Two boat launches in Sam Houston Jones State Park on the West Fork of the Calcasieu River provide access to Calcasieu Lake, about 20 miles away. Water is therefore a defining feature of exploring Calcasieu Parish: Along with the river and lake, the region’s landscapes include lakes, bayous, and coastal wetlands.
Water and Woods in the Parks
At Prien Lake Park, large boat launches and a kayak launch lead to Prien Lake. Calcasieu Parish’s parks also offer fishing at lakes and bayous, as well as camping beneath pine trees. You can include water access, fishing, and spending the night outdoors as distinct park themes in your trip planning.
Tuten Park offers another perspective on the landscape: This 24-acre wooded park is intended as a sanctuary for birds, native flowers, and trees. It includes 4.8 acres of legally protected wetlands that provide habitat for native plants and animals. The wooded park and wetlands represent two scales of the same natural environment.
Discover Railroad History and Culture
DeQuincy is home to the 1923 Kansas City Southern Railroad Depot, an outstanding example of Mission Revival architecture. The depot houses the DeQuincy Railroad Museum, with its extensive and diverse collection of railroad memorabilia. The museum grounds host the Louisiana Railroad Days Festival annually on the second weekend in April. Check the specific event dates for your travel year.
Lake Charles also offers opportunities to explore history from different perspectives. The permanent collection of the Regional History Gallery at the Imperial Calcasieu Museum traces everyday life from the Attakapas and other Indigenous peoples through the world wars and the years that followed. The Gibson-Barham Gallery hosts rotating exhibitions of visual art and cultural works by artists from the region, the United States, and abroad.
The Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu presents the local history of Mardi Gras, from traditional Mardi Gras to Cajun Mardi Gras, Courir de Mardi Gras, and Washington, D.C., Mardi Gras. Museum tours are self-guided, so you can explore at your own pace. The Imperial Calcasieu Museum also offers guided Historic Walking Tours of Downtown Lake Charles year-round, led by knowledgeable guides. The formats offer different focuses: one centers on a guided walk through downtown, while the other lets you explore a museum exhibition at your own pace.
The Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center is a public gallery for art and history. It features numerous traveling exhibitions from around the world and has three floors of gallery space. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; admission to all exhibitions is free. Check the opening hours again before your visit.
More Discoveries Between Nature and Local Cuisine
Near Lake Charles, the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, a nationally recognized scenic byway, winds through Louisiana’s coastal wetlands and offers access to pristine Gulf beaches. Crabbing along the trail is an activity for all ages. The Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail offers a different theme: Its 28 stops run through Calcasieu Parish and Cameron Parish. Coastal landscapes and beach access are one focus; a route centered on boudin is the other.
Lake Charles is also home to Port Wonder, a 32,000-square-foot complex housing the Children’s Museum of Southwest Louisiana and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Nature & Science Center. The Children’s Museum accepts group visits and field trips for all ages by appointment. It is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. General admission is available Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m.; only members may enter from noon to 1 p.m. Check visiting hours before you arrive.
Explore more destinations: Sulphur, Lake Charles, Iowa, DeQuincy, Livingston, Orleans, St John The Baptist, Rapides Parish
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