10 Interesting Things to See and Do in Lafayette, Louisiana
21 Oct 2022
Lafayette is the capital of Cajun country, or as the locals call it, Acadiana. America’s happiest city is surrounded by bayou and swamps, and littered with live oaks, massive cypress trees, and Spanish moss-covered lanes. You have to visit Lafayette if you really want to know what Cajun is all about.
Here are 10 interesting things to see and do in Lafayette and the surrounding area:
Moncus Park
Moncus Park is the “Central Park” of Lafayette and all of Acadiana. You have to see it to believe it. With nearly 100 acres of green space, meadows, forests of live oaks, and gentle rolling hills, it’s an expansive and magical park.
You can do just about anything at Moncus Park, from Saturday morning farmers and artisan market, to watching the kids play on the Inclusive Playground and kids’ splash pad. Go for a stroll along the wetland boardwalks, enjoy a family picnic on the Great Lawn, or enjoy a concert in the amphitheater. Visit the newly added Veterans Memorial to honour all who have served or have fallen.
Location
Moncus Park is located at 2913 Johnston Street in Lafayette.
Hilliard Art Museum, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
If it’s art you’re looking for, look no further. The Hilliard Art Museum contains a massive collection of European, Asian, and American art spanning the 18th through the 21st centuries, in 11,000 square feet of gallery space. Included in that is the Henry Botkin Collection of 150 works.
They also feature rolling exhibits throughout the year that showcase different artists and styles of art. The Hilliard Art Museum is a must-see for any art lover!
Hilliard Art Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays. Check for hours as they vary during the week. Kids under 5 get in free.
Location
The Hilliard Art Museum is located at 710 East St Mary Blvd, on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette property.
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LARC’s Acadian Village
Travel back in time and experience life as the early Acadian settlers did at LARC’s Acadian Village. You’ll see how they lived a simple life, worked hard, and worshiped faithfully. There are several historical buildings in the village, including a doctor’s museum, a church, and a blacksmith shop.
You’ll get to see how they wove cloth in the Billeaud House, and there’s an exhibit on Cajun music in the Bernard House.
Most of the furnishings were made locally. LARC’s Acadian Village is a fascinating place to visit. Make sure to add it to your itinerary.
Location
LARC’s Acadian Village is located at 200 Greenleaf Drive in Lafayette.
Cypress Lake at ULL Campus
This place has a very unique history. It was simply a grove of trees on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette until the Second World War. During the war, the grove was flooded to serve as a water reserve to aid in fighting possible fires from air raids.
After the war had ended, the water was left, forming what is now called Cyprus Lake. You can find all manner of wildlife, including gators, turtles, bullfrogs, birds, fish, and cypress trees. Cyprus Lake at ULL Campus holds the distinction of being the only managed wetland on a U.S. college campus. Definitely worth a visit!
Location
Cypress Lake is located at 104 East University Avenue, on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette property.
Festival International de Louisiane
If you’re in town in late April, make sure to add Festival International de Louisiane in downtown Lafayette to your itinerary. This free festival features music performers from around the world, arts and crafts stands, fun activities for kids, and food vendors that will keep you noshing on your favourite Louisiana eats. It’s also a great place to buy event swag and Lafayette souvenirs. The fun even extends to local bars, Who feature local and international stars on their stages. Definitely a festival worth attending.
Location
Festival International de Louisiane is located in Downtown Lafayette.
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Vermilionville
Vermilionville is a living history museum and folklife park in Lafayette, Louisiana. The park contains a number of original, restored buildings dating from 1765 to 1890, as well as replicas of other structures from this period. Artisans working in the park provide visitors with a glimpse into the past, when Acadians, Creoles, and Native Americans lived and worked in the area. If you are lucky, you will get Kevin Rees as a guide, who will entertain you with his accordion, and maybe sing you a tune or two!
Location
Vermilionville is located at 300 Fisher Road in Lafayette.
Swamp Tours
What better way to spend the day in Cajun country than to take a swamp tour? You can choose from an exhilarating air-boat tour, where you’ll zip through the swamps and bayous at faster speeds. If you want something a little slower, hop on a leisure boat tour where you’ll float at a slower pace through the bayou. Both options allow you to take in the amazing wildlife and scenery Louisiana is known for.
Swamp Tour Operators
Lafayette Tourism has compiled a list of swamp tour operators for you to choose from.
The Lafayette Museum
The Lafayette Museum is the home of Louisiana’s first Democratic governor, Alexandre Mouton. This beautiful historic home was constructed by his father, an early settler of the area, around 1800. Over the subsequent 150 years, it changed hands several times. In 1954, it was purchased by Les Vingt Quatre, a group of cultural and civic-minded ladies, who converted it into the Lafayette Museum. It is home to many treasured artifacts that will take you back to a much simpler time.
Location
The Lafayette Museum is located at 1122 Lafayette Street in Lafayette.
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Attend a Ragin’ Cajuns Game
The Ragin’ Cajuns play their home games at Cajun Field, which is located on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Nicknamed “The Swamp” by fans, Cajun Field has a capacity of 36,900 and is one of the largest stadiums in the Sun Belt Conference.
Fans of the Ragin’ Cajuns are some of the most passionate in all of college football. The team’s official fan club can be found tailgating and cheering on their team at every home game. If you’re ever in Lafayette on a Saturday during football season, make sure to check out a Ragin’ Cajuns game!
Location
Cajun Field is located at 2351 West Congress Street in Lafayette.
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Avery Island
Avery Island is a massive salt dome, surrounded by marshes, swampland, and bayous. The dome is believed to be deeper tshan Mount Everest is high! That’s a lot of salt!
There are loads of geological and environmental reasons to visit, but the most famous is the fact that Avery Island is home to the world-famous hot sauce: Tabasco. This delicious pepper sauce was invented by E. McIlhenny around 1866, just after the Civil War, by combining peppers (gifted to him by a traveler from Mexico) with the salt deposits under the island. The Tabasco factory is open to the public for tours.
Location
Avery Island is located approximately 30 miles south of Downtown Lafayette.
Have Fun in Lafayette!
Well, there ya have it! 10 Interesting things to see and do in Lafayette, Louisiana! Don’t forget to check out my article on 10 places to let your inner foodie run loose in Lafayette because you’re gonna get hungry while exploring the happiest city in America.
Oh, and make sure you get a photo in front of the #YLAFAYETTE sign at Parc Sans Souci in Downtown Lafayette before leaving.
Cheers,
Big Daddy
If you are a PR agency or brand and would like me to review a travel destination, vehicle, restaurant, product or service, please send me an email.
Craig Silva
Craig is a husband, a father, team leader, travel and food writer, senior youth group coordinator, designer, brander, community builder, volunteer, and social media strategist. Craig likes to travel, go camping, go on road trips, watch movies, build stuff, operate the grill, and sing with his band. Craig is a member of the Travel Media Association of Canada. In June 2017, PR firm Cision identified Craig as one of Canada’s top 10 most popular male bloggers in the parents and family space.
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