Chere Coen

Lafayette, Louisiana, United States

Int'l travel & food writer. Book reviewer. Author as Cherie Claire. Lover of strange Southern locations. Blogs: Louisiana Book News, Weird South

Articles

Girlfriends Getaway in Lake Charles

3 weeks ago | acadianaprofile.com | Chere Coen

There’s nothing like checking into a resort with girlfriends, kicking back and letting loose. Lake Charles casinos L’Auberge and Golden Nugget offer everything friends would want for an enjoyable getaway — and you never have to leave the property! Both resorts located on the Calcasieu River feature indulgent spas, extravagant pool complexes, a variety of dining options, live entertainment and, of course, gambling options. And because they’re located next to each other, visitors may enjoy both.
Meet the Makers: Trailblazers 2025

3 weeks ago | acadianaprofile.com | Chere Coen |Laura McKnight |Melanie Spencer

Tiffany LoweryThe Nature’s Clay, Moss BluffAs a freshman working toward a journalism degree at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Tiffany Lowery was talked into taking an elective pottery class. “I was against it,” says Lowery, a Moss Bluff native, who at first told her friend no, citing that she didn’t want to get dirty, especially in the middle of the day. “But once we got into the class, I fell in love with it.
Fun for All in South Padre Island, Texas

3 weeks ago | myneworleans.com | Chere Coen

It’s a long way to South Padre Island, the most southernmost Gulf barrier island in the country with its southern tip almost kissing Mexico. What visitors find at the end of Texas is a fun destination with something for everyone. For families, a summer vacation here means chasing dolphins and riding off-road with Sand Monsters. Culinary experiences honor nearby Mexican influences, plus there’s art, birding and the last Texas lighthouse open to the public, to name only a few attractions.
The Stilt Houses of Pasco County

3 weeks ago | floridacurrents.com | Chere Coen

The sun warmed our faces on the Gulf waters as Capt. Mark Dillinghan puttered us down the Pithlachascotee River—what locals in Pasco County call the Cotee. Mark leads fishing charters through his Inshore Adventures, but on this morning, we set out to fish for history. We gingerly motored the river past both modest homes and luxurious estates, and Port Richey seafood restaurants. Beneath our boat, manatees escaped winter’s chill.
A Big Show in a Small Town

3 weeks ago | ruralite.com | Chere Coen

Great ideas, those that stand the test of time, often arise from necessity. Such was certainly true for Jean Wells, who moved to Central Oregon in the ’70s to teach home economics, only to discover her students didn’t have access to the necessary materials. Jean opened The Stitchin’ Post quilt shop in downtown Sisters to address this need, but took the opportunity a step further.
Opt for the natural side of Branson at Bass Pro mogul and conservationist's attractions

4 weeks ago | theadvocate.com | Chere Coen

When rivers were dammed in southern Missouri and bass fishing became a regional sport, Johnny Morris saw an opportunity. At 21, the Missouri native convinced his father to let him sell fishing products in the back of his father’s liquor store in Springfield. Morris loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing, so he used that experience to develop a retail brand that expanded into Bass Pro Shops. There are nearly 200 such retail stores and marine centers across North America.
Opt for the natural side of Branson at Bass Pro mogul and conservationist's attractions

4 weeks ago | nola.com | Chere Coen

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Seven Things Every Visitor to Lafayette, Louisiana Should Know

1 month ago | fwtmagazine.com | Chere Coen

If you’re planning to visit Lafayette, Louisiana, a city bursting with unique cultural attributes from Cajun to Creole and beyond, here’s a primer on how to act like a native. Or at least how not to get things wrong as a tourist. Because Lafayette, as well as the state of Louisiana, doesn’t fit into any typical American category. I’m a New Orleans native, but I had the pleasure of spending almost two decades in Lafayette.
Get Out Your Kazoos and Be A Part of a Guinness World Record

1 month ago | weirdsouth.com | Chere Coen

Macon, Ga., is home to the kazoo inventor and wants to bring together the largest kazoo gathering in the world. There are many ways to enter the Guinness World Records—and people have tried just about everything. Now, the city of Macon, Ga., will attempt to facilitate the Largest Kazoo Ensemble, bringing the record home to the U.S. city where it all began almost 200 years ago. It started with freed slave Alabama Vest who created the musical instrument that’s so easy to use in Macon in the 1840s.
Florida Lights Up

1 month ago | floridacurrents.com | Chere Coen

As a child, Gina McClain chased fireflies on a farm in Central Florida. That farmland is now part of The Villages, an area devoid of the flashing insects. So, when she spotted fireflies emerging in March at Blue Spring State Park, it brought back happy memories. “When I was at the park, I thought, ‘This is part of my childhood!’” Gina says. Gina is secretary of the Friends of Blue Spring State Park board.