Seafood Sensation

The southwest corner of Louisiana, sometimes called the "Outback," beckons sportsmen. There’s great fishing, oystering, shrimping and crabbing. The bounty from the waters finds its way onto the menus of local restaurants such as Steamboat Bill's in Lake Charles, best known for seasoned crawfish and fried seafood platters.

Find the perfect po'boy at Darrell's in Lake Charles. We've heard plenty of folks say that ordering a Darrell's Special with jalapeno mayo changed their lives—it's that good! The area also has a boudin trail. Pick up a trail guide at the Lake Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau. 

As you drive through the region you'll see it is strongly connected to rice farming and dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, étouffée and dirty rice incorporate the crop. When area farmers realized their flooded rice fields attracted a supply of crawfish, they began rotating the two Louisiana icons. During your trip, take time to tour a crawfish farm (the season runs from around December through June).  

Once you have your fill of crawfish, treat your taste buds to some Louisiana oysters in Abbeville.Your two best bets are SHUCKS! and Dupuy's Oyster Shop, whose roots run back to 1869. 

For a meal with a view, Lake Arthur's Regatta Restaurant delivers. Built over Lake Arthur, it has a dock for boats and seaplanes.

As you travel along the Seafood Sensation Trail, take a respite from taste testing for a little sightseeing along the Creole Nature Trail, a 180-mile scenic All-American Road through Louisiana’s picturesque wetlands.