So, you come home from work and call up an old friend. After twirling your store bought "boxed" spaghetti on your fork and watching it fall off in a limp splat on your plate, you realize that you (A. need a vacation B. need better food C. would like to bring a few old friends with you!) Has this ever happened to you? The same old, same old turns...really old?

(Cue dream bubble and harp)
Think of a place where you can take a stroll downtown and run across some interesting shops from trendy jeans to antiques and knickknacks. That place is closer than you think. In downtown Lake Charles and several blocks over in the cottage shop district, delightful stores exist where you and your gal pals can find unique items including Louisiana food products. Also downtown, there is a variety of food to pique the interest of most palates, and Cajun restaurants are found throughout Southwest Louisiana. When you are here, you can also find Cajun recipes and cookbooks such as the local Junior League's "From Marshes to Mansions" that you can take with you and try in your kitchen back home. Yummmmm!

For nightlife with the gals, L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resport offers a wide array of restaurants featuring scrumptious steaks to "gotta have it" gelato. Live entertainment options will keep you dancing long into the night. Follow it up with massages, facials, and the works at Spa du Lac in the morning. After a massage (or two), float down a lazy river and catch up on some girl talk. How much fun would it be to relax in style with a good group of friends and actually return from a vacation - refreshed? Glam-N-Gloss Day Spa, Scarborough's, Henrietta's and more throughout the area create a pserfectly charming atmosphere to be pampered.

Other exciting casino adventures can be had at the Isle of Capri Casino & Hotel in Westlake or Delta Downs Racetrack, Casino & Hotel. Each property has a myriad of fantastic restaurants, steaming buffets and live entertainment options. At the Isle, show off your inner rock star by singing karaoke with your friends every Wednesday night. Relive hits of your youth and perform them - live! Get your adrenaline going during Thoroughbred raving season at Delta Downs. Watch both horse and jockey gallop and lunge down the track for that coveted photo finish! (Just like in the movies!)

For more information on entertainment options and local events and festivals or to plan your trip, contact the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana CVB at 800-456-7952 or visit http://www.visitlakecharles.org/.