FALL 2013

LAKE CHARLES/SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU1205 N. Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles • (800) 456-SWLA • www.VisitLakeCharles.org

Are you a nature and wildlife enthusiast? Grosse Savanne’s Eco-tours has access to fresh and salt water marshes, cypress swamps, coastal prairies, pine forest plantations, and agricultural lands. Situated along the Creole Nature Trail, it is host to over 400 species of birds.

If you want to get out on the water, head to Bayou Kayak Rentals, and paddle down Contraband Bayou or visit Lloyd’s Country Store where single sit-on-top kayaks as well as double seaters can be rented for day trips along the banks to Sam Houston Jones State Park.

Experience stand up paddle boarding with Paddle Up Boarding Co. or Sup Y’all for a new way to surf the Lake Area. At Redneck Yacht Rentals, patrons can take a cruise or go fishing on Lake Charles by renting a pontoon boat for the day. Or ride by boat through the marshlands of Louisiana’s Outback and view alligators that overpopulate humans 300 to 1 with Airboats & Alligators. For more info, visit www.visitlakecharles.org/outdooradventures.

WHAT’S NEWNEWS & OPENINGS IN LAKE CHARLES/SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA

RECENT ACCOLADES1. Outstanding CVB of the

Year for Louisiana 2. “City of the Year” by

Acadiana Profile, Feb. 2013.

3. “Best of the South 2013” by AAA Southern Traveler• Creole Nature Trail All-

American Road—best nature trail

• L’Auberge Casino Resort–best casino

• Gray Plantation Golf Course—best golf trail (Audubon Golf Trail)

TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS1. Casino Gaming2. Creole Nature Trail All-

American Road3. Festival Capital of

Louisiana with over 75 fairs and festivals

4. Year-round Golf5. Southwest Louisiana

Boudin Trail6. Sam Houston Jones State

Park7. Charpentier Historic

District8. Museum & Art Galleries9. Live Music10. Cottage Shops Cultural

District

TASTE THE TOP 20 RESTAURANTS

For a list of the Top 20 Restaurants chosen by fans of Southwest Louisiana, check out www.visitlakecharles.org/Top20.

The continued marketing of the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road has led the Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau to develop an interpretive center in West Calcasieu Parish, in the City of Sulphur, as the western gateway of the trail.

This center will offer visitors from around the country and world an opportunity to get a taste of what they can see and do in the area. This immersive program experience will be designed to educate visitors

and children, while identifying area assets including the best places to spot alligators, view migrating songbirds and enjoy the natural beauty of our area.

The center will open in late 2014. For more info, visit www.creolenaturetrail.org.

CREOLE NATURE TRAIL INTERPRETIVE CENTER IN WEST CALCASIEU PARISH

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES AWAIT: ECO-TOURS, KAYAKING & MORE!

LAKE CHARLES/SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU1205 N. Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles • (800) 456-SWLA • www.VisitLakeCharles.org

FALL 2013

GET SOCIAL BECOME A FAN! @ VisitLakeCharlesFOLLOW US! @ LakeCharlesCVB

King cake, parades and glitzy flowing costumes of Mardi Gras splendor all add to the mystique of the 2nd largest Mardi Gras in Louisiana in Lake Charles. Mardi Gras kicks off with the Twelfth Night celebration on January 6, at the Lake Charles Civic Center, which draws thousands to see the grand promenade of more than 60 krewes.

Visit the Mardi Gras Museum with the largest Mardi Gras costume display in the world. Parades,

Children’s Day, a Zydeco dance, a Gumbo Cook-off and other events pack the weekend, Feb. 28—March 2 . The Royal Gala occurs the Monday night before Mardi Gras, March 3. On Fat Tuesday, March 4, experience a traditional rural Mardi Gras by chasing chickens at Iowa’s annual chicken run. And for the grand finale, the Krewe of Krewes Parade winds through four miles of Lake Charles tossing thousands of beads to cheering crowds. For more info, visit www.swlamardigras.com.

MARDI GRAS 2014: EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC!

WHAT’S COOKIN AT THE DUTCH OVEN GATHERING?

Opening in 2014 with 715 exceptionally-appointed guest rooms and suites, an 18-hole championship golf course, extensive retail options, an extraordinary spa, a collection of world-class restaurants and an innovative casino floor, the new Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino Lake Charles will represent one of the nation’s premier resort destinations. Furthermore, 60 table games, a state-of-the-art poker room and 1600 of the newest slot machines in the world will redefine the gaming experience, not just in Lake Charles, but across the industry.

Along the way, the flavors of Landry’s Seafood, Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse, Grotto Italian Ristorante, Saltgrass Steakhouse and other renowned restaurants will be featured. For avid golfers and gamers, or guests just needing an escape from the ordinary, the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino is already setting a new standard in Lake Charles.

Located adjacent to L’Auberge Casino Resort, this property will be the fourth casino in Calcasieu Parish truly adding to the premier resort destination. Catch live horseracing at Delta Downs Casino & Hotel along with casino action or melt into island time at the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel, right on Lake Charles. L’Auberge Casino Resort features golf, a spa, retail outlets and a lazy river. For more info, visit www.visitlakecharles.org/gaming.

GOLDEN NUGGET HOTEL & CASINO OPENING 2014

The Southwest Chapter of the Louisiana Dutch Oven Society (LDOS) holds a cookout at Sam Houston Jones State Park the fourth Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Le Chien Cookers demonstrate the art of camp-style outdoor cooking by showcasing techniques in black iron pots and encouraging patrons to cook or bring an item for the cast iron buffet luncheon. After chatting with the chefs and eating culinary delights, visitors can kayak, hike trails, fish, or camp outdoors or lodge in a beautiful cabin on the river. For more info, visit www.ladutch.com.