Welcome to Lafayette - the heart of Cajun Country and the cultural center of Louisiana's heritage. Here you'll discover the rich history of our French, Spanish and Caribbean ancestors. Learn how these diverse cultures came together, creating art and architecture, music and dance, food and celebrations. Experience the cultural traditions of the Cajuns and Creoles blended with the contemporary sophistication of a modern city in Lafayette, the heart of French Louisiana.
With a central location, world-class facilities, first-class accommodations, a business and technology oriented atmosphere, Lafayette is also the ideal place to host your next event, tradeshow or meeting. The experienced staff of the Convention Center for example has the resources and professionalism to handle any need in-house…a formal sit down dinner for over 2,000 featuring authentic Cajun cuisine, complex sound and lighting for elaborate shows or private wireless telecommunications networking.
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Days Inn Louisiana
Spice up your vacation plans this year with a trip to Louisiana, a place buzzing with fun and excitement year-round. Party at Mardi Gras or anytime in New Orleans, hit the casinos, or jazz it up in the streets where the music was born.
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Welcome to AFC Tours!
President and founder of AFC Tours, Randy Case, began as
a tour manager in 1976 while attending college at UCLA. In 1982, he
decided to venture out on his own and formed AFC Tours. Today, AFC
Vacations prides itself on their First-Class tours throughout the USA and
Canada for the upscale, mature traveler. AFC offers popular services with
our Unpack-Once tours and Scenic Train tours, all providing many behind
the scenes experiences. Tours include airfare, most meals, 3 Star or
better hotels and all attractions & sightseeing. Australia and New Zealand
are also our specialties. Let us provide you with a “WOW” experience for
your next vacation! More
about AFC Vacations
Online Traveler
Festival International de Louisiane
One of the coolest festivals in the US, this also happens to be the largest French-speaking festival in the country. Don’t worry, though, most everyone speaks English, too, though the accent may be a bit difficult to get used to. The festival is free and is basically a giant weeklong street party in downtown Lafayette. Bands and performers come from all over the world for the festival. There are cooking demonstrations, dancing, theater, art exhibits and great food from across the globe. There’s even a special area for kids, with storytellers and games. I used to live a few blocks from downtown and my favorite memory of Lafayette is the sounds of the festival playing into the night through my open window. It’s truly an amazing experience, and the best part is- it’s free! IgoUgo.com User
Online Traveler
Lafayette
The people are so friendly, very much into the culture of the Acadians, amazing how life was back in the early days. There are many different things to do and see there, the tourism office can really guide you a lot. We are looking to move there. Travel.Yahoo.com User
Online Traveler
Vermilionville is the original name of the modern-day city of Lafayette, the self-proclaimed capital of Cajun Louisiana; it also is the name of a living history museum and folk life village located in same city. Vermilionville is a great place to learn more about the Cajun people and their way of living. It's a 23-acre Cajun and Creole heritage & folk life park with 5 restored original historic homes and 12 reproductions. Visit the historical houses, see the costumed craftspeople making art, listen to authentic Zydeco music or watch a traditional Cajun cooking demo. VirtualTourist.com User
Online Traveler
In the spring, Lafayette downtown becomes a party on Friday nights. Starting at 5:30, locals converge in the streets for music, dancing and food. A stage is set up for performers on a street corner and the party begins! The actual location differs each Friday, but it’s always downtown somewhere. Usually the performers are Cajun and Zydeco, but sometimes they have rock, country or blues bands. It’s a really fun time and a great way to mingle with the locals and see how they party. IgoUgo.com User
Welcome to Lafayette - the heart of Cajun Country and the cultural center of Louisiana's heritage.
Here you'll discover the rich history of our French, Spanish and Caribbean ancestors. Learn how these diverse cultures came together, creating art and architecture, music and dance, food and celebrations and a "Joie de Vivre" that has influenced not only the lives of everyone in our state, but has made an impact on the entire world. Experience the heart of Cajun Country – Lafayette.
The Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum is a cultural beacon for Acadiana. With its collection of artworks from Europe, Asia, Central America, and the United States traversing the 18th to 21st centuries, the museum promotes exposure to original works of art to University students, faculty, and staff as well as the Lafayette community and region. Selections from the permanent collection are on view on a rotating basis. Several events throughout the year make the museum a destination worth to visit every season.
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Jean Lafitte Scenic Byway
This byway crisscrosses through the heart of central Acadiana and has so many points of interest that you could easily spend a week on it and not see everything there is to see! The byway extends from beyond the Lacassine and Rockefeller Wildlife Refuges through many quaint towns. It intersects in picturesque Abbeville and makes its way to Avery Island to the south and Lafayette, the hub of Cajun Country, to the north. Vermilionville and the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Acadian Cultural center are two important cultural attractions in the city which a thriving arts community. North of Lafayette, the village of Maurice is one to visit for the world-famous Maurice City Bar.
