Mary Richardson
the Rick Steves of Lake Charles
One Tank Trips
to take in Louisiana
Louisiana’s Outback
The cultural treasure trove of Southwest Louisiana
Eatin’ Good
The BBQ Wisdom of Taco Johnson
StorybyRodrickAnderson
PhotosprovidedbyTacoJohnson
When summertime rolls around, backyard grills get fired up
It can be a great way to relax, invite family and friends over, and have some fun But you can’t go into it without a plan and a little knowledge on how to do it right, or else the party will be over real quick.
Long-time Lake Area resident Taco Johnson knows a thing or two about cooking outdoors. He got his start in his early teens with encouragement from his biggest fan his mother.
In the summers he would cook at various businesses, often following his mother.
“Well, it was just me and my mama living together, and she would love barbecuing. So I was 12, 13 years old cooking outside. She loved grilled pork chops, so I would take it and soak some pork chops in pineapple, soy sauce and orange juice. I would let it sit, and I would grill it for her, and then I'd call it a pork kebab chop. And she loved it. My mama told me that, I'm going to teach you how to cook That way, you'll never have to depend on a woman to cook for you. ’ That's exactly what she said.”
He retired in 2008 after 30 years with the Sulphur Police Department and currently
works for Sulphur Parks and Recreation.
In the time since his formative years, he has cooked for hundreds of events, like the Louisiana High School Athletic Association state softball and baseball tournaments, company functions for Citgo requiring 300-plus ribeyes in a day, weddings and more.
Fried fish, jambalaya, gumbo, pork steaks, BBQ chicken or port you name it, he has probably cooked it. Some of his favorite things to grill or smoke are country back ribs, pork sausage, green onion sausage and even bratwurst
“I'm a big guy, so never trust a skinny cook,” Johnson said. “If it moves, I can cook it.”
With his decades of experience, he has a few tips on how to do it right starting with safety, especially if there will be children or pets around.
“Know your wind direction, just in case your fire does get out of hand,” Johnson said. “Put it downwind from any structure like your house or a shed or something and basically just keep the kids away from it
“I've always put tables around my barbecue pit or my grill They'll get out there and they'll get excited and they'll forget where they're at. And you also got to keep an eye on it, too. You can't just walk away from it, especially with kids around.”
Don’t be in a hurry. And that applies to much of the process, whether you are grilling or smoking your favorite cut of beef, chicken slathered in barbecue sauce, or some good old-fashioned burgers and hot dogs You may be tempted to quickly throw some seasoning or marinade on and ship off your meal straight to the grill. But Johnson says preparing the meat the day before and letting it rest in the refrigerator will allow the meat to absorb more of the flavor, especially larger cuts of meat like Boston Butts
He likes to use charcoal or lump charcoal, and shies away from anything that has lighter fluid in it. It can make starting the fire quicker but can leave a chemical taste on your food if you don’t let it burn off long enough.
“If you don't wait a long enough time, your meat will taste like (lighter fluid),” Johnson said “So I use the old round chimney lighter
“That's where you put the charcoal in the top and you light a fire at the bottom. The key to it is once you light your charcoal, let it burn its way down A lot of people will take and as soon as the fire goes out, they put the meat on. No, you got to let the charcoal burn into itself. When you get a good grey across the top of your charcoals, that's when it's time to throw the meat on. ”
Waiting till the last minute to season your meat may seem like a time-saver, but prepping the day before will give you a richer flavor. Johnson said he likes to season or marinate everything the day before and put it in the refrigerator to help the meat better absorb the seasoning
“I'll season it the night before. I love that Ball’s seasoning. It's a great seasoning. I'll take it just the night before, put it in the pan, season it real good, and then let it sit overnight. If you ' re doing a big steak like a big chuck steak, put a good rub on it Let that rub soak in. You might want to throw in a little bit of marinating sauce. Then let that soak in there real good. Sometimes I'll take my meats and I'll throw a little bit of chicken broth on it and then pat it down. That way that seasoning will stick If you have a dry meat, that seasoning is like a stick ”
“ You can always add
seasoning to your foods but you
can't
take it away,
”
The amount of seasoning needed is hard to gauge, but if you like to spice things up a notch like Emeril Lagasse, make sure you take into account who you are cooking for
“But if it's just add-ons, I'll put a little bit of cayenne to give it a little spice A lot of it depends on who's eating it. Because if it's hot, a child's not going to eat it. If it's spicy, they're going to want to go to Mickey D's or something.”
Another way he adds more depth to the flavor is with pecan wood chips. He says he soaks them in water and then places them on the hot coals
Maintaining a steady temperature can be difficult Too hot and the outside of your meal will cook too fast and burn, leaving the inside raw.
He said he likes to cook around 250-275 degrees and varies the time based on what he is cooking He recommends keeping a spray bottle with water handy to tamp down any flare-ups If the grill temperature drops too low, you can open the vents to let more airflow in, prop the lid open slightly, and even use a small fan to help get the heat back up to the temperature you want.
When it comes to steaks, Johnson says a good garlic butter rub is a good way to season and keep it moist. Start with high heat first to sear the outside, then lower the heat to cook it how you like it, whether it be well-done, medium or rare
By Emily Burleigh
Three Events to look forward to
1.Red, White, Blue, & You!
