Instead of New Orleans, This Louisiana Town Is Where You Should Take Your Next Trip

Every year, 19 million people visit New Orleans to enjoy the Big Easy’s delicious food, historic attractions, and more. Now, I live in New Orleans and love this city fiercely, so you won’t find me bashing my favorite place in the world, but there is a small town like New Orleans that tends to go overlooked, and it’s a shame because it truly is one of the most underrated towns in Louisiana. 

Why This Town Feels Like New Orleans

For many travelers, New Orleans is a place to experience our historic French and Spanish architecture, stroll through the French Quarter, and indulge in our insanely delicious restaurants. Creole cuisine is one of the selling points for many foodies across the globe, and sure, you can certainly get some incredible Cajun food in New Orleans… locals know the difference. For true Cajun fare, you’ve got to head to Cajun Country. 

When it comes to where to eat in Lake Charles, you’ll be spoiled for options. From boudin to gumbo and everything in between, rest assured you’ll get an authentic Cajun dining experience. And of course, you can still find New Orleans staples like BBQ shrimp, po’boys, and beignets. If you’re visiting during crawfish season, even better! Roll up your sleeves and dig in to a pound. Or two. Or three. 

What You Can Do Here

Whatever you want to do in New Orleans, you can do it in Lake Charles. Even seasonal celebrations like Mardi Gras take place all over the state, not just in New Orleans. Now, you may not be ready for Cajun Mardi Gras (Courir de Mardi Gras), but you can certainly experience a traditional Mardi Gras parade in Lake Charles. 

Even if you’re not visiting during the season, you can (and should) swing by the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu. Here, you can stroll through hundreds of Mardi Gras memorabilia, including hundreds of authentic krewe costumes that are on display. If you’ve ever visited Mardi Gras World in New Orleans, it’s similar to that, just on a much smaller scale (and without a huge warehouse of floats). The details in these costumes are mesmerizing, and many were designed by the owner, David R. O’Quinn. I was lucky enough to tour the museum with Mr. O’Quinn, and it’s truly a special place. 

Why It’s an Even Better Choice

If the New Orleans crowds are what’s giving you pause, well, that’s just one more reason to visit Lake Charles. New Orleans city proper has a population of about 362,000, which swells to 970,000 when you factor in the entire metropolitan area. On the flip side, Lake Charles boasts a comfortable population of about 81,000, with 245,000 for the broader metropolitan area. Lake Charles certainly isn’t a small town, but it gives off small-town vibes in comparison to New Orleans, that’s for sure. 

A visit to Lake Charles isn’t complete without tackling at least a portion of the Creole Nature Trail. This All-American Road stretches for 180 miles and weaves throughout southwestern Louisiana, offering a chance to check out some of the nature preserves, small towns, and more as you make your way to the Gulf. The Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point serves as a visitor center for the epic drive, and it’s the perfect place to start. 

We may not have those Caribbean blue waters that our Florida friends along the Gulf Coast do, but Louisiana’s beaches are excellent for seashells! You can drive right onto Rutherford Beach and spend a good chunk of time searching for seashells and listening to the waves crash onto the shore. 

Enjoy lunch at Lighthouse Bend once you get down to the Gulf. This waterfront restaurant in Cameron has some incredible views and a top-notch menu, too. Obviously, you’ll want to take a selfie with Pinky. Pinky is an albino bottlenose dolphin that was first spotted in 2007 and frequents the Calcasieu Ship Channel and the waterways around Lake Charles. The last official sighting of Pink was back in 2023, though there are unofficial reports claiming to have seen her as recently as 2025. Keep your eyes on the water while you’re eating at Lighthouse Bend, and you might get lucky!

Plan Your Visit

There are plenty of places to stay in Lake Charles; it just depends on what type of traveler you are. I personally enjoyed my stay at the Golden Nugget—my room had a fabulous view of the water and the Calcasieu Bridge. For folks who want a little more space, this Airbnb in downtown Lake Charles might be just what you're looking for. 

You could spend an entire week touring Lake Charles and the surrounding area and still not feel like you made a dent…but you have to start somewhere! Visit the official website for the Lake Charles Tourism Board and start planning your southwest Louisiana adventure today.