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Lafayette Natural History Museum & Planetarium
Meteor Showers! Forensic Labs! and many more exciting exhibits can be found at the Lafayette Natural History Museum & Planetarium. The museum offers over 10,000 square feet of exhibitions, a state-of-the-art planetarium, a discovery room and a museum store. Activities include periodically scheduled programs with hands-on science, workshops, films, and other programs for children, families and adults. Come and see what's going on during your stay in Lafayette!
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Birding at Lake Martin
Lake Martin is one of Louisiana's largest nesting colonies for many species of water birds. Some of these species include the Anhinga, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tri-colored Heron, Cattle Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, White Ibis, and Roseate Spoonbill. There is a trail just off of Rookery Road that leads to the best viewing area, however the trail is closed in late May to October because of Alligator nesting. Rookery Road is open year round. Lake Martin, which is only seven miles from Lafayette, is owned by the Nature Conservancy and is open year round and has free admission.
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Stan's Downtown
More than just another nightclub, Stan's represents the spirit and fun of Downtown Lafayette. Owner, Stan Lerille, had a vision to create a place where friends could go to escape and let their inhibitions free. Stan's offers a patio and two levels of food, fun and dancing. Two full-service bars are always stocked with the finest drinks, not to mention the best bartenders and staff in town. Last, but definitely not least, the music: Stan's is home to some of the area's best DJ's mixing everything from Hip Hop to Techno. One thing is for sure, there is always a party going on at Stan's!
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A Crawfish Experience in Acadiana
Few foods are as emblematic of Acadiana as crawfish. Once found only at the bottom of the bayou, the little lobster-like crustaceans appear everywhere now, dressed up on the dinner plates of fine food restaurants as well as in backyard boiling pots. Louisiana produces 90 percent of the crawfish in the world and consumes 70 percent locally! If you're in the Lafayette area and they're in season, then you'll want to sample what has become one of the most distinctive food experiences Louisiana has to offer. Visit one of the great restaurants downtown and enjoy exquisite dining!
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Randol's Restaurant and Cajun Dancehall
Randol's originally opened as a traditional crab house that served Baltimore-style steamed crabs, but menu then evolved into serving many of the traditional Cajun dishes: gumbos, Etouffees, fried and boiled seafood. The award-winning head chef, Brian Smith, recently had the opportunity to work in Wolfgang Puck's kitchen in Maui to learn the Pacific Rim style of cooking that combines California and Asian styles. Randol's also attract some of the best local Cajun bands offering Cajun dancing and music. For an authentically, unforgettable Cajun experience two-step on over to Randol's Restauarant, roll up your sleeves, and try the boiled Louisiana Blue Crabs!
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A Cajun & Creole Christmas
December, 2009
Spectacularly decorated historic homes, twinkling lights, holiday parades, music and dance performances, and mouthwatering cuisine awaits as all of Acadiana celebrates during "A Cajun & Creole Christmas." Dozens of events will get you in the holiday spirit, for example the Festival of Light on Coolidge Blvd. Visit the Iberia Community Band Christmas Concert or one of the traditional candlelight services of readings and choral music in the beautiful ambiance of St. John Cathedral. Take your family to the Children's Christmas Parade with beautiful floats, decorative cars, themed trailers and cartoon characters. Or meet local gumbo chefs competing for cash prizes and trophies at Jennings Christmas Gumbo Cook-Off & Festival.
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Voyage on the Vermilion River
You like adventures in the nature? Experience the tidal river known as the ‘Bayou Vermilion’ while riding a traditionally built bateau, Cocodrie! The compelling voyage, guided by a National Park Service Interpretive Ranger, includes fascinating information about the Vermilion River as a historical, cultural, and natural resource treasure. Since 1984 the Lafayette Parish Bayou Vermilion District works to improve the water quality of the Bayou Vermilion in an effort to promote the bayou as a recreational and cultural asset. The ‘Voyage on the Vermilion Tour’ is educational and fun in once! Bring your family and get in touch with nature!
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The Wetlands accommodates all levels of players! The 18-hole "Wetlands" public golf course at the Wetlands Golf Course facility in Lafayette, Louisiana features all the hallmarks of Louisiana golf. The Wetlands golf course opened in 2006 and was designed by Frank Burandt. In difference to the more typical parkland layouts in the area, the Wetlands golf course in Lafayette has wide open fairways and subtle rolling terrain and is a links style course where water plays an important role at some holes.
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