The annual Fourth of July celebration will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, July 4. Hosted by the city of Lake Charles, the celebration features live music, an armed forces salute, and, of course, fireworks
2. SC3 Chicken Fest
Starting at 9 a m on Saturday, July 19, the SC3 Chicken Fest will bring everything chicken to the West Cal Arena & Events Center, 401 Arena Rd
shland Festival
Three Ways to ol off this
summer
1. SPAR Waterpark
SPAR Waterpark, 933 West Parish Rd , Sulphur, is open during June and July For 20 years, it has cooled the area with the Lagoon Pool, lazy river, several slides and kid-friendly areas
2. Millennium Park
Backdropped by Lake Charles, Millennium Park, 900 Lakeshore Dr., feature both a large playground and splash pad
3. Pinederosa Park
Pinederosa Park in Westlake, 1221 Sampson St., isn’t just a park for baseball and softball. The park’s splash pad offers a reprieve from the
val that originated in Hackberry will be celebrated C Event Center on July and 26.
Three places to get a refreshing Treat in SWLA
1. Lulu’s Specialty Snocones and More
Refuel with a slushee, shaved ice, smoothie, or snow cone at Lulu’s, 2735 Country Club Rd. Hungry too? The shop also offers snacks, nachos, and sandwiches.
2. PT’s Snowballs, Coffee and Ice Cream
With two locations - 2405 Maplewood Dr. in Sulphur and 2784 Westwood Rd in Westlake - PT’s shops are onestop shops for ice cream, snowcones, Italian soda, coffee and more.
3. Kona Ice
Since 2014, Kona Ice has been offering cold treats onthe-go. The tropical shaved ice truck can be spotted at events, festivals and sporting events throughout the region summer heat
READING NOOK
StaffandLibrarianReviews
Braiding Sweetgrass
Author: Robin Wall Kimmerer
This collection of essays is a love letter to the Earth that serves as a reminder that every individual should develop an individual relationship with the environment around them.
Kimmerer, a botanist and a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, weaves scientific knowledge with Indigenous wisdom to explore natural systems and philosophical ideas.
From the life cycle of sweetgrass to the importance of gratitude, Kimmerer curated a collection of essays that remind us that the planet is a gift to be appreciated.
Read this book outdoors, and take moments to sit quietly and listen. The lessons of “Braiding Sweetgrass” extend beyond the text.
The Spellshop
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
If you ’ re looking for a cozy cottagecore story with a slow-burning romance, “The Spellshop” by Sarah Beth Durst is the book for you.
At the beginning of the story, we meet Kiela who is a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium. Her only companion is a magical spider plant named Caz.
The city of Alyssium is in the throes of a revolution and the freedom fighters are attacking and burning the Great Library. Kiela and Caz have no choice but to flee with as many library books as their small boat can carry. These aren’t just any books: they are spell books. The use of magic has been restricted for years and only those the emperor approves of are allowed to use it.
Review by Emily Burleigh
In order to support themselves, Kiela decides to turn the cottage into a Jam Shop. Things seem to finally be going well when a red-headed woman arrives on the island during a terrible storm. Now there is unrest and talk of illegal magic on the island. Will Kiela and Caz’s good intentions be misunderstood as malicious? Can they make Caltrey their home or must they run away again, just as they were learning to trust others?
Review by Sandy Buteau, Calcasieu Parish Library
The Games Gods Play
Author: Abigail Owen
Did you love “The Hunger Games” as a teen? How about the “Percy Jackson” series? If you combine them and add adult characters, you ’ ve got Abigail Owen’s book “The Games Gods Play.”
Lyra Keres was cursed by Zeus, the king of the gods, at birth so she could never be loved. At 3 years old, Lyra’s parents gave her to the Order of Thieves to pay off their family debt. Now at 23, Lyra finds herself on the way to Zeus’s temple for the Crucible, a tournament held every 100 years to determine which god or goddess will rule for the next century.
On the way to the Crucible, Lyra is publicly embarrassed mainly due to Zeus’s curse. In her anger she decides to throw a rock at his temple, but instead of causing a disturbance that will likely get her smote by the gods, Lyra meets Hades: king of the underworld.
One by one, the gods name their champions and pull them from their mortal lives to head to Mount Olympus. However, this year is unlike any other year. Hades has decided to play in this year ’ s Crucible, and Lyra Keres is his champion. Already unlovable, now as Hades’ champion, Lyra’s life seems even more unfair. But if she manages to win and Hades is crowned king of the gods, he promises to remove Lyra’s curse. Can she trust the king of the underworld to keep his promise? Will she survive the Crucible? And are the rumors about Hades even true?
The Rom-Commers
Author: Katherine Center
Emma Wheeler lives a very small and structured life in her small Texas town. For the past 10 years, she has been her father’s caregiver and surrogate mother to her younger sister due to a life-altering camping accident. Earning her degree online and also teaching online, Emma makes a meager living for her family. Unknown to the world, Emma is a brilliant screenwriter, especially of romantic comedies.
Charlie Yates is a famous screenwriter living in Los Angeles. Charlie creates incredible stories covering almost every genre. Whether they're cowboys, space aliens, or criminals, Charlie Yates writes them in such a way that you really care about these characters. But his latest story, a rom-com, is so terrible that we need a new word for "terrible."
