Places Welcoming You
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Coushatta Luxury RV Resort at Red Shoes Park Kinder, Louisiana |
| Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau Morgan City, Louisiana |
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A+ Motel & RV Park Sulphur, Louisiana |
Smack in the heart of Cajun country, Louisiana’s Allen Parish welcomes guests with an easy-going attitude, great food and a truly unique culture. Dig into crawfish pie and spend late nights cutting a rug to the accordion-infused — and extremely danceable — tunes of the region’s legendary zydeco bands. Southern hospitality takes on a whole new meaning in this corner of the deep the Pelican State.
A great place to start is the small town of Kinder, which rolls out the red carpet for guests with the largest gambling outpost in the state. The sprawling Coushatta Casino Resort complex boasts Vegas-style slots and tables, 11 different restaurants and the 18-hole championship-quality Koasati Pines at Coushatta Golf Club. Located on the Coushatta Indian Reservation, the casino is also home to the tribe’s annual summer powwow, an event that includes traditional stomp dances, storytelling and harvest celebration — an exciting glimpse into the Coushatta’s rich, cultural heritage.
While in town, visit the historic Elizabeth Town Hall, home to the Hospital Museum. The outdated surgical instruments and anesthesia equipment on display will make you glad you live in the 21st century.
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About 10 miles to the north in the town of Oberlin, Metro Soileau Downs hosts Trottingbred horse racing and some serious Cajun-style tailgating. The races are a great place to find traditional po’boy sandwiches, classic cocktails and learn a little Cajun culture.
Head about 18 miles north to the West Bay Wildlife Management Area, a stunning expanse of lush pine forests with an abundance of duck, quail, deer and other game. It’s kept hunters returning for generations.
More outdoors opportunities can be found about 25 miles south outside of West Bay on the Ouiska Chitto Creek, home to renowned canoeing and fishing. Try the canoeing and tubing outfitters in nearby Mittie for expert advice on day trips. Anglers should come prepared as well with plentiful striped and spotted bass, crappie and catfish roaming the waters of the Ouiska, as well as the Parish’s other main waterways, like the Calcasieu River and Six-Mile Creek.
Seeing everything in this unique corner of the country is a tall ask, but Louisiana has made it easier with the Myths and Legends Byway, a 180-mile route that winds through the western half of the state. Stop off at one of the 22 kiosks along the route for a travel guide to the region’s small-town museums, local historical sites and festivals. You’ll be glad you did.
Allen Parish Tourist Commission
888-639-4868
Louisiana Office of Tourism
800-677-4082