Things to do in Lake Charles and Sulphur, Louisiana, with kids... Festivals, Museums and Parks!

Locals, with kids, give the best advice on what to do with kids.

When we travel, we can find lots of advertisements and suggestions on where to spend our time and money... but those spots are necessarily parent tested. So, when we decided to take a roadtrip from Houston to Sulphur and Lake Charles, Louisiana, I asked a local for tips on the things to do with kids.

In her own words, here are Ashley's tips for what to do in Lake Charles and Sulphur with kids... including festivals, museums and parks!

I grew up in the small city of Sulphur, Louisiana. My husband and I moved to Houston 8 years ago and now we reside in Katy with our two sons (Patton 4 and Crosby 2) and two dogs (Leela and Roux). After all this time we still miss the food, the Cajun culture, and the people!

The Lake Charles and Sulphur area is rich with culture, history and heritage of the Cajun/Creole people who still live there. Almost every month of the year there is a festival or a parade that celebrates our people. The Lake area is known for its casino resorts which are actually very family friendly; Lauberge du Lac and Golden Nugget. But if you look outside the resorts, there is a whole lot of Louisiana to see!

From the very start January through April have events like the Southwest District Livestock and Rodeo, 4-H and FFA Livestock Show, Black Heritage Festival, Sulphur Mines Festival, and Louisiana Railroad Days Festival. And I don't think I need to remind everyone about MARDI GRAS! Between Lake Charles and Sulphur there are 5 different parades!

In May the festivals continue with Contraband Days Festival & Parade (first 2 weeks). Next is the Red, White, Blue and Oval Car Show. St. Margaret Catholic Church Crawfish & Music Festival and American Craft Brew Week at Crying Eagle Brewing are a few more things that can make the May heat a little more bearable.

Close by is also the Starks Mayhaw Festival. If you love live music, then heading to Downtown at Sundown may be your thing. And best of all, the Sulphur Parks and Recreation (SPAR) Water Park opens!

June brings the Trinity Baptist Church Frogging Tournament, Louisiana High School Rodeo Finals, Gulf Coast Shrimp & Jazz Festival. Then in July is the Cajun Music Festival, Red, White, Blue and You and the Marshland Festival. In both months there is more Downtown at Sundown and Sulphur Parks and Recreation Water Park too!

August through December have their fair share of festivals too as the cooler weather rolls on in. There is the Lake Area Music Festival, St. Theresa's Bon Ton Festival, Cal-Cam Fair, and Flea Fest. Don't get stressed shopping for Christmas at Mistletoe and Moss Holiday Market and go to The Holiday House at Christmas Under the Oaks at the Brimstone Museum (first weekend) is there with everything you could hope for!

• January/February:  Southwest District Livestock and Rodeo
• February: MARDI GRAS!
• March:  Black Heritage Festival, Sulphur Mines Festival
• April: Louisiana Railroad Days Festival
• May: Contraband Days Festival & Parade, Red, White, Blue and Oval Car Show, St. Margaret Catholic Church Crawfish & Music Festival, American Craft Brew Week at Crying Eagle Brewing, Starks Mayhaw Festival, Downtown at Sundown
• June: Trinity Baptist Church Frogging Tournament, Louisiana High School Rodeo Finals, Gulf Coast Shrimp & Jazz Festival,
• July: Cajun Music Festival, Marshland Festival, Red, White, Blue and You
• August:
• September: St. Theresa's Bon Ton Festival,
• October: Flea Fest
• November/December: The Holiday House at Christmas Under the Oaks, Mistletoe and Moss Holiday Market

Here are a list of the wonderful museums to help beat the heat on those hot summer days while visiting the Lake area:

• Imperial Calcasieu Museum
• Mardi Gras Museum
• Brimstone Museum
• DeQuincy Railroad Museum
• Children's Museum
• USS Orleck Naval Museum

If being outside is more your thing, there are plenty of parks to keep you busy.

• Creole Nature Trail (with alligators!)
• Sam Houston Jones State Park (which is great for hiking, biking camping and picnics)
• Niblett's Bluff Park (great for camp outs and boating)
• Millennium Park (giant sized pirate ship playground and splash pad complex at the Lake Charles Civic Center)
• Sulphur Parks and Recreation (SPAR) (Not only has a large water park, but also a public golf course. SPAR baseball and softball complexes host Louisiana state tournaments too!)

It's easy to get outdoors because there are actually more than 20 parks in the Lake area!!!

And don't even get me started on the food!!! Authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine that will knock your socks off!

EVERYTHING you do in Lake Charles and Sulphur welcomes you to enjoy that "at home" feeling. So when you are thinking about booking your next trip, think about heading over to Louisiana and see what exciting things are in store for your family.

For more information go HERE!