Emma soon receives a call from her manager, and ex-boyfriend, who happens to also be Charlie’s manager. He comes up with a plan for Emma to ghost write the rom com with Charlie, convincing Emma to leave her disabled father in the care of her younger sister and fly to Los Angeles to work with Charlie.
The book is a great selection for those who love a classic rom-com-movie plot. Reading Emma’s and Charlie’s interactions was like watching a Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks movie from the 90's and early 2000's. “The RomCommers” by Katherine Center is a book I will definitely be reading again. Similar titles are Emily Henry’s “Book Lovers” and Abby Jimenez’s “The Friend Zone.”
by
Review by Sandy Buteau, Calcasieu Parish Library
Review
Sandy Buteau, Calcasieu Parish Library
The Abundance of Less
Author: Andy Couturier
Close your eyes and take a moment to imagine what a truly "rich" life looks like to you. Many have begun to wonder if there is more to this life than working, consuming, and staying bound to the never-ending hedonistic treadmill. “The Abundance of Less” explores the lives of 10 people who chose to live with less things despite the world bombarding us with the message that collecting more “stuff” is not only a status symbol but also the gold standard.
Couturier has written a quietly moving book that feels like a conversation with a down-to-earth friend. Readers are simultaneously encouraged to be open to the idea that giving up things is not only more sustainable, but it also allows certain freedoms to pursue creative passions and experience joy in other ways.
Nature’s Best Hope
Author: Douglas W. Tallamy
After dabbling with growing native plants and flowers and noticing an uptick in pollinators in my yard, I decided to read “Nature’s Best Hope” by Douglas W. Tallamy. Tallamy’s approach to unraveling the connection between natives and wildlife involves turning our own spaces into thriving ecosystems, whether that is in a large yard, or on a small balcony porch.
This book explores the concept of the Homegrown National Park. Tallamy goes into detail explaining how simple changes, like growing native milkweed in pots for monarch butterflies or planting oak trees for caterpillars, can create habitats and restore biodiversity in our local neighborhoods. His ideas are firmly rooted in science but are expressed in an engaging and uncomplicated way, giving the reader a sense that they, too, can make an impact.
Wh th fi t ti h
Gone fishing Gone fishing
Charter boats Charter boats
may be the way may be the way to go to go
StorybyRodrickAnderson
PhotosprovidedbyBradleyLanningham
Louisiana offers many great opportunities to spend time outdoors, especially when it comes to fishing. Chartered saltwater fishing trips have been growing in popularity as a great way to experience what the area has to offer and feel the thrill of reeling in a big fish
The number of fishing charter services has grown exponentially over the last couple of decades as visitors and locals look to experienced anglers and boat captains to create memorable experiences
Lake Charles native Bradley Laningham owns and operates CAT 5 Fishing Charters and says business is booming.
“Over here it's popular because of our estuary in Big Lake,” Laningham said. “Calcasieu Lake is phenomenal.
“You can get redfish, speckled trout, and there is sheepshead and black drum. And then you have your random species every once in a while, like mackerel or tarpon I caught a cobia in the ship channel one day
“You never know what you might hook up in our area It could be a 7-pound trout, or it could be a 40-pound redfish A lot of people all over the world come to our little area just for fishing. I get a lot from Texas. I had a guy from Alaska the other day.”
And it is not just for the seasoned angler. Lanningham said he gets a lot of first-timers.
“I have actually a lot of people who've never fished with me before or never been on a boat,” Lanningham said. “I have beginners all the time.
“My charter is for beginners, too If you ' re a pro, you ' re a pro, but I welcome everybody from all ages The techniques we use are very simple. By the end of the day, they're actually cast better than where they started.”
He has been a guide for 15 years, something he had dreamed about since he was old enough to pick up a rod and reel.
“In my third-grade yearbook it says what I wanted to do in thirty years, ” Lanningham said “It was either a professional angler or a fishing guide And here we are ”
“I used to be a Calcasieu Sheriff's deputy, and it just wasn't for me. I loved being outside more, being outdoors I was ready just to try something different and pursue my dream job of being a fishing guide I took a class and passed my captain's license, and it's been phenomenal since. When I first started it was kind of a grind. This is the second year I'm running it, and I'm busier than ever this year. ”
Lanningham treats his clients like family and wears many hats.
“I treat everybody like they're my best friend I've never seen in a long time,” he said. “We cut up, we laugh, we make memories
“I think that's what more people look for, not just limits, just having a great time and a great experience. A teacher, a comedian, a therapist, you name it, we do it all.”
He added that it can be a great experience for families.
“I get a ton of families,” Lanningham said. “During the summer months, it's mostly family trips. Most people on the water go home happy ”
He said one aspect that has helped to fuel the popularity of chartered fishing trips is the growth of fishing as a high school and college sport.
“I guess since all these high schools and college teams have fishing, now more people are seeing it as a sport and very competitive,” Lanningham said. “I'm always having people coming out, and they're always like betting on each other or having little fun little games against each other
“Who gets the most, who gets the biggest And just a different thing to do, other than, you know, going to the movies.”
He said trips typically last five to eight hours, and he provides rods and reels, tackle, lures and life vests.
He recommends Louisiana residents get a basic fishing license, including salt water. For nonresidents, he recommends a saltwater charter passenger license He usually takes up to four passengers per trip on his but has at times squeezed in a fifth. He has agreements with other full-time and part-time charters to handle larger groups.
