Louisiana

Ft. Johnson (Polk) – Updated 2020

The Obvious Bucket List
The Oddly Specific Bucket List
In and Around Fort Polk
Find Your Festival / Trail
Louisiana Road Trips
Out of State Adventures

Fort Polk is “the worst duty station in the military.” Apparently, back in the day, soldiers used to sign up for another tour in Vietnam to avoid going to Fort Polk. I was less than thrilled to move here from the paradise of Hawaii.

Yes, Leesville, Louisiana is not the most coveted army town. It’s strip mall-y, it’s small, it’s hot, and seemingly in the middle of nowhere. BUT. And this is a biiiiiig BUT. Louisiana is one of the most incredible states and while you may not love Fort Polk, I promise a little piece (if not all) of your soul will fall in love with Louisiana. It is one of the most unique states with one of the most unique cultures, and you’ll never live anywhere like it ever again, so take advantage. I don’t believe there is another state that knows how to EAT or PARTY Like Louisiana does. When the rest of the country is slowing down in January after the holiday season, folks in Louisiana are just ramping up for Mardi Gras and crawfish season. It is an incredibly fun place to live. The people are genuinely kind, there are festivals every single weekend for everything from jazz to watermelons and THE. FOOD. IS. SO. FLIPPING. GOOD.

Fort Polk is the station that I was most dreading and it’s where I have some of my fondest (and most delicious) memories. I imagine, and hope, that you will feel the same way.

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The Obvious Bucket List

10 things you just gotta do while stationed at Fort Polk (in no particular order)

1. Eat ALL the cajun things: crawfish, etouffee, cracklins (ok, still not sure about this one), boudin, shrimp, gumbo, oysters, beignets, blackened anything, all the po ‘ boys <insert drool emoji>
   
   
2. Related to the note above, but different. Go to a REAL crawfish boil (aka not at a restaurant). Bonus points if you pick up your “mudbugs” at a random roadside stand and learn how to boil them yourself, extra badass points for “sucking the head!”
   
   
3. Take advantage of all the recreation options on post (this doesn’t normally make my Top 10 list…I am usually a get-off-post-snob), but Fort Polk has some amazing things to do on base like mini golf, go karts, splash parks, shooting ranges, batting cages, etc.
   
   
4. Visit adorable Natchitoches (especially at Christmas time)
   
   
5. Check out a festival dedicated to something random. There is literally a festival every single weekend for every single thing you can think of.
   
   
6. This is obvious, but visit New Orleans, y’all! (but I’d highly suggest NOT going around Mardi Gras)
   
   
7. Take a TX, MS, and AR road trip (or all three!) See below for ideas.
   
   
8. Become “outdoorsy” – camping, fishing, crabbing, boating, kayaking, swimming, ATVing or just beaching. The Fort Polk MWR has all you need for incredibly cheap.
   
   
9. Staycation (or just gamble / enjoy the lazy river!) at L’Auberge or the Golden Nugget
   
   
10. Participate in Mardi Gras locally in some way, shape, or form! There are tons of local parades to see, opt to decorate your porch, or just get yourself a slice of king cake!
    

BONUS: Readers recommend adding to this list: taking an airboat ride on a swamp and visiting a plantation. Some great options for both of these can be found right outside of New Orleans, but I’ve never treid either. Please comment below if you have any specific recommendations!

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The Oddly Specific Bucket List

10 random experiences I hope you have (also in no particular order)

1. Drink all the Abita Purple Hazes, preferably on the patio with live music at Cecil’s
   
   
2. Have a crawfish birthday cake at Steamboat Bill’s (or, forget the candles and just grab a giant bowl of etouffee and a dozen cajun oysters)
   
   
3. Watch for gators along the swamp boardwalk on the Creole Nature Trail
   
   
4. Smell roses and appreciate the hanging moss at Hodges Garden (update: this is currently closed for 2021)
   
   
5. See sunrise / sunset amidst the palm trees at Millennium Park
   
   
6. Taste Tabasco at Avery Island
   
   
7. Collect gulf coast sea shells at Holly Beach
   
   
8. Hike in Kasatachie National Forest
   
   
9. Enjoy a true Cajun food and music experience at D.I.’s outside of Eunice
   
   
10. Partake in your water activity of choice at South Toledo Bend State Park

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In and Around Fort Polk

Below is a list of towns and cities surrounding Fort Polk, with ideas for things to do in each.

Fort Polk – While I am typically more in the “get off base and explore your location” camp, Fort Polk might be my exception to this rule. The base has lots of events and activities, as well as some amazing recreation options like mini golf, go karts, splash parks, shooting ranges, batting cages, etc. It has great MWR facilities, to include one of the best gyms I’ve seen in the Army, Wheelock Fitness Center. There are lots of events for families and activities for kids.

In addition, there is an MWR site that belongs to Fort Polk about 45 minutes away at Toledo Bend. It is a big lake where you can kayak, fish, boat, beach, and play. You can rent motor boats or pontoon boats, kayaks, SUPs and more from the MWR. If you want to stay the night, they also have cabins or yurts available too.

Leesville – There isn’t a whoooole lot to do in Leesville. Main Street has some antique shops, a museum, and a memorial (despite not being the least bit artsy, my personal fave was Gallery One Eleven – a tiny gallery with rotating exhibits the previously offered pay-what-you-want yoga). Leesville Art Park is small but pretty green space with unique sculptures, yoga opportunities, and more. Anderson Farms Pumpkin Patch is a cute pumpkin patch with a signature fall fest experience. The few restaurants we really liked are all closed now, but I hear there is a new crop of good options…you’ll have to let me know so I can share (Hazel’s Tea Parlor, Cuore Coffee, Festival Tacos, Leesville Donuts, and Thadapetsh look pretty good!). People also love Daiquiri Station! We never checked out the “Myths and Legends” Byway (might be better for history lovers out there) and for some reason never visited Toro Bayou, but that looks like a pretty fantastic option.

