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Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Keeping it local during the Christmas season is what I’m all
about! No Black Friday crazy lines at big retail outlets or camping out for
door buster deals for me! Some of my
favorite memories Christmas shopping were with my mom going to the Cottage Shops, sniffing yummy candles and sampling the wassail at the Christian Book
Store.
I enjoy supporting our local businesses. Plus, they have all
of the Louisiana-centric gifts that my friends who live out of state enjoy so
much this time of year! You can find
locally made art and food products all over Calcasieu Parish.
Here’s a quick video of some of the unique Louisiana
products that might be great Christmas gifts ideas for some of those on your
Christmas list!
Don't forget about all of the great Christmas Events happening in the area. Click Here to check them out!
Monday, November 24, 2014
Do you and
your family have a free long weekend and you’re wondering what to do? Consider
a mini-vacation to southwest Louisiana for the perfect family getaway! Whether
you and the kids love history, science, art, or the great outdoors, the lake
area has something for everyone.
If there’s
one thing southwest Louisiana has plenty of, it’s water. And where there is
water, there are water sports. Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes are prime
destinations for fishing, boating, crabbing and alligator watching. Bring your
canoe or kayak and your fishing poles and explore the many rivers, lakes and
bayous. Or rent a pontoon boat, kayak or standup paddle board when you get there!
Air Boat or Swamp Tours
Experience
the mystery of marsh grass swamps from an airboat or eco-tour. Call Airboats & Alligators in Grand Chenier, 337-274-2395 or Grosse Savanne Eco-Tours, 337-310-4260.
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| Photo credit: www.wanderwithwonder.com |
Creole Nature Trail All-American Road is one of America’s oldest scenic
byways. This 180-mile driving tour traverses both Cameron and Calcasieu
Parishes. Through marsh grass and wildlife sanctuaries to the Gulf of Mexico
and back again, this unique loop offers fishing, crabbing, hunting, boating,
and nature photography. It’s an excellent place to look for alligators and bird
watch, especially during migration season. There's a free app for your smartphone that's like having a tour guide with you in the car!
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| Search "Creole" to download the Creole Nature Trail tour app. |
This popular
state park offers 78 camp sites for both tents and RVs. There are also eight
cozy cabins. Numerous hiking/biking trails are available, depending on your
fitness level. Boat or fish along the West Fork of the Calcasieu River. The
park is well-known for bird watching. Bald eagles have recently been spotted
there.
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| RV Camping at Sam Houston Jones State Park Photo Credit www.monsoursphotography.net |
Bord du Lac Park and other Area Parks
Southwest Louisiana boasts many parks and recreation centers, but the grandest of them
all is Bord du Lac Park on the lakefront near the Lake Charles Civic Center. Completed in
2013 after the original Millennium Park burned down, this creatively-designed
playground allows children to romp, climb, swing, slide, spin and splash.
Speaking of
splashing, in the warmer months, kids love parks with water features. In
addition to Bord du Lac Park, several other area parks, such as Prien Lake Park
and Pinederosa Park in Westlake, also have so-called “splash zones.” The most
impressive southwest Louisiana water park is at the Sulphur Parks and Recreation (SPAR) facility.
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| The SPAR Waterpark is open in the summertime for kids of all ages! |
Festivals
Southwest Louisiana
is known as the Festival Capital of the state, and with good reason. Over 75
festivals throughout the year celebrate all varieties of food, music genres, wildlife,
and more. Check out www.visitlakecharles.org for the Events Calendar.
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| DeQuincy Railroad Days Festival Photo by www.lindseyjanies.com |
If the
weather doesn’t cooperate for outdoor activities, don’t worry. There are plenty
of indoor activities to entertain children of all ages.
The
Children’s Museum, at 327 Broad St., offers numerous exhibits and activities
that will delight your young ones. Open
Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The naval
destroyer USS Orleck served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. She now serves as a
historic naval museum. Located at the north end of Enterprise Blvd. Open
Monday-Friday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saturdays
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
If you are
interested in Southwest Louisiana history, visit the Imperial Calcasieu Museum.
