Things to Do for a Guy's Weekend

A bachelor party should be your crew's ultimate getaway, one last hurrah with the boys before tying the knot. Let Louisiana's Playground be that perfect host as your group participates in activities like a guided fishing trip, an ultimate brewery experience, a variety of water sports, live music, lazy rivers, golf, or indulging in some of the best seafood, burgers, barbecue, and adult beverages! In Southwest Louisiana, every one of your buddies will find something they love while you blow off steam before your big day.

Check out suggestions that can be added to your bachelor party list.

 

1. Bachelor's Night Out:

Sports fans will love the food and drink options at DraftKings Sportsbook at Golden Nugget, ESPN Bet Sportsbook at L’Auberge, and Caesar's Sportsbook at the Horseshoe. All three boast wall-to-wall screens to keep up with multiple games (and your bets) so you never miss a play, and while you’re at it, take advantage of delicious burgers, flavorful wings, gourmet pizza, oysters, ice-cold beer, and much more. For live music and dancing experiences on-site, Blue Martini at Golden Nugget has a thriving nightlife scene.

 

Barstool Burger

 

If you want to take the party downtown, Panorama Music House is a beacon for live music from a variety of artists. Panorama has quirky and vintage décor with nods to great musicians who have trailblazed new sounds spanning generations. A few steps away is The Emporium, with vintage items for sale.

 

Panorama Music House

 


Crying Eagle Brewing has a variety of brews, drinks, and food items that pair well with their beers, with everything from stone-fired pizza to grilled oysters to burgers. You can also listen to live music, hang out in the taproom or beer garden, or play a round of corn hole or two. Crying Eagle also offers tours for beer enthusiasts, and during the summer months, Crying Eagle presents a popular summer concert series. You can also enjoy a brewzy brunch on Sundays. 



Crying Eagle Brewing

The Frosty Factory can be entertaining, especially if someone in the group is a karaoke fan. Have a daiquiri, then sing some of your favorite songs! Midtown, another favorite hidden gem, is Gayle's Shot Bar, where you can also enjoy a full bar and pool tables.

Frosty Factory

Sometimes, momentous occasions are celebrated over a cigar. Enjoy live entertainment and delicious selections at Legacy 75 Cigar Lounge. At the Cigar Club, your party can enjoy a smoking lounge with a full bar offering fine scotches, bourbons, martinis, and a great selection of beer. Sink into the leather chairs and reminisce about the glory days.


2. Live It Up with a Resort Stay:

Staying in style is easy in Louisiana’s Playground. L’Auberge and Golden Nugget are side-by-side luxury properties with a lighted boardwalk that connects the two so that you can easily explore both. During the warmer months, it's fun to float along in the lazy rivers, enjoy a game of volleyball or grab a bite from Bill’s Burgers on the beach.

palm trees, lounging area, cabanas, and exterior of Golden Nugget

At L’Auberge, your group can make appointments at 1740 Barbier for scotch or bourbon and a shave. At Golden Nugget, enjoy a manicure, pedicure, or shoeshine (just in case your big wedding day is close to your big weekend with the guys!)

1740 Barbier at L'Auberge Casino

On the other side of the lake, Horseshoe Lake Charles features Brew Brothers, Slice Pizzeria & Pasta, and 7 Seven Noodle Bar. The sophisticated Four Suites Bar sports handcrafted cocktails and the latest bar top video poker games, in addition to the casino floor. If you are more into horse racing, you can check out Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel in Vinton.


Horseshoe Lake Charles'

 

3. Dive Into the Outdoors:

Get down to the basics and enjoy time with your friends by being active outdoors. Guided fishing and hunting trips can be exhilarating, especially with local experts who escort you to breathtakingly gorgeous natural surroundings in Southwest Louisiana.

For other active pursuits, kayaking is great fun. Rent kayaks and have them delivered to your launching point, or from the convenient kiosks at North Beach and Sam Houston Jones State Park to explore local waterways.

Duck Hunt on Creole Nature Trail

If your group of bachelors are golf fans, Louisiana’s Playground features a variety of offerings. Contraband Golf Club at L’Auberge, designed by world-renowned golf architect Tom Fazio, emphasizes the marsh and lowland features of the natural Louisiana environment to enhance this unique 7,000-yard, par-71 championship golf course. It's no surprise to see it honored as one of Golfweek's top five public-access golf courses in Louisiana.

Just feet away, you can also play the award-winning Country Club at Golden Nugget. This 7,000-yard, par-72 course features Bermuda greens, few trees and windswept fairways. The course was recognized as Golfweek's top public-access golf course in Louisiana, and Golf Digest named it among its top five Louisiana golf courses.

The area's newest addition is the Scottish links-inspired Mallard Golf Club. This Championship golf course features five sets of tee boxes, elevated greens, and rolling hills. The golf course is surrounded by native areas and no trees, which produces a true Scottish links experience that's unique to Louisiana. GolfPass named Mallard one of its 2025 Top 10 Public Golf Courses in Louisiana.

Finally, the National Golf Club of Louisiana in Westlake features 14 lakes, 65 bunkers and some of the area’s most challenging greens. The 7000-yard layout not only provides a great golf experience, its beauty alone will have you coming back again and again.

