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So far...... - Lake Charles, LA

Lake Charles, LA

Lake Charles is a "quiet" medium sized city. More of a blue collar town because of the oil and gas industries nearby. It can be downright boring some days as it is so quiet but I am not complaining. Food...there are some good local food eateries such as Steamboat Bill's, Luna's, Hong Kong Chinese and I must say Buffalo Wild Wings has some good eating (for a franchise I am surprised). I am renting a room while I do a contract project here so the neighborhoods are all older (think 50's-60's houses) and there are some areas that never recovered from the two hurricanes that passed by in 2005. For the most part this city shuts down after 9-10 pm...and I mean shuts down. I think everyone must go to bed by at least 9. There are three super wal marts in the area but none stay open after 10. apparently there are not enough people willing to work after hours shift to stay open 24/7. There are some other places I have yet to visit, especially around McNeese State University. I will post what I find there before I leave next month. For those coming here to visit there is not much to do really unless you go out on the lake and fish or jump on a jet ski. If you want a quiet, relaxing place away from the big city then this is the place for it. A big positive I have found is that almost everything ( LC mall, wal mart, food) is within 5-10 minutes driving from any point in the city so you will not use much gas getting around. Note: my welcome photo is from the 9-11 monument that the town put up in honor of all those fallen that day including two native Lake Charles residents...one who was in the WTC and the other in the Pentagon. It is a moving thing to be able to touch the steel beams from the WTC. It gives you more perspective on what happened that day. Update: Do not leave until you try DeAngelo's Italian Restaurant on South Ryan Street near St. Patrick's Hospital. It is even better than Carraba's and Olive Garden. WOW! Also, for a light snack go to Paradise Smoothie on Ryan Street near the I-210 loop. It is on the right if going toward the loop. Drive slow so you will not miss it! Their Kiwi Surprise smoothie is the best and costs about $4.50. Another thing to not miss is Mass-ahhh!-ge on South Ryan Street near Deangelo's. I had the best swedish massage in a long time there. Ask for April.
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