They also feature the work of Louisiana artists. 204 W. Sallier St., Lake
Charles. Open 10:00 – 5:00 Tuesday – Saturday.
Affectionately
called Old City Hall, this art gallery showcases traveling art exhibitions from
around the world, as well as a permanent exhibit on the Great Fire of 1910. 1001 Ryan St. Monday
– Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The Henning Cultural Center features contemporary and
local artists. The Brimstone Museum, located in the restored train station next
door, highlights the history of Sulphur. 923 Ruth St. Open
Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – noon and 1 – 5 p.m.
DeQuincy Railroad Museum
Kids love the caboose, steam engine and passenger car on display at the DeQuincy Railroad Museum. And while you're there, don't miss the DeQuincy Town Hall Museum nearby. 400 Lake Charles Ave., DeQuincy. Open Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Kids love the caboose, steam engine and passenger car on display at the DeQuincy Railroad Museum. And while you're there, don't miss the DeQuincy Town Hall Museum nearby. 400 Lake Charles Ave., DeQuincy. Open Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Mardi Gras Museum
The Mardi Gras Museum is always a great one to visit to lift your spirits and prepare for the Carnival Season! 809 Kirby St., Lake Charles. Open Tuesday - Friday 1-5 p.m.
The Mardi Gras Museum is always a great one to visit to lift your spirits and prepare for the Carnival Season! 809 Kirby St., Lake Charles. Open Tuesday - Friday 1-5 p.m.
Lake Charles
has two multi-screen theaters. United Artists at 3416 Derek Dr. and Cinemark at
the Prien Lake Mall, 548 W. Prien Lake Rd.
Bowl a few
games at Petro Bowl, 630 Petro Point Dr., Lake Charles.
Whether you
have three days to spend or a whole week, there’s plenty here to entertain you.
No one can say there’s nothing to do in Lake Charles!
To read more of Angie's adventures, check out her blog, angiekaydilmore.blogspot.com.
Monday, November 17, 2014
By Elizabeth Eustis
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| Photo by Lindsey Janies Photography |
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| Photo by MonsoursPhotography.net |
There are just so many wonderful activities going on this season, including some beautiful performances like The Nutcracker (Dec. 11-14) and The Little Drummer Boy (Dec. 13); so there is no reason to sit at home. Also, stop by the Convention & Visitors Bureau, 1205 N. Lakeshore Drive, to view the entries for the annual Gingerbread House contest (Dec. 6-30). Be sure to vote for your favorite creation!Plan your Christmas fun by visiting www.visitlakecharles.org/cajunchristmas for a complete listing of holiday events throughout Southwest Louisiana.
Monday, November 10, 2014
By Angie Kay Dilmore
To read more of Angie's adventures, check out her blog, angiekaydilmore.blogspot.com.
How often
have you driven down I-10 West and seen signs for Delta Downs Racetrack and
Casino? Have you been there? Recently, I went for the opening day of
Thoroughbred Season. Being newbies to Louisiana horse racing, my husband Bob
and I were excited!
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| Photo by www.lindseyjanies.com |
The first
step at horse racing is to buy an Official Program. This booklet tells you all
about the races, information about the horses, their odds of winning, the names
of owners, trainers, jockeys, and lineage. There is also information about each
horse’s racing history, weight of the jockey, and more data than I can
understand or need to know!
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| Program photo by Angie Kay Dilmore |
For some,
horse racing is serious business. I saw people there who sat intently with
their pens and programs and pored over the pages, studied the stats, made notes
in the margins, and obviously put considerable thought into their betting.
How did I
pick a horse to bet on? Whichever horse had the prettiest name, of course!
Soon after
we arrived, the first race was about to start. Post time 5:55 p.m. We quickly
purchased our program and scanned the horses slated for Race 1. Horse number 8,
Lovely in Lavender, sounded like a winner to me. Never mind the odds were 15-1.
It was early in the evening and I felt lucky.
