Situated on the banks of the Calcasieu River and bordering both Lake Charles and Prien Lake, Lake Charles is a major petrochemical processing area and a deep water port. As you travel through the Lake Charles area, you can see these large industrial plants along with many railroad tank cars.

Situated on the banks of the Calcasieu River and bordering both Lake Charles and Prien Lake, Lake Charles is a major petrochemical processing area and a deep water port. As you travel through the Lake Charles area, you can see these large industrial plants along with many railroad tank cars.

As you travel toward Jennings, imagine yourself as one of the first settlers from the Midwestern wheat belt, riding the stagecoach to Louisiana in the 1890's. The anticipation that you feel is overwhelming when you gaze through the window of your railroad car - the beauty

and magnitude of the country landscape in Louisiana is completely new and foreign to you.

As you travel toward Jennings, imagine yourself as one of the first settlers from the Midwestern wheat belt, riding the stagecoach to Louisiana in the 1890's. The anticipation that you feel is overwhelming when you gaze through the window of your railroad car - the beauty

and magnitude of the country landscape in Louisiana is completely new and foreign to you.

As the train crosses the Mermentau River, an island out there among the reeds is as shrouded in mystery as it is shrouded from your view. Imagine yourself in the shoes of John Sweeny in 1867 as he explored the swampy island. Legend has it that he had become separated from a party of men and was alone, disoriented in the fog, when he came across hard, brittle objects underfoot. A closer look revealed numerous human skeletons and lengths of heavy chain.

As the train crosses the Mermentau River, an island out there among the reeds is as shrouded in mystery as it is shrouded from your view. Imagine yourself in the shoes of John Sweeny in 1867 as he explored the swampy island. Legend has it that he had become separated from a party of men and was alone, disoriented in the fog, when he came across hard, brittle objects underfoot. A closer look revealed numerous human skeletons and lengths of heavy chain.

If you spend any time in south Louisiana you'll soon encounter crawfish, a small and

tasty relative of the lobster, also called mudbugs, crayfish or crawdads in certain parts of the

country. Surprisingly, crawfish are not just popular in the United States.

If you spend any time in south Louisiana you'll soon encounter crawfish, a small and

tasty relative of the lobster, also called mudbugs, crayfish or crawdads in certain parts of the

country. Surprisingly, crawfish are not just popular in the United States.

The Acadians, or Cajuns as they are referred to today, immigrated to Louisiana in the late 1700's. They are descendants of French who migrated first to a region of Canada known as Acadie, or Acadia (most of which is now known as Nova Scotia). Many were exiled by the British beginning in 1755, and eventually found their way to colonial Louisiana, which already had a strong French heritage.

The Acadians, or Cajuns as they are referred to today, immigrated to Louisiana in the late 1700's. They are descendants of French who migrated first to a region of Canada known as Acadie, or Acadia (most of which is now known as Nova Scotia). Many were exiled by the British beginning in 1755, and eventually found their way to colonial Louisiana, which already had a strong French heritage.