How to spend three days in SW Louisiana

Southwest Louisiana has something for everyone: families will find rich culinary traditions, incredible wildlife, history, and adventure. Plus, there’s plenty in the way of relaxation and play. Whether you come to Louisiana for the cajun cooking, festivals like Mardi Gras, or to glimpse an alligator, here’s how to spend three days in SW Louisiana, act like a local, and get (almost) everything done:

Day 1: Creole Nature Trail

First things first in SW Louisiana! In addition to checking out the cajun food scene (see link below), families will want to explore the wildlife of the area. The Creole Nature Trail is a 180 mile driving loop that takes you from the city to the rice fields, marshes, intra-tidal areas, and gulf coast, where kids can see tons of birds, snakes, alligators, and turtles. Plan to devote a day!

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Read our guide to the Creole Nature Trail.

Day 2: Fishing excursion on Big Lake

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At least once while in Louisiana, try to eat your own fresh catch! This region is well known for both freshwater and saltwater fishing, and numerous guide services are available to get you out on the water. We checked out Big Lake Guide Service, which offers day trips and multi-day camps year round. While our excursion got rained out (which happens here and there in spring), we spoke extensively to owner Jeff Poe. Jeff assured us that kids are welcome (parents can determine what age they’re ready, though in his experience, 8 years and up is a good benchmark). They fish in both fresh and brackish water (lake water), as well as trips to the gulf for ocean fishing. Half day trips are possible, and Jeff can provide rods and reels. For serious fishing families, Big Lake Guide Service also provides lodging right on the lake, in duplexes with the option of catered meals.

grosse-savonne

Do you need to have a guide? It’s recommended. When we spoke with Jeff, he explained techniques for successful fishing he’s honed in decades of fishing SW Louisiana. Families can, however, fish from gulf piers and marsh areas in Cameron Parish (along the Creole Nature Trail), provided they have their own gear and license. (Be careful about alligators.) In addition, everyone is welcome to try their hand at clamming in the marshes (no license or guide necessary).

If you go: be sure to take advantage of SW Louisiana’s unique ‘Catch and Cook’ program, where participating chefs at area restaurants will cook your catch for you the same day! You do need to set this up ahead of time.

Day 3: Cajun history and relaxation

historic house

There’s a lot of history in Lake Charles, Sulphur, and greater SW Louisiana. With young kids, start at the colorful and stimulating Mardi Gras Museum, in historic downtown Lake Charles. The museum houses more than 180 costumes from past Mardi Gras, with even more in storage. The museum has almost outgrown itself in its current location, and the winding hallways are literally stuffed with sequins, headdresses, and floats! Location: 809 Kirby/In the Central School Arts & Humanities Center, Lake Charles, LA

While in the area, use the free historic tour app provided by the city to check out the historic districts of CharpentierMargaret Place, or Shell Beach Drive to see classic examples of early 1900s Lake Charles architecture or magnificent plantation style homes. You can drive these neighborhoods, walk them, or even take a carriage ride.

In Sulphur, the Brimstone Museum is a small but very well-done museum dedicated the the region’s sulphur mining in the late 1800s. Kids will like the displays, and the fact that the museum is located in an old train depot. It won’t take long to tour. Location: 900 Huntington, Sulphur LA

Read our top restaurant recommendations for SW Louisiana.

Paint and create with a local artist: If you need a break from the heat and want an indoor activity, head to Arts’ Desire, located in Lake Charles. Run by a local artist who makes it a priority to help kids create their own authentic projects that celebrate the area, Arts’ Desire has classic paint-your-own ceramics as well as more unique projects, such as ‘fish painting’ (you use an actual fish to imprint onto wood or paper). Location: 1322 Ryan, Lake Charles, LA

Enjoy the afternoon by the pool: Not staying at one of the major resort casinos, with their acres of pools, lazy rivers, and spa services? You can actually get a day pass. Both L’Auberge and Golden Nugget offer pool passes for families ($30 for adults, less for kids), and while the entry price seems steep, you get far more than just a pool. Both have lazy rivers with inner tubes, hot tubs, family pools, cabanas and food services, and Golden Nugget has tube slides. Personally, we don’t like staying at casino hotels, but we’d absolutely enjoy their pool complexes on hot days! Parents can also get a spa day pass, which gives them access to the relaxation rooms, saunas, and steam rooms at the spa.

