. The free facility has three floors of galleries, a clock tower, and a courtyard. Over the years, it has hosted exhibitions of local and regional artists, as well as internationally known artists, like Norman Rockwell and Pablo Picasso.

cityoflakecharles.com, 1001 Ryan St. Lake Charles, LA 70601

Learn Something New At The Imperial Calcasieu Museum

This visual arts center has been open since the 1960s and is also the site of the famed Sallier Oak. The Imperial Calcasieu Museum walks through the area's history, from life amongst local Indigenous tribes to modern day, through historical artifacts, memorabilia, and art. The facility also has a 2,500-square-foot gallery that displays special exhibitions and works from local, national, and international artists. Although closed Mondays and Tuesdays, the museum offers at least 36 weeks of special programming every year, including artist residencies, art workshops, kids’ camps, holiday festivals, markets, and more.

imperialcalcasieumuseum.org, 204 W. Sallier St. Lake Charles, LA 70601

Do Yoga Under The Museum's Centuries-Old Sallier Oak

Located at the Imperial Calcasieu Museum, one of the city’s most notable residents is the Sallier Oak, an enormous tree with wide-reaching branches that has lived for over 375 years. Registered with the Live Oak Society of the Louisiana Garden Club Federation, it gets its moniker from the town's namesake, Charles Sallier. Over the centuries, the tree has survived many hurricanes, including one that split it in half. The tree "represents the ability for our community to weather disasters while continuing to grow with optimism,” according to the museum.  Many activities are hosted underneath the tree's branches, including regular art and yoga classes and photos with Santa Claus during the holidays.

204 W. Sallier St. Lake Charles, LA 70601

Roll The Dice And Stay At A Casino Resort 

Test Your Luck At The Golden Nugget Lake Charles Hotel And Casino

This area is a destination for casinos, and the slots are always spinning at the Golden Nugget Lake Charles Hotel and Casino. Located on the riverfront, it boasts eateries like Saltgrass Steak House and Landry’s Seafood House as well as the Blue Martini Lounge. Don’t miss the H2O Pool + Bar, which the hotel bills as “the largest, splashiest pool complex on the Gulf Coast.” 

goldennugget.com, 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd. Lake Charles, LA 70601

Hit The Links At The L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles

After a night of gambling in this hotel's casino, try your hand at the golf course. L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles features the Contraband Bayou Golf Club, which has tee times every day of the week. Along with a pool, lazy river, and dining options spanning a variety of styles and cuisines, you’ll want for nothing during a visit to this lakeside casino resort.  

llakecharles.com, 777 Avenue L'Auberge Lake Charles, LA 70601

Eat And Drink the Louisiana Way 

Try A Local Brew At Crying Eagle Brewing Company

After your adventures, settle into a seat at Crying Eagle Brewing Company to taste a local Louisiana brew. Popular beers here include the Louisiana Lager, Don’t Blush fruited sour, Things Unsettled Hazy IPA, Honey Wheat, and Fruit Stand, a sour with strawberry, pink guava, and honey. Sign up for a brewery tour, then end your visit in the taproom and bistro, which have drinks, naturally, as well as food like pretzel sticks, boudin, burgers, pizzas, and LA Lager beer sausages to round out the menu. 

cryingeagle.com, 1165 E. McNeese St. Lake Charles, LA 70607

Have Dinner At Chart House

After putting your way along the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino golf course, stop into Chart House for a meal. The seafood and steakhouse is located right on the green, giving you verdant views of the links along with a menu of crowd-pleasing appetizers and entrées like coconut shrimp, filet mignon, lamb chops, and braised beef short ribs. 

chart-house.com, 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd., Lake Charles, LA 70601

Dine Downtown At Pujo St. Cafe

Locals love Pujo St. Cafe for lunch and dinner because of its pup-friendly patio, comfort food, and creative cocktails. On the menu, you’ll find fresh Gulf Coast seafood, po’boys, and seasonal desserts. A perennial downtown favorite, Pujo St. Cafe has been feeding the Lake Charles area since the 1990s.

pujostreet.com, 901 Ryan St., Lake Charles, LA 70601

Explore Nature Throughout Southwest Louisiana

Kayak The Calcasieu River

Enlist the help of Lake Area Adventures, which is based in Lake Charles, to launch a paddling trip along the Calcasieu River Basin. Guided kayaking trips are one of the best ways to explore the picturesque nooks and crannies of the connected waterways that sprawl across southern Louisiana. You can also book swamp tours or a couple of hours on a pontoon boat. Additionally, Lake Area Adventures has other attractions, including an air park, a ropes course, and an aquatics center.

lakeareaadventures.com, 1337 Country Club Rd., Lake Charles, LA 70605

Take A Break At Sam Houston Jones State Park

As southwest Louisiana’s sole state park, Sam Houston Jones State Park is an ideal spot to take a breather and enjoy the outdoors. In addition to being a prime place for hiking—five trails crisscross the park—and birding, you can also take to the waters of the Calcasieu River for boating and fishing. Or stay on land, and zip around the disc golf course or explore the longleaf pine forest. Accommodations include cabins, a lodge, campsites, and convenient hookups for RVs. 

lastateparks.com, 107 Sutherland Rd. Lake Charles, LA 70611

Drive The Creole Nature Trail All-American Road 

For a wider exploration of southwest Louisiana, start your journey at the Adventure Point in nearby Sulfur and take a drive along the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road. This scenic byway, 180 miles long, winds you past swamplands, several nature reserves, and 26 miles of beaches. 

The Creole Nature Trail is known as “Louisiana’s Outback,” and there are plenty of fishing, crabbing, and hunting opportunities in the wilderness, where alligators blend into their habitats. This also is an excellent thoroughfare for birdwatching—the region is a confluence of two migratory routes, meaning birdwatchers can spot more than 400 species throughout the year. 

explorelouisiana.com, 2740 Ruth St. Sulphur, LA 70665

Get To Know The Area with An Eco-Tour

Adventure and education come together on Grosse Savanne Eco-Tours. Based nearby in Bell City, Grosse Savanne regularly takes explorers out into the southwest Louisiana landscape to glimpse wildlife, see birds, and experience a variety of habitats. It sits on a 50,000-acre property along the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, with ecotypes like cypress swamps, coastal prairies, pine forest plantations, and salt- and freshwater marshes. 

Here, you can spot flora like water lilies and irises and fauna like roseate spoonbills, alligators, terns, and more. See it for yourself by booking a tour. The facility has birding, photography, marsh boat, and more tour packages available. Then keep exploring–you never know what you’ll find in this corner of the Bayou State. 

grossesavanne-ecotours.com, 358 Chalkley Rd. Bell City, LA