Ten Things I Wish I Knew And Would Recommend To Anyone Moving to Lake Charles

I moved here to Lake Charles Twenty- Years ago and have put my foot down for my family. My wife is in her current career and my son has met some of his best friends since living here. The city of Lake Charles is unlike any other place from the hospitality to the food. You really don't meet many strangers here in Lake Charles if you stick around long enough. Over the years I have met so many great people and we talk about when I first moved here and how so many things I was not accustomed to. However, over the years I have tried to be a part t of the culture and the way of living and I believe that I am doing pretty well. If you are aspiring to move to Lake Charles for retirement or jobs, here is my top ten list of things I wish I know and would like to pass along to you.

1. The Town is resilient and tough: When I say this, it's because I have seen the people lose homes and businesses here because of several Hurricanes over the years and they keep coming back. Over the past year, we have been health 2 Hurricanes, a flood, and a winter freeze storm. We have lost delicacies like power, the internet, and many personal items that could never be replaced. This has not stopped the people of Lake Charles from rebuilding and starting over, even if it's multiple times.

2. We have baby Vegas right here in Lake Charles: I highly recommend that people travel and see what else is out there in the world. But take it from me someone who believes in taking staycations with my wife. The Casinos here are full of life for everyone. Whether it's The Golden Nugget, L'Auberge Du Lac, Delta Downs, Coushatta Casino Resort, and the soon-to-be Horseshoe Casino. If you're not much of a gambler, you can get a room for the night and visit one of the great restaurants or visit the pool at some of the locations. you can save gas money and money on tickets and kick it right here at home.

3. Explore Nature and Beautiful sights: Yep believe it or not there are some areas in the city for bike rides, small hikes with loved ones that include nature trails and so much more. You can do fishing and potentially get some great catches and on any given day, you may see an Alligator crossing your yard. It's not often, but it has happened.

4. Finding Things To Eat Won't Be A Problem: The food in Lake Charles is some of the best that I have had regardless of where I've visited. When I first moved here I was hesitant to eat Boudin because a friend at the time told me some of the ingredients which I found out were incorrect. Now you may catch me at Market Basket or In-Laws on any given day trying to get a couple of links, I'd recommend the Fried Ribs from Meek's Lounge or the crackling from Famous Food. Regardless of where you go around here, you will not be disappointed in the findings.

5. Winter is rarely a thing here: I am just being honest about that. I brought a trench coat with me when I first moved here and I have only worn it maybe twice. I am a person who loves winter and we don't get that very often here. The wealth is nice, but when it gets hot, you better be prepared to sweat profusely. At the end of the day, it's perfect for outings and family get together, but you have to also watch out for the amount of rain that we get here which could be a week at a time in Lake Charles.

6. Mardi Gras Is Lit Here: Laissez le Bon temps rouler( Let the good times roll in French) is just that here in Louisiana. When it comes to Mardi Gras there is nothing but fun times here. The various parades include everything from the Krewe Of Barkus which is a parade for animals and the Krewe of Omega which was started by Omega Psi Phi and is always a blast. The Krewe Of Krewe parade is where various organizations and some businesses bring out the biggest and best floats for the evening. It is always a blast when it comes to Mardi Gras in Lake city.

7. If you love Art, you have to be here: Over the past few years, there have been plenty of great art exhibits here at the Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center. Various artists are brought to the city to display their work and while it is free, it is worth every minute of it if you prefer to visit.

8. Lake Charles residents love to give back to the community: Lake Charles was not ready for being plummeted by Hurricanes Laura and Delta last year. While the city was crippled by the effects of the storms, it was beautiful to see the way the city came back. There were various restaurants clearing out their freezers to provide meals to those who were working rigorously to get their affairs back in order. What's amazing is while we are still rebuilding our city, many from here went to New Orleans and Baton Rouge to assist those who were affected by Hurricane Ida. The people have a giving spirit and love to help others.

9. The Culture of Lake Charles is addictive: When I first moved here to Lake Charles, I had never heard of Zydeco or Trail rides, but now I can't go without them. Whether it's Zydeco from Rusty Metoyer, Chris Ardoin, or Keith Frank, or the cajun stylings of Damon Lebeuf or Wayne Toups, the music and nightlife are some others would rival. Obviously, Covid shut things down, but things have slowly been returning, and if you love to be on your feet, one night at a Zydeco and it will have you reevaluating what took you so long to move here.

10 Supporting Local Businesses is welcomed here: Out of the many places that I have had the chance to live, there is nothing like the mom-and-pop-style businesses here. Whether it's Tony's Pizza, Ball's Fried Chicken, Leonards Food Court, 121 Bistro, Steamboat Bills, Beauxdine's, or Meek's Lounge, there are some great places to dine in and really enjoy some great food. We welcome supporting the local businesses as they were some of the first ones trying to give back to others after the Hurricanes even when many were struggling to rebuild their own properties.

I love it here and while it's not the busy booming city with attractions like Houston, New Orleans, or Atlanta. This is a great place for fun times and family. These are things that I wish I would have known and would recommend to others. What would you tell someone who's looking at moving to Lake Charles?