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Check out a festival! When most people think about Louisiana festivals, Mardi Gras comes to mind. And Lake Charles does have a family-friendly celebration! However, fewer people know about Contraband Days, which celebrates the area’s buccaneering past. ‘Pirates’ raid the shore, landing at the seawall in Lake Charles to force the mayor to walk the plank (which he’s a very good sport about). There’s a carnival and food vendors, plus live entertainment. Learn what festival may be ongoing during your visit.

contraband-days

Where to stay in the area:

The Best Western Plus is located conveniently to anywhere you’d want to go in Lake Charles and the greater area. Families will get a decent free breakfast, free parking, and free wifi. There’s a small indoor pool. For a more resort experience, the casino resorts mentioned above have live entertainment and spa services, but there IS gaming (thanks to the casino floors in this area technically being on ‘water’ instead of land). If you dislike gaming hotels, know this going in.

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Elwell Lakes Lodge review, CA

Hands’ down, Elwell Lakes Lodge and the surrounding Sierra Nevada region of Northern California is one of our favorite places on earth. As such, I’m afraid I’ll have a hard time being impartial in this review! Having grown up in the area and visited numerous times from childhood to adulthood, I cannot recommend it highly enough for an adventurous family vacation well off the beaten path.

Elwell Lakes Lodge review:

One of many family cabins at Elwell lakes Lodge.

The lodge, nestled high in the Sierras 25 minutes from the small resort town of Graeagle, CA, is located over an hour northwest of Reno, NV, and almost two hours north of Tahoe, and is comprised of approximately a dozen rustic guest cabins, seveal tent cabins, a recreation hall well-stocked with books and games, and a main lodge. Cabins are comfortable with furniture, linens for the beds, kitchens, and bathrooms. Most, if not all, have a front porch and a BBQ.

Best of all is Elwell Lakes Lodge’s location. Situated just past Lakes Basin Campground, it is literally a gateway to the numerous lakes that comprise the Lakes Basin Recreation Area. Directly from your front door is a well-maintained network of hiking trails leading to some of the most beautiful scenery in the Northwest. The fishing, swimming, and exploring can’t be beat. If you so desire, you could easily stay a week and not get back into your car once.

Nate and Cal, playing along the shore of Long Lake.

If you do choose to take a drive, our picks are to the wonderful mining town of Johnsville and Plumas Eureka State Park where your kids can see a stamp mill still standing, or (in the opposite direction) to Dowieville and the excellent swimming along the Yuba River. Nearby Salmon Lake and Sand Pond offer great swimming and fishing as well, and excellent golf is awaiting in Graeagle.

Most days, we prefer to make pancakes for breakfast, explore the lodge, and hike or swim (kids love the stockpile of Legos in the main lodge and the creek running alongside the furthest ring of cabins). They spent one memorable (to them) afternoon catching frogs. Be sure to bring a book or two, and plan to sit awhile on the main lodge deck overlooking the mountains.

Date last visited: Last weekly stay, July 2004. Last visit, July 2009.

Distance off the interstate: Approximately 35 minutes from Hwy 89.

Rates: Rates vary by cabin, ranging from under $600 to over $1000 weekly. (These rates include housekeeping and use of all lodge facilities and row boats on Long Lake). If you’re looking for a place with nightly rates, Gold Lake Lodge has similar style cabins, is nearby, and has a restaurant on-site. We’ve stayed there as well, and love both lodges.

Food Services: At the time of this posting, Elwell Lakes Lodge does not provide meals. The owners do host a fun pot-luck dinner once weekly in the large dining building, and every cabin comes equipped with a kitchen and stocked with pots, pans, dishware, and silverware. Otherwise, our dining recommendations are The Sardine Lake Lodge, just a few miles further up Gold Lake Highway, or for kid-friendly pizza and pasta, Gumba’s in Blairsden.

Website: http://www.elwelllakeslodge.com/

Nate looks for minnows in the shallow water of Sand Pond on a summer evening.

Contact Information: Phone: 530-836-2347 Mailing address: P.O. Box 68 Blairsden, CA 96103

Directions: From the town of Graeagle, turn onto Gold Lake Highway. After driving seven miles, turn right into the Lakes Basin Campground. Follow the signs to Elwell Lodge (stay left).