“Thirty minutes before sunrise, we ' re on the water,” Lanningham said. “We pick up bait, then we ' re searching We're either fishing reefs to the ship channel, chasing birds to the grass line, or chasing, tailing redfish. And then we come back and clean fish.”
The Beauty Of Our Planet
Story By Crystal Stevenson
Mary Richardson is not just a tourist. She's an explorer who seeks to immerse herself in new environments, embracing diversity and forging genuine relationships with the locals.
"I consider Lake Charles my community my church is here, my friends are here, half of my family is here But I also feel a broader connection with humanity," she said.
Richardson, who shares her travel experiences several times a year through her writings in the American Press, said she travels not only for the beauty she finds when she arrives at the destination but also out of sheer curiosity
Giza, Egypt
"There's a sense of awe with our planet," she said. "I'm a history major and Joe (her husband) has an undergraduate degree in history and it's one thing to read about a country, it's another thing to see it In Egypt, we were climbing up the Step Pyramid near Cairo and it's 5,000 years old! It's only been 2,000 years since the beginning of Christianity and that had already been there for 3,000 years There's this sense of timing; you ' re only a piece of dust in it."
When Joe and Mary were courting, Richardson said the couple never had big plans to see the world That came later
"We had a Pinto with a stick shift and we would pull a boat," she said with a laugh "That's how we traveled. We would go camping in national parks and state parks "
He's from Kentucky, she's from Minnesota. They met and married in Florida and shortly after moved to Nevada for his work as a civil engineer
Eventually, Joe was awarded a Fulbright Professorship a prestigious opportunity for American faculty members to teach abroad and the program took their family to United Emirates, Sharjah, Namibia, Singapore, Indonesia, Holland and Dubai.
"We started traveling when he started working in these foreign countries," she said "He went to Rwanda first, 10 years after the genocide, and that's when we started thinking about the world Then he became a department head in Dubai, then he had a Fulbright to Namibia That's how I got to see Africa. Very few of the trips have been planned, most came by circumstance where he happened to be That's where we got a taste of being part of the world as opposed
to
The pair found themselves in Lake Charles in 1986.
"We were passing through back to Gainesville, Fla , where Joe was getting his Ph.D. in civil engineering and we stopped and I had the blackened catfish and I told Joe, 'I'd like to stay here.' That's the truth," she said.
Both found work at McNeese State University he as an engineering professor and she as the director of the Banners Cultural Series. Twice a year, they would travel on school breaks and continue to build an appreciation for life’s blessings
"This country is a miracle One of the miracles is our founding fathers,” she said. “At one time, they were all there together, forming our democracy, the
Panajachel, Guatemala
being part of a small community."
Oslo, Norway
Constitution, the Bill of Rights Nothing like that has ever happened in Haiti. Haiti has not had good government not one day in its life "
She said travel has given her a sense of gratitude
"It's not due to you; it's chance that you were born here and had these opportunities," she said. "In Guatemala, I developed an appreciation for gratitude You can look at them and say, 'Oh, poor thing. You don't have enough electricity You don't have carpets on the floors.' They don't care. They're just grateful for what they do have."
She said traveling has also deeply changed her view of the world
"We went by a refugee camp on the border of Ethiopia. People have been there for years and they weren't going to get out. It was a hopeless situation If I hadn't seen that I would have known about it in my mind, but not know about it in my heart It hurts The tragedy at the border has a face.
When Joe retired she said that's when the travel bug really hit the pair and, as Johnny Cash sings, the Richardsons have now "been everywhere man. "
They've been to five of the seven continents They haven't been to Australia or Antartica. Joe has been to 48 states, Mary said she's still catching up
Istanbul is top on her bucket list of sites to see.
"Joe has been to Istanbul but I have not," she said. "And I've been to Morocco but Joe has not I want to see Istanbul, that's the kind of architecture that feeds my soul. I'd also like to see Nepal."
Before retirement, the couple planned two trips a year. Now they take about four
"We're in a travel period of our life," she said. "I feel like time is chasing us We're both healthy right now but he's 80 and I just turned 78. If we ' re going to do
"Travel broadens you as a person, " she continued. "I do see myself as a piece of dust in the world as opposed to a little piece of sand in Lake Charles."
something, we ' ve got to do it now Age makes you feel vulnerable to chance."
Mary is an adventurous eater, but Joe "not so much "
"I've had some really bad meals, though, especially if I can't read a menu, " she said. "In Singapore, I had my first tuna pizza I will never forget that because it was not a match made of heaven That was not a good idea."
Also not a good idea? Shark.
“I tried the shark in Iceland, though I was warned against it," she said. "That was doubly unfortunate. First of all, it's something you never want to put in your mouth but second of all, a friend asked us to bring some home and I put some frozen shark in my backpack but the pressure during the flight opened it up and oh boy."
During the pandemic, the couple realized they needed to see more of the United States. "We went out west and back to the Grand Canyon," she said. "Joe had been there many times and I had
been only once as a child and I think everyone who
has been to the Grand Canyon remembers that sense of awe. That gasp. Some of the most beautiful sights in the world are right here in the United States."
Their fall trip this year will cover six national parks.
"We're going to stay at the historic lodges that we looked at in when we were staying in tents," she said "And just because we ' re staying in these historic lodges, doesn't mean we ' re staying in luxury."
