Resting on the Vermilion River in the heart of Cajun country, Lafayette is a fun little town with some great restaurants, lively music and dancehalls, and plenty of festivals that celebrate la joie de vivre. French settlers, exiled from L'Acadie (Canada's Nova Scotia) came to this area in the mid-1700s, gradually mixed with the Houma and Chitimacha Indians and became Cajuns. French language floats in the air, along with the wonderful aroma of Cajun and Creole cuisine: crawfish étouffée, jambalaya, boudin and thick, yummy gumbos. Music is a big part of the culture here, and the spoons-on-a-washboard zing of Zydeco music keeps people dancing. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette and its "Ragin' Cajuns" keep the vibe youthful and lively. The nearby Atchafalaya Basin is the country's largest river swamp and canoeing through the sunken cypress trees and marshy bayous is truly amazing. Fausse Point State Park has a marked canoe trail and rentals.
Must See
- #1 Acadian Center for the Arts
- #2 Acadian Craft Center
- #3 Jefferson Street Market
- #4 Festival International de Louisiane
- #5 Lafayette Natural History Museum
Skip It
- #1 Vermilionville
- #2 Alexandre Mouton House Museum