Candy Rodriguez

12/19/2025

Candy Cane Christmas 🩷🍬🎄

📸: Toni Chapman

12/18/2025

12/12/2025

My new gator BFF ❤️🐊

If you haven’t yet, go try Cajun Charlies Sulphur! 😋

They have a lunch buffet that changes every single day. On Fridays and Saturdays, they offer a seafood buffet, and on Sunday, they have a brunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

My recommendations (in no particular order): étouffée & cheesy crawfish stuffed pistolettes, carrot soufflé (it’s a veggie and a treat all in one), Cajun seafood pasta, chicken and sausage gumbo (they make their own sausage), bacon wrapped shrimp, ribs, cracklins (regular and chicken), fish Atchafalaya and pork skins!

Next time I want to try the Cajun Cuts (the specialty meats market attached) ribeye po-boy. 😋

12/11/2025

Life Lately

Celebrated Anne Klenke, who was honored with the Excellence Award at the West Calcasieu Chamber of Commerce’s 75th Annual Banquet. Kyle Edmiston accepted the award on her behalf, and the recognition was a reminder of how much Anne has done to elevate Southwest Louisiana’s outdoor assets, natural beauty and storytelling for decades.

Visit Lake Charles received media coverage highlighting our ongoing partnership with Wheel the World and the work being done to expand accessibility in Louisiana’s Playground. A big thank-you to Taylor Beard Stanley for her leadership and commitment to this effort.

We welcomed the LHSAA Boys and Girls State Championship Swim Meet to Southwest Louisiana from November 19 to 22. This year marked the 20th consecutive championship held at the SPAR Aquatic Center, and we are grateful to the LHSAA, Executive Director Eddie Bonine, SPAR and all the families, coaches and student-athletes who brought so much excitement to the region.

We also took time to celebrate our team’s milestones. Congratulations to Emily Treme on being named Fusion Five’s 2025 20-Something of the Year and Sam Moore on graduating from Leadership Southwest Louisiana.

Last but not least, Smoke and Barrel delivered another fantastic event with an incredible turnout and plenty of friendly faces. 🥰

MORE: https://www.visitlakecharles.org/articles/post/tourism-works-november-2025/

12/02/2025

SIGN UP TODAY!

11/25/2025

Visit Lake Charles partners with “Wheel the World”
https://www.kplctv.com/video/2025/11/21/wheel-world-swla-businesses-assessed-accessibility-through-new-partnership/

11/21/2025

DON'T FORGET: There's only one week left to sign up for !

The 11-day foodie celebration will run from January 22 to February 1, 2026. Don't miss this exciting opportunity to build a loyal customer base that comes back again and again, beyond Chuck Eats Restaurant Week.

SUBMIT YOUR DEAL TODAY at chuckeats.org!

It’s time for lunch, and I’m in the mood for a torta de milanesa from Rosita's!

Also, congratulations to my *cousin*, Miss Mexico, on being crowned Miss Universe. 😉💕

📸: Kathryn Shea Duncan

11/21/2025

Earlier this month, I spent a Saturday introducing National Geographic writer Zoey Goto and photographer Shell Royster to Louisiana’s Playground. It was their first time in Southwest Louisiana, and they spent the day meeting the people who make this region what it is.

MAMA Reta's Kitchen LLC shared her story over plates of fried chicken, barbecued pork steaks and ribs. Darby Guillory Jr. walked them through the Creole tradition behind wet cracklins at Famous Foods. Shell discovered Mrs. Johnnie's famous gingerbread, and Zoey fell in love with the Cajun sounds coming from Chris Miller’s accordion, who was performing at Panorama Music House with Ivy Dugas and Friends.

We visited small businesses downtown, including Bux Kajun Korner, where Melissa insisted (with the kindness and generosity she’s known for) that they try her homemade praline. We wandered into vintage shops, found unique pieces and learned more about Dolly Parton’s connection to Lake Charles thanks to Bam at The Emporium, who sent Zoey off with something I know she will cherish.

On Visit Lake Charles, I want to thank all of our partners who made space in their day to meet Zoey and Shell and share a bit of their world. From a personal standpoint, this is one of the reasons I was excited to come back to Southwest Louisiana. It is who we are as a region. Our community proves again and again that hospitality is not something we turn on. It is who we are. Whether someone is here working on a story or exploring for the weekend, everyone is welcomed like family.

Tourism gives us the chance to share that spirit on a larger stage, and I am grateful for every opportunity to showcase Southwest Louisiana’s culture, food and people. I cannot wait to see Southwest Louisiana through Zoey and Shell’s eyes.

11/19/2025

I-10 CALCASIEU BRIDGE OPEN HOUSE: There’s a Public Open House tonight for the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge Project.

📅 TONIGHT, Nov. 19
📍 Lake Charles Event Center (Buccaneer Room)
🕠 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

This is your chance to get updates, view project timelines and speak with the team.
🔗 i10calcasieubridge.com