When golfing at The National, enjoy a meal or drinks at The Max Restaurant on site, complete with a screened-in porch for viewing the course with a cold one in hand. The Chart House at Golden Nugget has an elegant bar and dining space with a sweeping view of the course and iconic bridge, as well as outdoor seating with firepits.

 

4. Eat Like There's No Tomorrow:

If you and the boys love great eats, this is the bachelor party destination for you! You won't be able to resist the savory scents as you explore Louisiana's Playground. During crawfish season, you can eats pounds of the Louisiana delicacy at Steamboat Bill's, Seafood Palace, and Beauxdine's. In fact, with so many offerings, check out where to get crawfish in Southwest Louisiana for a full list!


Crawfish

In Louisiana’s Playground, we work hard and play hard, then reward ourselves with hearty meals. Breakfast is no exception, so brace yourself for Biscuits n Jamz or Coffee:30 Café. Indulge in decadent menu items at Biscuits n Jamz like bacon-stuffed French toast, chicken & waffles, or a pork chop breakfast. Coffee:30 Cafe specializes in beignets, but you can also enjoy a cowboy breakfast bowl, pendulum pancakes, or a crab cake breakfast bowl.

Biscuit & Jamz

If you and the crew hit the snooze button a few times on Sunday morning, brunch is the way to go. Rikenjaks in midtown is a musical brunch under the oak trees. Luna Bar & Grill's Jazz Brunch is a popular selection in downtown. For a savory Bloody Mary, feast your eyes on a local legend at MacFarlane's Celtic Pub!



Luna Jazz Brunch

Lunch is on! The Darrell's Special poboy at Darrell's Famous Poboys is one of the most sought-after sandwiches in Southwest Louisiana. It’s a must-eat lunch (and dinner) item. If you’re in the mood for barbecue, check out Paul's Rib Shack courtesy of the “Bishop of Barbecue”. Enjoy wings and burgers any way you want them at The M Bar. If you are a sausage connoisseur, a trip over to Insane Sausages in Vinton will blow your mind with the creative infusion of meats and flavors. Who doesn't love tacos? Tia Juanitas Fish Camp masterfully serves Southwest food with a Cajun twist.

 

Paul's Rib Shack
 

International flavors shine here too! Area 337 features authentic Cuban, Spanish, Venezuelan, and Dominican dishes. Raja's Curry Kitchen serves authentic Desi cuisine with a Mediterranean twist. If you want spicy, look no further than Thai Lake Charles for a robust offering of Thai foods that can crank the heat up as high as you can handle it.

Area 337

As far as a hidden gem is concerned, Calla has fresh, locally sourced ingredients and sophisticated drink selections, perfect for an upscale casual meal with friends. Leonard's Food Quarters is known as one of the top spots to get authentic Cajun-Creole eats with portion sizes to match Southwest Louisiana's big and bold flavors.

 

5. Taste Some of the Good Stuff at local Distilleries:

In addition to Crying Eagle and a behind-the-scenes beer tour, Bayou Rum Distillery east of Lake Charles and Yellowfin Distillery west of Lake Charles in Sulphur offer tours, and you can purchase products on-site for souvenirs from the trip. Both use Louisiana sugar cane and molasses in the process.

Bayou Rum has several robust flavors, including Bayou Spiced, Bayou Reserve, and Bayou Pink, along with other selections. Yellowfin produces single-state vodka and rum products. Otoro is their signature vodka and they also offer Yellowfin Single Estate Vodka in addition to Mahi line of rums.

Bayou Rum Taste & Tour | Michael Hobson

6. Get Your Game On!

Located right behind Crying Eagle Brewing, check out South Beach Volleyball. Complete with a bar & grill, South Beach is an oasis inside the city limits with white, sugar-sand courts. This is perfect for having an active evening playing volleyball and burning off some calories so that everyone can still fit into their tuxes!

South Beach Volleyball

If you and your friends enjoy the challenge of solving a mystery and an adrenaline rush, try one of our escape rooms. Bayou Escape Rooms, offers a range of experiences from Boudreaux's Diner to Revenge, while Escape Room Louisiana features The Manner, Grandma's House, and The Ship.

If axe throwing, laser combat, golf simulators and pickleball are more your thing, Game 2 Life is the perfect way to get into the zone with friends before your big day. The property also features Shooters Bar & Grill, complete with specialty cocktails, brews, and specialty shots.

Game2Life

7. Ride Services for the Crew:

Whenever you’re in Louisiana’s Playground, you can get around in style by using limousine companies for your ride: Platinum Limousine or Limo Daddy. Perhaps Lake Charles Limo & Trolley's Collie Trolley is for you. Boasting a trolley look, this 26-passenger bus will be sure to help your crew stand out. If a leisurely bike ride is more the crew's speed, Biking Through the Lake offers an assortment of bikes and entertainment options (like karaoke) to see the city in style.

Be sure to follow #VisitLakeCharles and #LouisianasPlayground on social channels for even more inspiration for planning your weekend getaway with your crew before the big day!