Traveling is incredibly important for personal growth, cultural understanding and global awareness. It also broadens perspectives, fosters empathy and provides opportunities for learning, skill development and lasting memories, Richardson said.
"I don't know if you become a better person, necessarily I don't know if you become smarter or wiser. I'm not sure about that. I don't think you can help but become more appreciative and more grateful not to feel sorry for other people; it's a different kind of gratitude. I don't know how to define it It's a valuable experience "
Lisbon, Portugal
Someone You Should Know
TRACIE RAMEY
What is the best thing about Southwest Louisiana?
Being born and raised in North Louisiana and moving to the Lake Charles area four years ago, I instantly felt like this was home. The warmth of the community, the amazing food, the beautiful landscape, and the resilience of SWLA no matter what situation arises, they are always there for their neighbors. I love the fact that no matter what your interests or hobbies are, it is available in the area. Museums, nightlife, great restaurants, fishing, crabbing, boating, and you can enjoy many of these things at our beautiful Sam Houston Jones State Park.
Why should we embrace The Great Outdoors?
Everything. The amount of mental and physical wellbeing that being in nature provides is immeasurable Physical and psychological studies have shown over and over that 30 minutes in nature can boost serotonin levels, reduce blood pressure, and greatly improve your overall health. 30 minutes is what we spend on the phone scrolling every day, so we have the time to do it. Being active parents, grandparents, and promoting that active lifestyle needs to be a primary thing in families and individuals. Start a walking team, yoga group, or find yourself a private quiet meditation area All of these things can benefit you in other areas of life by being more grounded and less stressed.
What was your last moment of gratitude?
Hearing from visitors at Sam Houston Jones State Park that the work done by the amazing staff, whom I am so fortunate to have, that all of the hard work makes them want to keep coming back to the park We see and talk to so many people who have been coming to our park for generations, and when you get to hear the stories of how someone met their spouse here 30 years ago, brought their kids and grandkids fishing and camping here, it makes you so grateful to be apart of making such memories for now and generations to come
Describe the last time you were inspired.
Everyday. I am so blessed to be the overseer of this beautiful State Park. I get to start my mornings by seeing the sunrise over the cypress and magnolia trees, with the sounds of wildlife in the background. Ending the day with the sun setting on the Calcasieu River, seeing the deer, ducks, and owls starting their nightly routines
One Tank Trips
StorybyAshlynLittle
PhotosprovidedtotheAmericanPress
Summertime is here, and if you ’ re looking for somewhere to go for the day, look no further than our home state. There are cities throughout Louisiana that offer a variety of fun entertainment for kids and adults alike
Lafayette
Louisiana is no stranger to rich cultures, and Lafayette is home to an epicenter of Acadian history
The Village offers a step back in time to a simpler, yet more difficult, era. It’s great to learn about what led Acadia’s ancestors here, said Kristen Wilkens, LARC’s store manager
“A lot of the children are shocked at the contrast between the early 1800s and nowby showing them region-specific differences, it impacts them directly,” she said.
The Village is made up of different homes, with each one having its own story and history. A trip to the Acadian Village is not only educational and fun, but also all proceeds directly benefit
LARC, which assists adults with special needs through participation in community engagement and education while promoting employment opportunities.
The Acadian Village is a great place for families to enjoy a full day learning a little Acadian history Families often bring a picnic and enjoy it at the pavilion. Independent and guided tours of the village are also available. Guided tours are $15 per adult and $12 per student, while self-guided tours are $11 per adult, $10 per senior, and $9 for students.
The Village is located at 200 Greenleaf Drive in Lafayette and is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the summer. You can also find live music from 10 a m to 1 p m on Mondays and Saturdays
Another must-see pit stop in Lafayette is the last freestanding Borden’s Ice Cream Shoppe in the country. Borden’s in Lafayette opened in 1940 and offers over 31 flavors of delicious ice cream. The two most popular items on the menu are the banana splits and a scoop of vanilla dipped in Elmer’s Gold Brick Topping that turns into a hard shell, according to Kackie Lerille, owner of Borden’s. She and her father, Red Lerille, purchased the property and the business in 2009
“It was a cute little spot that we felt it was important to take care of ”
They proceeded to complete a year-long renovation, but kept the business open for the community
Borden’s Ice Cream Shoppe is open Monday through Thursday, 11 a m to 9 p m ; Friday, 11 a m to 10 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Alexandria
If your family loves animals, Alexandria is the best place to take the kids this summer. The Alexandria Zoo, 3016 Masonic Drive, Alexandria, is open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Zoo has all sorts of animals from flamingos to the American black bear. You can even take a train ride around the zoo and if you get hungry,
eat at the Palm Cafe. The Palm Cafe is open Sunday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p m and Saturday’s 10 a m to 4:30 p m
If you want to see more animals, you can head on over to the “Gone Wild Safari” a couple minutes away in Pineville. Gone WIld Safari is a drive-through animal park where wildlife roam
freely and you can observe animals in their natural habitats right in the comfort of your own vehicle
It is open 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., allowing visitors to drive their own car through the safari There is an extra fee to feed the animals yourself, but on Fridays and Saturdays, you can hop on a guided bus tour between 10:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m.
The Safari also has an interactive petting zoo, a hands-on wildlife experience that will delight kids and adults alike.