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| Photo by www.lindseyjanies.com |
Minimum bet is $2.00. I’m such a
big spender; I bet $3.00 for number 8 to show (1st or 2nd
place). She came in 7th. Out of 10 horses. Maybe rooting for the
underdog isn’t the best idea in horse racing.
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| The horse and jockey were muddy after the race. Photo by Angie Kay Dilmore |
So we went
to The Lookout Restaurant for dinner. They specialize in fine dining, steaks
and seafood. The south wall is all windows and overlooks the racetrack. There
is also a balcony where you can watch the races, and a convenient betting
window, so diners don’t miss the fun and excitement of a single race.
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| Photo by Angie Kay Dilmore |
Most of our
bets resulted in similar outcomes to that first race. After two or three races,
I started considering the odds and checking “Don’s Picks” on the television
screens. He seems to have a pretty good
track record.
Eventually, I picked a favorite and bet $3.00 for the horse
to place (1st, 2nd, or 3rd). And he came in
second! Yay, I won something! I went to the betting window to cash in my ticket.
The return was $3.90. I netted .90 cents.
We weren’t
big winners that night, but it didn’t matter. Win or lose, horse racing is fun
and entertaining. There’s a certain thrill, trying to guess which horse will
win and watching him race around the track. Your eyes focus on the color of his
silk (the cloth that identifies his number). You cheer him on as he thunders by;
go, Go GO! It’s especially exciting if you watch from the fence beside the
track. You smell the horses’ sweat and adrenaline. You hear them pant, snort,
and battle it out for first place. Their hooves kick up the dust and pound out
a competitive beat; and your own heart drums a little bit faster.
Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel is located in the quiet town of Vinton, near the
border of Texas. Watch Thoroughbred racing every Wednesday through Saturday
evenings, October 15- March 14, except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and
Christmas Day. The resort sits on 240 acres of Louisiana countryside, the perfect
setting for an evening’s entertainment, a weekend getaway, or a fun-packed
vacation.
In addition to live horse racing, they offer off-track betting, over
1,450 slots, live entertainment, modern hotel rooms and suites, an outdoor
pool, and five restaurants, from fast food to fine dining. Meeting and
convention facilities are also available. For more information, go to www.deltadowns.com.
To read more of Angie's adventures, check out her blog, angiekaydilmore.blogspot.com.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Just down the road from Lake Charles is a new and exciting venture that is taking the world by storm. Bayou Rum
began shipping July 1, 2013. Louisiana Spirits entered Bayou Silver Rum and Bayou Spiced
Rum in some tasting competitions. As of October 27, 2014, Bayou Rum has
been honored 50 times in tasting competitions and 26 times by marketing
organizations. This award total is the most for any rum brand in the USA
and may be most in the entire world for the 2014 award’s season.
“Winning Best in Class distinctions from our craft distilling peers at American
Craft Distillers Association and American Distilling Institute was a very proud
moment. Competing against all the world’s rums and coming away with Best
in Class Gold Medal at the Miami International Rum Festival and 6 medals at the
Los Angeles International Spirits Competition was sweet indeed!” said Trey
Litel, President of Louisiana Spirits.
So while you are in the Southwest Louisiana region, make sure to stop by the distillery to take the tour and pick up some Bayou Rum to take back home.
About Bayou® Rum
Bayou Rum is America’s Rum® handcrafted from fresh Louisiana
sugarcane for an award-winning flavor; distilled and bottled consistently with
quality assurance at the largest private rum distillery in the USA. Bayou
Rum is currently available in LA, TX, MS, AL, and FL and is represented by
Republic National Distributing Company. Bayou Rum comes in 2 types,
Silver and Spiced, 3 glass bottle sizes - LITER, 750ml, 200ml - and in
convenient to carry 200ml pouches. New Bayou Satsuma Rum Liqueur is
available in 750ml bottles. For more information, visit www.bayourum.com.
To subscribe to latest news on Bayou Rum: Click on www.bayourum.com/connect
or visit www.facebook.com/bayourum.
Copyright 2014. Bayou® Rum, America’s Rum® and The Spirit
of Louisiana® are registered trademarks of Louisiana Spirits, LLC. All
rights reserved.
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