Lafayette, Louisiana is the home of Cajun culture and the unofficial county seat of “Acadiana” or “Cajun Country.” Folks looking for outdoor fun can’t get enough, and for local culture, it’s the kind of place where you turn up something unusual at every turn.
Lafayette, the heartbeat of Acadiana, where you really feel the pulse of the state and a blend of sophistication hard to find this side of Europe. Two village attractions worth a visit that recreate the early days of Cajun and Creole life in the area, include the Acadian Village, a folk life museum representing 19th-century Acadiana and displaying homes and architectural landmarks from that time. Vermilionville is a living history attraction that highlights life in rural southern Louisiana between 1765, and 1890.
Just outside Lafayette, a number of historic homes where docents tell stories of local ghosts, including Chretien Point Plantation, and you hear the story of the infamous pirate Jean Lafitte.
The state of Louisiana is also known as a "Sportsman's Paradise" and there is both freshwater and saltwater fishing to be found whether you opt for the swampy wilderness of the Atchafalaya Basin or the Gulf of Mexico.
It’s only a short drive to the 838,000-acre river/swamp ecosystem, Atchafalaya Basin with a variety of swamp tours with the most popular being alligator watching all-day or just for a few hours.
For bird watching, the area has numerous options like America's Wetland Birding Trail. Landscapes on the trail range from coastal wetlands to hills and prairies. The trail has 115 sites offering a good look at a variety of Louisiana's coastal habitats including fresh and saltwater marshes, cheniers, upland pines, cypress-tupelo swamps, bottomland hardwood forests, and open meadows.
Alongside all the excellent food, culture, and outdoor activity, Lafayette is a cultural music find too with jazz to blues to traditional Cajun or Zydeco. Indeed, there is something for everyone in Lafayette no matter what you want your Cajun country experience to encompass.