For more information on Gone Wild Safari, call 318.787.6902.
After a day filled with playing with the animals, stop at a CenLa’s favorite, BJ’s Pizza House. This iconic pizza restaurant has been serving the Alexandria area since 1979. With three locations in Cenla,
The restaurant has been voted “CenLa’s Best Pizza” for over 30 years, said Norma Baker (Pineville, Ball and Alexandria) it’s hard to pass up while visiting the area.
She is the store manager for the Pineville location and managing partner for BJ’s Pizza House, and has been working there for even longer
“We really push freshness and quality of product.”
The restaurant uses its secret seasoning blend to make its signature sauce, and chops its bell peppers and onions by hand to keep it fresh.
BJ’s makes its own dough from scratch two to three times a day, and has used the same great recipe since 1979.
“When people come in town, the first thing they want to do is go to BJ’s. ... They say ‘there’s no place in Dallas or no place in Nashville like BJ’s’they want to come home and have BJ’s pizza,” she said
Natchitoches
For a day filled with history, shopping, and walking along a beautiful riverfront look no further than Natchitoches.
The city was established in 1714 and is the original French colony in Louisiana. It is also the oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase Take a stroll along the Cane River and enjoy the atmosphere
“I recommend taking in Front Street and having a picnic down on the riverbank,” Meshelle Morgan, operations manager at Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau, said
The historic district offers over 20 locallyowned shops and boutiques, and multiple restaurants.
Be sure to stop in at Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile. Established in 1863, the store is the oldest business in the city and Louisiana’s oldest general store. You can find anything in the store from classic toys - like a Radio Flyer wagon - to hardware and kitchen supplies. Upstairs is a gift shop with jewelry and Christmas items year-round
After shopping on Front Street, if you ’ re feeling hungry, there are plenty of options. One local favorite is Papa’s Bar and Grill. While in Natchitoches, you can always opt for a Natchitoches meat pie or try one of Papa’s burgers
One of Morgan’s favorite places to stop in is the Cane River Candy Company on Front Street for a delicious sweet treat The store is a local candy store offering a variety of chocolate covered treats, retro candy, popcorn and more.
If you like mini golf head over to the brand new attraction at Dark Woods Adventure Park located at 4343 University Parkway Natchitoches. It has a fun pirate-themed mini golf course for all ages to enjoy.
“Natchitoches is a safe and fun family environment,” Morgan said.
Next time you ’ re considering a trip to get away, but don’t really have the time or money to schedule a weeklong vacation, look in your own backyard for fun places to go and see!
ECON 101 ECON 101
By Dr. Matiur Rahman Professor and Interim Associate Dean McNeese College of Business
WHappiness andMoney
hat is money?Conceptually, money is ambiguous and mysterious. Functionally, money is well defined, serving as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, and a store of value with price stability, leaving its buying power reasonably intact. Money in circulation matters a whole lot, contributing to economic activities and job creation It is essential in life It can enhance economic well-being. Money can buy the necessities of life and offer a comfortable life. However, it is not everything.
Everyone seeks to have more money and income. As the saying goes, “the more, the merrier ” What is the point of satiation? None in the presence of excess greed Greed is a key driving force of a market economy, but an excess of it may lead to market failures The super-rich and wealthy can hijack the markets, hurting the consumers In a market economy, too much and too little money circling around can cause surging inflation and higher unemployment, respectively. Then, what should be the optimum quantity of money in circulation to ensure a combination of low inflation and low unemployment rates (soft landing or goldilocks economy)? No one knows
Happiness is very complex and multifaceted It is a matter of an inward psychological positive feeling toward life The perception of happiness is very personal, and its extent varies from person to person. The feeling of happiness depends on mental and emotional states. There are ebbs and flows in emotions. So, feelings of happiness have upturns and downturns. They mean that individuals sometimes feel happier and less happy or even unhappy. Why so?
The root cause is random uncertainties about financial and job security Most prominently, fear of job and income losses causes mental distress A strong sense of job and income security creates an upbeat emotional feeling toward life Happiness can be felt, but cannot be objectivley quantified.
Happiness is not without confines According to some studies, people below the threshold annual income of $75,000 to $100,000 feel much happier when income rises. Once they reach this threshold and move beyond, the feeling of happiness rises at a diminishing rate with rising income. Beyond the point of satiation, the additional feeling of happiness turns into zero or even negative
Can money alone buy genuine happiness? Not so However, money can buy comfort and luxury in life. How much money one should have depends on individual attitudes toward life. Life is full of uncertainties. The world is imperfect with many unknowns Perfect answers to the above questions are elusive. Excess love for money beyond decent living is just an illusion. Finally, happiness is a butterfly beyond grasp
Louisiana’s Outback
the Creole Nature Trail Puts Southwest Louisiana’s Treasures on Display
Story
by
Emily Burleigh
Photography provided by Visit Lake Charles
Southwest Louisiana is not only a wealth of unique culture and ecological elements, but it is a destination unto itself.
The treasures of SWLA are globally recognized because the region is the home of the Creole Nature Trail, the only All-American Road fully contained within the state.
The 180-mile road was created in 1979 and was designated as a National Scenic Byway in 1979.
“Just step out there and look at it like you’ve never seen it before.”
Anne Klenke, Vice President of Destination Development and Community Engagement
A roadway is deemed a National Scenic Byway by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration if it meets at least one of six criteria: archeological, cultural, historical, natural, recreational and scenic.
