One night in East Texas... Where should we stop?

Hi. Two buddies and I will be driving from New Orleans to Dallas, and we'll have a little time to spare, so we'd like to stop for an afternoon and an evening somewhere in East Texas. We're happy to go a bit out of our way in the spirit of adventure. We'll have had our fill of New Orleans and city partying, so we're hoping for something that feels quirky/rustic/small-town/otherwise interesting. Hoping to maybe find a good watering hole, maybe walk around the woods by a lake, or soak up local flavor. Do any particular towns stand out? Thanks for any suggestions!

A better and more central stop would be Natchitoches, LA which was established in 1714 and is Louisiana’s oldest town. It has many antebellum historic homes and the Cane River Creole National Historical Park at Oakland & Magnolia Plantations. The National Trust named it a "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" for Historic Preservation. It has a lively downtown with restaurants, etc.

Much of East Texas is "dry" (no liquor by the drink and, often, none by the bottle), so from Lufkin on East, no water hole for you.

Where does that info come from, Buckguy? TABC says that there are only 6 completely dry counties in Texas and they are all in west Texas. It's true that there are many "partially wet" counties and laws will vary from county to county. However, I believe that the "membership" model operates in most places. This means that with a valid driver's license, over 21, you can buy a membership for $1 or $2 at an establishment and get served. We get drinks regularly in nearby "partially wet" counties.
But I'd vote for Natchitoches anyway. You might look to see if there are any good music festivals on in the Lafayette, LA region.

We'll actually be staying in Lafayette for a bit prior to New Orleans. :-)
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

Stop in Kilgore and see the East Texas Oil Museum.

Go west from Kilgore on highway 31 and get the best barbecue in this part of the state at theCountry Tavern.

It's not clear whether you intend to stay overnight. Your title says "One night", your post says "an afternoon and an evening."

I live in east Texas, so if you can be more specific about your plans, I can be more specific with advice.

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