Lake Charles, Louisiana is one of my favorite cities in Southwest Louisiana. It’s full of history, charm, culture and lots of amazing food. One thing that really surprised me when we were there was just how affordable of a vacation it was for families, college students or couples looking to get away to enjoy the casinos, resorts or Mardi Gras together. You really can put together a budget friendly vacation incorporating some of the free and fun things to do in Lake Charles and splurge on delicious restaurants and a nice hotel room.
Here are some of my favorite absolutely free things to do in and near Lake Charles, Louisiana perfect for any time of year:
1911 Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center
1001 Ryan St, Lake Charles, LA 70601
Located right in the heart of scenic and artsy downtown Lake Charles you can visit the old Historic City Hall for free. The Historic City Hall has numerous Art galleries on display for the public to enjoy- mostly consisting of local artists and some pieces that represent the history of the area and the state of Louisiana. On the top floor, you will find a rotating gallery that changes every 3-4 months and brings in a world-class traveling exhibit. When I visited they were showcasing a traveling exhibit of John F. Kennedy of treasured family photographs. It’s a great way to sneak in some art into your visit.
Gator Chateau
100 Rue de l’Acadie, Lacassine, LA
Who doesn’t want the chance to hold a baby alligator? The Gator Chateau at Jeff Davis Parish is home to baby alligators of all sizes and shapes that have been rescued by the Wildlife and Fish department because their mothers didn’t make it for a variety of reasons. They work to rehabilitate and raise the alligators to get them to the point they will be ready to be released back into their natural habitat. June- September you can watch daily feedings but you can come by all year to look at baby alligators and learn how to interact with them safely in the wild. The Gator Chateau is located In Jennings, LA a short drive from Lake Charles, and while it is free, donations are encouraged and accepted.
Bayou Rum Distillery Tours
20909 South I-10 Frontage Road, Lacassine, LA
Located not too far from the Gator Chateau is the Bayou Rum Distillery which offers daily tours from 10 am to 5 pm absolutely free to the public. They have a beautiful visitor’s center and gift shop that leads to a room where you first watch an educational video on the history of the area and farm and then are lead to the distillery and bottling room for a tour to see how the rum is made and aged. It’s fun to see all the barrels lined up and how they check the rum by hand for proper aging. Three free samples are included in the tour for those of age. It’s a great stop on your way to or from the Gator Chateau. They also have a refurbished farmhouse on property they have converted into a cute coffee shop the perfect stop to pick up a treat and a cup on your way out.
LeBleu’s Landing/Sausage Link
202 Hanning Drive, Sulphur, LA 70663
I’m pretty sure it’s almost mandatory when you visit Louisiana you must try boudin. What better way to get the full immersive experience than to stop by Sausage Link and watch how it’s made before getting some samples and snacks to go. If you’ve never had or heard of boudin before it’s a popular Southern Cajun food that is made several different ways but usually is stuffed pork shoulder with green onions, seasonings, and rice mixed together and then encased like a sausage. It’s basically a meal of its own and a popular delicacy of the area. You can stop Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9-11 am and watch boudin or sausage being made or Tuesday and Thursday from 9-11 am and watch sausage being made. Then you can order some hot boudin and cracklins to go and a drink for the road. It’s a fun and educational stop that while the boudin won’t be free the experience of watching them make it through the glass windows in the back will be.
Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point
2740 Ruth St, Sulphur, LA 70665
Creole Nature Trail is a 180 loop driving trail that is reminiscent of a National Park experience with many amazing natural scenes and unique stops. It includes 4 wildlife refuges, wetland walking trails and boardwalks, amazing shelling and beaches, as well as crabbing. You can even take a ferry for $1 to cross the intercostal canal for a chance to see the pink dolphin. Before you head out make sure to stop by the Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point to visit the victor’s center and get help planning your route. There is also a helpful app for the Creole Nature Trail that will help you with your planning and give you informational videos and details as you go along. You will want to download it before your trip.
There are a few gas stations on the route but very few restaurants (most of which are closed on Sundays) so you will want to stop and pick up some boudin or head to a grocery store and stock up on snacks, picnic items and drinks to enjoy on your drive. Plan on spending at least most of the day here because you will be stopping and exploring on your mini road trip adventure.
The Creole Nature Trail Adventure point has lots of fun interactive exhibits that may be directed towards kids but adults will find fun and educational too, so make sure to not head out on the Creole Nature Trail before stopping here first.
Crabbing
This is definitely one of the more unique experiences that you can find that is absolutely free in the Lake Charles, Louisiana area. All you need is chicken and string and you can crab up to 5 dozen per person for free without a license. The best places to go crabbing are along the Creole Nature Trail including Northline Recreation Trail, Hog Island Gully Recreation Area, Blue Crab Recreation Area, and West Cove Recreation area.
You will also want a cooler with ice to transport your crabs once you catch them if you plan on keeping them to eat for meat. A tip I heard from the knowledgeable ladies at the Creole Nature Trail center (who you should definitely stop and talk with for all the tips and advice and best spots before you head out) is that you want to make sure to put the crabs on top of the ice not ice on top of the crabs because it could potentially kill the crabs and compromise the integrity of the meat.
Take a Historic Drive
Charpentier Historic District is a fun and free way to explore Lake Charles on your own. Take a drive and head deep into Lake Charles history and marvel at beautiful architecture dating back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Charpentier Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a total span of 40 blocks. You can simply drive around following a map or you can download an app that will take you on a self-guided historical tour of your choice giving you facts and information along the way.
Walk Along the Waterfront at Millennium Park
900 Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles, LA 70601
Whether or not you have kids you will want to take the time to stop by Millennium Park along the waterfront near downtown Lake Charles. It’s the perfect spot to take the kids to get out all the wiggles and giggles as they have stunning and massive play structures, a splash pad for summer fun and ample picnic areas. It’s also a great spot to walk along the waterfront spotting barges, boats and wildlife and to catch one of the beautiful Lake Charles sunsets. It’s located on Lakeshore Drive on highway 385 and is one of the best city parks we have seen in a while. It’s got great amenities, is safe, family friendly and truly has something for everyone.
If you’ve been to Lake Charles and can think of other fun things to do tell us in the comments!
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