One step above a National Scenic Byway is the All-American Road, which needs to have at least two of the “intrinsi qualities” and have one of-a-kind features that can’t be found elsewhere In 2002, the Creole Nature Trail received this designation, which has
only been granted to a handful of other roadways.
“People come here just to travel the Creole Nature Trail This is like its own little tourist attraction,” said Anne Klenke, vice president of destination development and community engagement.
Begin the Adventure
She works out of Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point, the Sulphur satellite office of Visit Lake Charles.
The outside of the building features the “Louisiana’s Outback” Creole Nature Trail logo and a small white, wooden fishing boat, which is perfect for a photo op.
Before sitting down with the American Press, she showed off the local art and wellreserved alligator skin that decorate its walls
“We had local artists commissioned to do all the different art and then this was actually donated to us and they had had it for years and years and no longer had any place to put it,” she recalled with a smile. “So, then they allowed us to tell the story ”
Built 10 years ago Adventure Point is an opportunity for travelers to learn about what they should look out for before traversing the Creole Nature Trail
The photo opportunities flow inside the building, which is in reality a free, fun and immersive “edutainment”
opportunity for travelers before they set out on the trail. Its halls hold several interactive hands-on displays for guests to learn about all things Southwest Louisiana.
From the food to the music to the smells to the ecosystem, any tourist or local who stops by Adventure Point will leave with more knowledge on SWLA’s local culture, and the intrinsic qualities of the regions that make the creole nature trail so special.
Such as the Chenier Plain - the coastal landscape of SWLA and Southwest Texas that is made of cheniers and mudflats, shaded with oak trees and backdropped by marshes, which are necessary nurseries for fish, shrimp and oysters
The flat lands and marshes are features that locals might take for granted, but outof-towners find themselves in awe while traversing the nature trail, she said
“It’s just marshes as far as you can see, and we don’t think much of it because that’s what we ’ re used to But imagine you ’ re from New York or London, and you ’ re out there and there’s no people around. It’s flat as far as you can see and you see a thunderstorm start rolling in.
The “just spectacular” Rutherford Beach, where the water is shallow enough to see redfish swimming and the shells are waiting to be collected.
“It’s a little frightening for them, but it’s also amazing because it’s something they’ve never seen before ”
And with global travelers comes a significant economic impact. One study conducted by Visit Lake Charles found the trail brought 300,000 people to SWLA annually, a number that Klenke said has only increased.
“Whatever Mother Nature has on the menu for today is what you’re going to see, to experience.”
“Everyday, we have people walk in that front door from all over the world: The UK, Germany, China, Greece, Turkey. … To them, it’s just another opportunity to experience a natural wonder ”
Children exploring one of the many beaches along the Creole Nature Trail alongside a colony of seagulls
The Main Loop
Most travelers take the main loop from Sulphur, south to Holly Beach, east to Creole and back north to Lake Charles. Before setting out on the trail, don’t forget to pack sunscreen, bug spray and a sense of curiosity.
Klenke said the first stop should be Brown’s Grocery Story, where explorers can stock up on all the supplies.
Along the way, there are four wildlife refuges to explore.
The first is the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge that has three recreational areas and two walking trails, like the Blue Goose Walking Trail and the Wetland Walkway, a three-quarter mile marsh boardwalk.
All the way South, travelers will find Holly and Rutherford beaches
The trail also reaches the tiny town of Creole North from there are the Conway Blue Memorial Bridge and the Pentel Wildlife Drive.
Klenke called the Pentel Wildlife Drive
the place to go if there is limited time. The three-mile driving loop puts all of the trail’s unique features on display, and they can all be seen from the comfort of the passenger ’ s seat.
Pro-tip: On the way back north, make one last pitstop at Chesson’s Grocery and take La 397 back up to I-10 to see the bird’s Farmer’s Rice Mill.
That is only a portion of the mail loop, and doesn’t include the handful of detours that can make the trip
even more impactful.
To see all of the exploration opportunities, visit www visitlakecharles org/creole-naturetrail
ALLTHINGSLOUISIANA
14 THINGS 14 THINGS
TO DO, SEE & EAT TO DO, SEE & EAT
LOUISIANA STATE EXHIBIT MUSUEM
Pottery,shellbeads,pipes,copper ornamentsandstonetoolsfrom theCaddoNationaredisplayedin thisShreveportgallery including a30-footCypresscanoe constructedsometimebetween AD 1005andAD1065
NEW ORLEANS STREETCARS
BYCRYSTAL STEVENSON
Jumpaboardastreetcarfora funwaytobetransported aroundNewOrleans Streetcar fareanywhereinthecityis $1.25perride.
CAFE´ DU MONDE
CaféDuMondeistheoldest coffeeshopinNewOrleans, openingasacoffeestandin 1862.Itsmenuhaschangedlittle sincethen particularlytheir beignets,whichareservedwith athickcoatingofpowdered sugarandsoldinordersofthree.
RIP VAN WINKLE GARDENS
Lookingforapeaceful summerretreat?Take astrollthroughthese 15acresofsemi-tropical gardensnestledamong 350-year-oldoaktrees inNewIberia.
THE NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM
TheNationalWWIIMuseumin NewOrleanstellsthestoryof theAmericanexperienceinthe warthatchangedtheworld.
