Lafayette, Louisiana: Cajun and Creole Food, Music and History

Learn about local history at The Vermilionville Living History & Folklife Park. The historic village has six original homes filled with artifacts and costumed historical interpreters reflecting daily life in the early 1800s. See the charming Acadian Village, a replica of what a 19th century Cajun settlement looked like, with many original homes included. Check out the church and art gallery. For lunch, stop nearby at The French Press for delicious gumbo.

About 30 minutes from Lafayette, the beautiful Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site is part state park, part historical site. The historic home on the site, the Maison Olivier, was part of a cattle, sugarcane and cotton plantation. Along the Bayou Teche near the home is a fascinating reproduction of an Acadian farmstead of the 1800s. Another worthwhile historical and cultural stop is the St. Martinville Cultural Heritage Center about 25 minutes from Lafayette. This cultural center includes two museums, the Acadian Memorial and the African American Museum. For a single admission, you can tour both small museums to learn even more about the area’s cultural history.

Head to the picturesque Atchafalaya Basin Landing and Marina to take an airboat swamp tour. See alligators up close and personal, learn about wetlands and see gorgeous, untouched swamp land.

Lafayette was named “Best Food City in the USA” by Rand McNally and “Tastiest Town in the South” by Southern Living Magazine. What better way to become acquainted with this vibrant culture than through its famous cuisine? Check out local food at the Lafayette Farmers & Artisans Market on Saturday mornings. It’s a great place to meet friends and have a picnic. Sample fresh juices from Clean Juice or purchase beautifully decorated jars of local jams from Grinning Jupiter Jammery. The food trucks serve delicious gourmet choices that rival top-notch restaurants.

In Lafayette’s charming downtown, find Carpe Diem Café and Wine Bar, where you can enjoy artisan gelato with premium ingredients made daily. Watch for local musicians who come to play the piano on the front patio.

In Louisiana, one of your food goals should be to find the best local po’ boy, a sandwich usually filled with fried seafood or meat and served on crusty French bread. In Lafayette, a popular po’ boy can be found at Olde Tyme Grocery. In the summer, enjoy a snowball – shaved ice with flavored syrup – with the locals at Murph’s Olde Tyme Snowball Stand, right behind the grocery. Local bar and restaurant Artmosphere also hosts excellent bands and serves delicious craft beers on tap.

Get a taste of the city’s nightlife at the Blue Moon Saloon, a top live music venue that also rents out rooms. Catch local bands performing Cajun tunes and Zydeco music, a mix of Cajun music and rhythm and blues that originated in Lafayette. Need more music? A jam session takes place Friday nights at La Maison de Begnaud. Listen to talented musicians play guitar, fiddle, accordion and triangle for authentic Cajun entertainment. Don’t be afraid to get up and dance.

There’s no doubt the people of Lafayette like to celebrate. There are so many festivals throughout the year that you can plan a trip around one of them. Popular area events include the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, the Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival and the Festivals Acadiens et Créoles. All pay tribute to the Cajun and Creole cultures of Louisiana. Or, check out the free “Downtown Alive!” weekly concert series in spring and autumn in central Parc Sans Souci. And, of course, there is Mardi Gras season, which is the pride of Louisiana and the epitome of its culture, history and celebration. Festivities happen in early spring.