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- Colorful Adventures in Time
Day 1, Trek on the Trail
The Creole Nature Trail All-American Road is known as "Louisiana's Outback." Venture through the scenic beauty of nature with a driving tour through the marshlands and 19 miles of natural sand beaches in Calcasieu and Cameron parishes. Alligators are abundant and can be seen throughout the year, but are normally more active on a windless, warm, sunny day. Snow and blue geese, and a multitude of other waterfowl, visit from November to February, and the Creole Nature Trail is a resting area for neo-tropical birds and butterflies that spend the winter in Central and South America. Other wildlife that reside along the trail includes armadillos, coyotes, minks, nutria, otters, rabbits, raccoons, and white-tailed deer. Bring a camera and create your own living nature exhibit, everywhere you go!
Day 2, Mardi Gras in the Bayou
King cake, parades, music, chicken runs and the glitzy flowing costumes of Mardi Gras splendor all add to the mystique of the second largest Mardi Gras in Louisiana. Ushering in the season is Twelfth Night, usually held on January 6, paralleling the entry of the kings at the ancient nativity 12 days after the birth of Jesus. Kings, queens, and captains of more than 45 krewes promenade each year.
Arrive in time to enjoy the myriad activities that take place on the weekend before Mardi Gras day, Fat Tuesday, in Lake Charles. From the Krewe of Omega Parade, the Cajun Extravaganza & Cook-off, the Krewe of Barkus Parade, and the Mardi Gras Zydeco Dance, the possibilities for family fun are endless.
Sunday is Children's Day with carnival rides and a children's parade, followed by the Mardi Gras Lighted Boat Parade by the seawall of the Lake Charles Civic Center. Lundi (Monday) Gras is celebrated with the Krewe of Golden Years and the Royal Gala, which is a spectacular sight to behold with the royal court promenading for the public. No other city allows the public to view this event, so make sure to get your tickets!
Mardi Gras Day is a chance to really see how people in Louisiana celebrate. In anticipation of the Krewe of Krewes Parade, highlighting the area's more than 45 krewes, block parties line the streets. But this isn’t a time to sit back and relax; this is time for some hands on experience! Jump right in and join the celebration.
Day 3, A Titillating Tour through History
Someone once said, you can’t see where you’re going until you know where you’ve been. Elegance, history, culture, and beautiful architecture artfully combine into tangible locales in Southwest Louisiana. The area has five delightful museums depicting the history of Imperial Calcasieu including the Mardi Gras Museum with the largest display of Mardi Gras costumes in the South, the Brimstone Museum, the DeQuincy Railroad Museum, the Children's Museum, and the Museum of Imperial Calcasieu. Our past is artfully preserved in the Historic Charpentier District with houses more than one hundred years old placing Lake Charles on the National Register of Historic Places. Charpentier, French for “carpenter”, accurately reflects the craftsman/builder style of this architectural style unique to Lake Charles. Central School Arts and Humanities Center is located in this district, housing several fine arts studios including the Black Heritage Gallery.
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