AMERICAN ROSE CENTER
ThespectacularGardensof theAmericanRoseCenterare locatedona118-acrewooded tractnearShreveport and they’reasighttobeholdat Christmastime.
OAK ALLEY PLANTATION
Nestledamong28oak trees,thishistoricsitein Vacherieisdedicatedto preservingandinterpreting eachchapterofthis plantation’smemory.
BIEDENHARN MUSEUM
HearthetaleofCoca-Cola's bottlingbeginnings,thenrefresh witha5centCokeandthe nostalgiaofearlyCoca-Cola memorabiliaatthisMonroepitstop.
NANNY’S CANDY COMPANY
Enjoythesweeterthings inlife—particularlypecan pralines atthisfamily-owned Carencroshop.
GLOBAL WILDLIFE CENTER
LocatedinFolsom,this 900-acrefree-roamingwildlifepreserve features2,000animals amongthem theRedKangaroo,zebras,giraffes, AmericanBison,llamasandtheBactrian Camel.
AVERY ISLAND
There’salotpacked intothistrip Jungle Gardensaswellass touroftheTabasco museumandfactory
AUDUBON ZOO
ThisNewOrleansmust-see featuresexoticandendangered animalsfromaroundtheglobe andvisitorscantakecanalso spendtimefloatinginthelazy riverasitwindsthroughthe flamingoexhibit.
PREHISTORIC PARK
STEEL MAGNOLIAS HOUSE
Exploretowering,life-sized dinosaurs—frompredatorsto gentleherbivores thatbring thisLafayttedinosaurparktolife.
Wheremany scenesofthe1989 movie"SteelMagnolias"werefilmed, thishomehasbeenturnedintoa bedandbreakfastinNatchitoches.
HoustonJonesState HoustonJonesState
PPark ark
ADiscoveries FoundAlong theOrange Trail Storyand Photographyby EmilyBurleigh
t the beginning of June, my best friend of 14 years, Wesley Jackson, and I embarked on a new adventure: geocaching
In a time where digital worlds dominate the day-to-day, geocaching offers a real-world adventure that uses the technology that keeps us indoors. A modern-day treasure hunt, geocaching invites people of all ages to get outside, engage with the environment and find hidden containers (geocaches) anywhere and everywhere
Geocaching was created in 2000 by Dave Ulmer after the United States Government fixed a GPS error called GPS signal degradation, making GPS devices significantly more accurate.
It was originally called “Great American GPS Stash Hunt,” and after a few passionate hobbyists with pencils, paper and a whole lot of creativity picked up the game, it spread like wildfire.
The process is much simpler in 2025. You download the app - Geocaching - to your GPS-enabled mobile device, create an account and look for the caches. On June 6, I did just that before picking up Wesley and making our way to Sam Houston Jones State Park.
6/6/2025 17:54
Taking a hike in Sam Houston Jones State Park is one of our favorite Friday activities, so we were familiar with the trails. And a quick glance at the app showed us that there are dozens of geocaches throughout the park, especially on our favorite trail: the Orange Trail.
The Orange Trail runs alongside the Calcasieu River. You’ll often encounter animals - squirrels, rabbits, snakes - and boaters blasting Top 100 Hits as they ride the water. Friday was no exception, except instead of just walking the trail, Wesley and I were on the hunt.
The 1.9-mile trail usually takes us about 30 minutes to traverse, but this time around, we were there for an hour and a half. That is because there are 12 geocaches on the Orange Trail. I did the math - we averaged about nine minutes per geocache Then I did more math - we only found 66 percent of the nine geoaches we attempted.
While these stats might be a bit embarrassing, it’s certainly because we were not prepared.
We quickly learned a few lessons.
One: Bring. Bug. Spray. And if you can, wear pants As park regulars, we were not expecting the trees to fight back, but we walked out of that trail with some battle scars.
Wesley and I left the trail sweaty and scratched up, but filled with a deep sense of community that we ’ ve been longing for. There is a
FunFacts
There are geocaches to be found in 191 countries, and all seven continents
Geocacheing HQ launched the enivronmental initiative Cache In Trash Out® (CITO) to promote enviromental preservation.
6/6/2025 19:05
Two: Bring trinkets! I’ve never met someone who geocaches, but what we discovered is that the hobby has a thriving (and fun) community. All of the caches we did manage to find had papers with dozens of names of geocachers who have found them within just the past few months. Alongside them were chotskies left behind. After stalking a few forums, I learned that this is a common practice. Leave a doohickey Take a doohickey
6/6/2025 18:09
Wes failing to find the cache called "Honey Bee"
Three: Geocaching is a skill. The difficulty ranges from “hidden behind a piece of bark on the ground,” or difficulty one, to “I don’t think this geocache actually exists,” difficulty five. They also range in size, typically from “micro” to “large.” We mostly found the micros, and never encountered anything bigger than “small.”
message board for each cache called “past logs” where you can see messages from fellow geocachers who found (or didn’t find) the loot like, “Found! Too scared to touch at first” and “Thanks for my first find! My 6 year old loved it!”
In the end, the both of us found solace knowing that we would be back on their trail soon to find the caches that evaded us, excited to share our successes with our newfound treasure-hunting friends
Wes and I's first geocache: "White Perch"
Our favorite cache - "Black Willow"
