When we moved to Texas, I was expecting to feel really far away from any other city. I was imagining vast stretches of fields and desert type landscapes stretching far between the other cities or towns surrounding Houston.
I guess this was due to the fact that it took about six hours to get across the state from my college town of Knoxville to my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee? Yes, Nashville was in between the two, but other than that there wasn’t too much else along the way.
I hadn’t realllllly looked at the map up close, so I wasn’t expecting Austin to be only two and half hours away, Dallas to be close to three hours and San Antonio to be just three hours, too. So many big cities all near Houston! (Which is a wonderful thing for the travel buff in me.)
Not only that, but there are many smaller (and just as interesting) places to explore that are just a hop skip and a jump from my new hometown.
Which brings me to a couple of weekends ago, Patrick and I, along with our good friends Alex and Jenna, drove just a few hours outside of town to Lake Charles, Louisiana to have ourselves an enjoyable weekend getaway at L’Auberge Lake Charles Casino & Resort.
Arriving at the resort, we were itching with anticipation of the fun that was about to be had.
Don’t ya just love that feeling?
L’Auberge’s architecture and design is all inspired by Texas Hill
Country. So as soon as we entered the resort, we felt that we were being
whisked away into a posh lodge right in the middle of the wilderness.
The only difference was that there was a really big casino and a whole lot of restaurants tucked inside! 🙂
Our room was in the Tower, so we were led to a private VIP check in area with a private elevator that led right up to our rooms.
So much privacy!
With all the fun and fancy, we felt like mini-celebrities for just a moment or two. 😉
The guys were looking forward to the gambling, the bars, and watching the Tennessee vs. Florida football game. (Ironically, we Vol fans decided to travel with some Gator fans on the day of the most epic of rivalry football games.)
Jenna and I, however, just wanted to get to the resort’s pool as fast as we possibly could.
A perk of Texas fall, swimming and sun tanning weather in mid-October! 😉
We relaxed and floated the lazy river about two … or seventeen times. Not quite sure.
Thanks to the convenient swim up bar and a frozen strawberry daiquiri, I started losing track at one point. I was on vacation after all.
We girls chit chatted about life and soaked up the sun while our husbands were off in L’Auberge’s Jack Daniels bar, cheering on opposing football teams.
I do love Tennessee football, but nothing … and I mean nothing … was going to keep me away from this wonderful and relaxing pool!
Surrounding the pool was a poolside lawn dotted with lush cabanas, lounge chairs, and this nifty two person lounge chair (bed) that we simply had to test out after the absolutely exhausting exercise that was floating the lazy river. 😉
Our husbands found us once the game was over, and the four of us headed back indoors for
celebratory drinks, celebrating both our mini-vacation and unfortunately for
us: Florida’s football victory.
Jack Daniel’s Bar was very appropriately themed. Dark wood stained walls with a whole lotta rustic American decor.
Check out this giant American flag, it is made from painted chains!
After our fill of food and drinks, we ventured up the Tower to our room for some down time … which swiftly turned into an in room casino pre-game dance party?
Which I am happy to say that I do not have any pictures to share. My dancing skills are best left off of this blog haha. If you know me well, you would agree! I have zero coordination … but I do love to dance!
I guess the spontaneous dancing was our way of convincing ourselves we would have good luck at the slot machines?
Yep. That’s what I’m going to go with.
We were well equipped for our night away from home with a mini bar, a massive king bed, a pull out couch (we volunteered to sleep on it & it really was very comfortable), and ample space for our little dance party.
Also, the most obvious amazing/best part of the room was the gorgeous view of Lake Charles.
Which Jenna and I simply had to take a photo in front of before we headed down for the evening.
The main event of our stay (other than the pool!) was visiting L’Auberge’s enormous casino.
Not going to lie, I was psyched.
They know just what they are doing over there to get guests psyched up, too! We passed a women’s boutique filled with Louis Vuitton purses. And then I immediately knew what I wanted to spend my future winnings on.
Silly me.
Before passing through the velvet ropes, I convinced my main squeeze to pose for a pic with me.
{For you fashionistas: the red dress that I’m wearing is an older Tracy Reese dress that I purchased from Anthropologie about a year ago. I’m so in love with it and am always surprised at the many different occasions that I’ve been able to wear it. Tracy Reese’s dresses are very well made are usually in really fun and unique prints. She’s definitely one of my favorites!}
Off to the races we went!
I’ve gambled before a time or two, but I’ve never understood it when
people say “Oh, I’m great at gambling,” “I’m a pro at the slots,” or
“I’m amazing at Roulette!”
It’s all a game of luck, isn’t it?
I
always go in to a casino with a $$ limit too, an amount that I’m okay with losing. So
if I do lose it all, then it was what I was willing to pay for a fun
evening out with friends.
That evening, L’Auberege’s colorful casino floor gave us many an opportunity to win & lose!
With the hundreds of games and different tables to choose from, we all decided to hit up the slots for the first bit.
About an hour or so in, we casually lost half of what we brought in. 🙁
There was a time or two where I won about $4.00 or so? But I just kept playing with it… does that still count as winning!?
We tried our hand at a couple of games of roulette before making our way back up the Tower, exhausted from our full day of vacation-ing.
And I’m also quite proud of us, nobody lost an absurd amount … but nobody won an absurd amount either.
Until next time, Louis Vuitton purse!
The next morning we stumbled out of bed and quickly headed to Le Cafe for coffee.
Lots and lots and lots of coffee.
I haven’t stayed at too many resorts before, so having restaurants, bars, and entertainment steps away from your hotel room was an amazing experience.
Especially on an early Sunday morning.
Cheers!
After breakfast, the guys and girls split up again.
Or should I say Guys and Dolls? This is a post about gambling after all!
The guys went to the barber shop, Barbier, and the dolls headed to L’Auberge’s Spa du Lac.
We pampered ourselves in the spa for a few hours, all while listening to the most zen-like music imaginable. I could have fallen asleep!
Soon it was time to head back to Houston and meet up with our hubbies again.
The four of us strolled up and down L’Auberge’s rustic inspired halls, popping in and out of shops and trying different sweet treats at the dessert shop.
Taking our mini ice cream treats to go, we said goodbye to L’Auberge and thanked the casino gods for our not so good but also not so bad luck.
For only a two hour drive from Houston, I highly recommend you Houstonians check out L’Auberge. (If you haven’t already!)
If gambling isn’t your thing, then come for the pool! Pool not your thing? The restaurants! Or golf! ….see, I could go on all day.
Traveling and exploring new places may just be one of my favorite things to do in this world, and I will use any excuse for a weekend getaway.
Where do you like to go and getaway for the weekend? And if you live in the Houston area, what weekend trips are your favorite? I do love hearing your recommendations!
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
—
alice
