If you’re planning a vacation or just a weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Lafayette, Louisiana is the place to go. Situated around 35 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and approximately a two-hour drive from New Orleans, it’s not a big city in terms of size, (with a population of 120,623 (US Census Bureau, 2010)), but it is a huge city in terms of joie de vivre” (joy of living). Moreover, it offers most of the amenities found in major cities but in a more relaxed and much friendlier atmosphere. In fact, the people in Lafayette are some of the friendliest you’ll ever meet and they’ll make every effort to help ensure that your trip to the “Heart of Acadiana” is so pleasurable that you’ll want to return again and again.
Local accommodations include almost all major motels and hotels, even a Hilton, as well as several bread-and-breakfast establishments that offer comfortable, well-appointed rooms, along with scrumptious home-cooked meals. And speaking of food, there’re countless restaurants, diners, and fast-food establishments in Lafayette, including almost all major chains, although you’re probably prefer to eat at one of the many places where you can enjoy the cuisine for which south Louisiana is famous, for instance, gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, barbecued or steamed crab, and fried alligator (Yes, it really does taste a lot like chicken).
Regardless, though, of where you stay and what you eat while in town, there are plenty of activities for the whole family and numerous places to see during your visit to a city whose motto is “Laissez les bons temps rouler!” Let the good times roll!
Vermilionville, South Louisiana’s Cajun Theme Park
A Cajun theme park, Vermilionville is situated on 22 acres near the Vermilion River and close to the Lafayette Airport. The park provides a living history lesson, so you can tour an early Acadian town, complete with a Creole plantation home, cotton gin, schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, chapel, and much more. What’s more, the workers all dress in authentic period costumes and give demonstrations of Acadian life and crafts, along with daily lectures and storytelling sessions. There’s also a cooking school with demonstrations of Cajun and Creole cooking, along with tasting sessions; and the park’s restaurant, La Cuisine de Maman, offers an all-you-can-eat buffet where diners enjoy traditional Cajun and Creole dishes. Topping it all off, the park also holds occasional festivals and special events, for example, Courir du Mardi Gras and Cajun weddings. (Fry & Posner, 1996)
Acadian Village, Authentic Replica of a Nineteenth Century Town
Located on Greenleaf Drive, Acadian Village replicates a nineteenth-century Cajun town, albeit in a condensed version, and as testimony to its authenticity, the village has been used in dozens of films about the life of early Acadian immigrants (Fry & Posner, 1996, p. 311). The buildings are all restored and authentically furnished period structures that were relocated to the site by truck, and there’s even a restored late-1800’s doctor’s office. The village doesn’t have any restaurants or concession stands, but you’re welcome to bring a lunch and have a picnic on the lawn or in the spacious pavilion. (Fry & Posner, 1996)
Other Interesting and Fun Places to Visit in Lafayette, Louisiana
Here are some additional places and activities you might want to check out while visiting the city that bills itself as the unofficial capital of Cajun Country:
- Second Saturday Art Walk: A weekly event, the Second Saturday Art Walk highlights the creative works of both local and out-of-town artists at over a dozen different galleries, clubs, shops, and restaurants in the Downtown Lafayette Cultural district. (Bayou Pages, 2011)
- The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist: On the National Registry of Historic Properties and dating back to 1916, the cathedral is a superb example of Dutch Romanesque architecture with massive brick walls, graceful arches, delicate red and white brickwork, and turrets flanking the octagonal steeple, from which the bells toll to mark the arrival of each hour. (Fry & Posner, 1996)
- Lafayette National Museum/Alexander Mouton House: Built in the early 1800s by the city’s founder, Jean Mouton, the museum has displays of fascinating historical memorabilia, as well as unbelievably elaborate costumes from Mardi Gras celebrations over the years. (Fry & Posner, 1996)
- Lafayette National History Museum and Planetarium: Containing over 10,000 square feet of exhibits, along with a planetarium and discovery room, the National History Museum provides hands-on workshops for everyone, regardless of age. (Fry & Posner, 1996)
- Bach Lunch: If you’re in Lafayette in the spring or fall, check out the Bach Lunch, which is a free series of performances featuring different musicians. It’s offered Monday through Friday, from noon to one o’clock but only during the spring and fall; and popular area restaurants provide the lunches at affordable prices beginning each day at 11:30 a.m. (lafayettetravel.com, 2011).
In closing, this article provides what is really but the tip of the proverbial iceberg, because Lafayette, Louisiana has far too many attractions for them all to be identified here. That said, if you want to learn more about what this fair city has to offer, you might consider visiting the website of the Lafayette Convention and Visitor Center or, better yet, packing a bag so you can go down and stay awhile.
Sources:
Bayou Pages (2011) “Acadian Village.” Metairie, LA: Sunshine Pages Publishing
Fry, M. & Posner, J. (1996) Cajun Country Guide. Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing Company
Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission (2011), retrieved October 2, 2011 from lafayettetravel.com
U.S. Census Bureau (2011) Population of Lafayette, Louisiana, retrieved September 28, 2011 from 2010.census.gov
Carol Rzadkiewicz - Carol Rzadkiewicz has taught college English for over 14 years and is the author of three published novels and numerous short stories.