DeRidder – 30 min away from Fort Polk (and where many military families choose to live). Has a great park, cute main street, and a few delicious mom-and-pop food options. Cecil’s (I still miss their shrimp po boy and Cecil’s Special), Steamboat Bill’s (besides crawfish – obviously – , get the HUGE etouffee, the oysters – any style – and the chicken tender loaded baked potato!), and The Stadium (arrived after I left but I hear it’s the bomb), are three favorites which also often have live outdoor music on their patios. CM Farms and Grant Farms are about 25 minutes away and are great places to see animals, pick produce, paint a pumpkin, cut down a Christmas tree, or enjoy festivals!

Alexandria (locals just call it “ALEX”): 45 min away. Where most people head for shopping, restaurants, movies theaters, target, and other big box/chain options. Feels like the “big city” compared to Leesville. Alex is also the gateway to the Kisatachie National Forest, where there are tons of camping, hiking, boating, horseback riding, flower finding, birding, off-roading options (here’s a more manageable guide than the park service web page).

Natchitoches (pronouned “nack-a-tish”): 1 hr away. The most adorable little town. Think flower baskets lining main street next to the meandering Cane River – local shops, cute restaurants (no chain stores in sight!), fun bars. The big “thing” is to try a meat pie from Lasyone’s but really anything local is delicious. Big draw is it’s where Steel Magnolias was set & filmed. You can actually stay in the main house, which is now a B&B (there are a ton of other B&B options in this town if you want to make a weekend of it). The town’s most popular time of the year is Christmas, when the neighborhood lights up with a bazillion outdoor holiday displays – it’s magical, but can also be a zoo, so go early.

Lake Charles: 1 1/2 hrs away. Right on the Gulf Coast; similar to Alex in that it has more options for chain stores, malls, restaurants, shopping, etc compared to Leesville. Our favorite restaurant was Luna Bar & Grill on their cute little main street. Two big draws are the Golden Nugget and L’Auberge Casino Resort which have pool parties, lazy rivers, concerts, great restaurants, casinos, and a host of other fun options. There are a number of waterfront prominade areas with great views, outdoor concerts, playgrounds, and more (Millennium Park, Prien Lake Park, Veterans Memorial Park, Bord du Lac Park). Lake Charles is also the gateway to the Creole Nature Trail (make sure to download the app!) where you can see some beautiful nature and animals along southwest Louisiana, Sam Houston Jones State Park where you can hike, camp, boat, and bike, and Gulf Coast beaches (not super crowded, not super incredible, but does the trick; Holly Beach is a fun place to find shells).

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Find Your Festival / Trail

There are tons of festivals in Louisiana (I seriously think there’s a different one every weekend). In DeRidder we “skiied” down a hill with watermellons on our feet, in Ponchatula we ate our weight in strawberries, and in New Orleans we danced to jazz. No matter what festival you choose, there’s always live music, rides, games, and of course, good food. There’s also all sorts of “trails” you can follow while stationed at Fort Polk. We made it our personal goal to check off every brewery – and we came close – but ultimately failed, as new hot craft spots have started popping up all over the state.

Find A Festival – Here’s the “Top 10” from Louisiana Travel but you can’t go wrong

Louisiana Brewery Trail – delicious way to spend a day off, and most are very “craft brewery-y” (big outdoor spaces, board games available, chalkboard flights, etc); check out map function at bottom for best results (all are fun for ambiance, but our favorite for the actual beer was Broken Wheel Brewery, which is also one of the closer ones)

Louisiana Winery Trail – currently only 3 wineries, but still makes for a fun excursion

Louisiana Distillery Trail – most are located in New Orleans, but a few great options within an easy drive of Fort Polk (Bayou Rum is a particular fave)

Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail – Boudin still isn’t my favorite of all the amazing Cajun culinary options, but it’s fun to taste test around the state

Other Culinary Trails – so many options to eat across LA (check out this helpful map)

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Louisiana Road Trips

It’s amazing how your concept of what is “far” to drive in a day/weekend changes when you are stationed in different areas of the country. See below for some fun local road trip ideas around the state.

Shreveport: 2 hrs away. “Port City” known for riverboat casinos and a racetrack/casino. A bit artsy? Fun “nearcation” option.

Lafayette: 2 hrs away. College town. Known for best Mardi Gras celebration outside of NoLa. Calls itself the “Heart of Louisiana’s Cajun & Creole Country” and known as the “Happiest City in America.” Readers also recomended taking a trip with McGees Louisiana Swamp & Airboat Tours, located right outside of Lafayette.

Avery Island – 2.5 hrs away. Home of Tabasco – jump on a tour, do some hot sauce sampling, enjoy their gardens, watch birds, and as always, eat something delicious.

Baton Rouge: 3 hrs away. BIG college town. Also the capital. Great breweries. LOTS to see and do. Readers also recommend Barn Hill Preserve, an animal sanctuary home to spme pretty unique creatures (about 40 minutes outside of the city).

New Orleans: 4 1/2 hrs away. Too many reasons to list here why you should visit at least once! Readers recommend taking a ride with Airboat Swamp Tours with RJ Molinere (the guy from the TV show Swamp People)

***Again, people stationed at Fort Polk tend to live anywhere from Alexandria (to the north of Fort Polk) down to Lake Charles (to the south along the coast), so the distances to the locations below can vary by nearly two hours. Times listed are driving times from Fort Polk/Leesville, so might be much closer/farther away based on where you live.

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