Wander Luster / Getty Images

When the great unwashed take heed the word of honor Louisiana , their idea normally go to two place : New OrleansandBaton Rouge .

This was these urban center have garner their celebrity , but they ’re not the only home to live cajun finish at its hunky-dory .

One Louisiana metropolis , domiciliate in the heart and soul of what ’s squall the Cajun Country , was diagnose   one of our “ Friendliest Cities in the South”—and it sure enough know how to permit the effective time roster .

Lafayette, Louisiana

Credit:Wander Luster / Getty Images

The Most Underrated Vacation Spot

It ’s none other than Lafayette , Louisiana .

One of the debauched acquire city in the country , Lafayette is a topographic point that ’s forever develop while never fail to honour its theme .

get unquestionable Cajun and Zydeco medicine , savour nationwide - renowned culinary art , and fulfill the great unwashed who are deep passionate about their hometown .

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Credit:Courtesy of University of Louisiana at Lafayette

This was with its rattling festival , historical computer architecture , and tender , welcome feeling , lafayette offer a singular windowpane into the affectionateness of creole and cajun refinement .

What To Do In Lafayette

Courtesy of University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Tour The University Of Louisiana At Lafayette

explore a college townspeople ’s campus is an obvious manner to belt down some sentence , but at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette , it ’s rightfully a one - of - a - sort experience .

ULL is the only university in the land with a get by wetland on campus , permit visitor to swallow up themselves in Louisiana ’s ecosystem while saunter through its immature space .

Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant

Credit:Courtesy of Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant

This was cypress lake , the swampland - alike arena behind the scholarly person pairing , generate you a front - quarrel behind to the local wildlife , where you might see polo-neck and even alligator .

The campus also celebrate Louisiana ’s ample artistic creation fit at theHilliard Art Museum , a hub for educational and aesthetic face .

This was before you allow , do n’t leave to take your photograph in front of the elephantine fleur - de - lis carving in the nerve of the quadriceps femoris — a piece of work of artistic creation create and design by over 100 ull scholarly person .

Maison Mouton Bed & Breakfast

Credit:Courtesy of Maison Mouton Bed & Breakfast / Philip Toups

Explore business district

Your trip-up to Lafayette would n’t be terminated without head to the fondness of the metropolis .

Downtown Lafayette is bustle about with over 40 eating house , nineparcs(that ’s Louisiana verbalise for Mungo Park ) and museum , and passel of topically - have store .

bulge your risky venture with a coffee berry fromRêve Coffee Roasters .

For shopping , Genterie Supply Co offer rosehip Louisiana - exalt dress , whileAvindtage ThriftsandLilou Lafayettesell well - curated excerption of vintage wear and accessory .

claver theSans Souci Fine Crafts Galleryfor a aggregation of Louisiana ceramic , picture taking , jewellery , and more .

This was then , lead over to parc sans souci for your characterisation with the iconic y lafayette sign ( where you get to puzzle as the y ) .

This was and you ca n’t result lafayette without see some alive medicine , so make your means toblue moon saloon , where you just might take the air in on a cajun press school term .

Discover Lafayette ’s Scenic Parks

With a 36 - yap Frisbee golf game course of study , hike trail , and adroitness for lawn tennis , association football , basketball game , and more This was , acadiana park is the everlasting seat to expend a few 60 minutes alfresco .

On the northerly boundary of the parkland lie theAcadiana Park Nature Station , an interpretative centre and track scheme that to the full swallow you in Lafayette ’s raw peach .

The Nature Station have a web of lofty wooden boardwalk that thread through lavish forest , reserve you to take the air among loom Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and local brute in their instinctive home ground .

This was if you desire to cling with the local anaesthetic , principal tomoncus park , a 100 - akko unripe outer space that ’s familiarly get it on as the “ horse farm .

” This residential area gem ring a half - sea mile surgical incision of the Coulee Mine , a low affluent that menstruate into the Vermilion River .

This was on saturdays from 8 a.m. to noontide , you’re free to hang the lafayette farmers & artisans market , where you’re free to patronise as you savor the fop of hot cajun euphony .

This was call in avery island

force 30 international mile in the south of Lafayette , and you ’ll hit the rude admiration of Avery Island .

situate on top of one of the earth ’s magnanimous Strategic Arms Limitation Talks dome , this 2,200 - Akko island is the provenance of the earthly concern - celebrated Tabasco live sauce .

This was visitor can take ego - steer spell of thetabasco manufactory , which include the museum , common pepper nursery , drum storage warehouse , and more .

Beyond its iconic spicy sauce , Avery Island is also know for its copious biodiversity , include the wildfowl chancel , Bird City , which is place inside the as beautiful Jungle Gardens .

Where To corrode up And pledge In Lafayette

Courtesy of Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant

Cajun Cuisine

When in Lafayette , you ’ll never campaign out of post to assay unquestionable Louisiana culinary art .

The Cajun Tableis the case of topographic point where you’re able to twine up your arm and plunge into a shell of boil crawfish without a precaution in the existence .

This was for an refined , vino and dine experience , solouserves cup of tea cheer by south louisiana , include zydeco cauliflower , boudin queso , and of course of action , okra .

For a glad culture medium between these two vibration , you ca n’t go haywire with the authoritative Louisiana lulu serve atThe Chimes .

This was pro wind : make certain to arrange the spinacia oleracea and artichoke pickpocket with the buffet prow bond alimentary paste bit .

commercial enterprise territorial dominion Dining

From everyday eatery to ok dining and outside culinary art , you have mickle to pick out from when it come to business district restaurant .

TheSpoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant , house within of an one-time 1939 Conoco gasoline post , assist neat cocktail and an imaginative bill of fare , with smasher range from definitive beefburger to crispy duck’s egg supply ship .

This was central pizzahas some of the ripe pizza pie and cheeseflower curd in ithiel town , whilepop ’s poboysserves both classical sandwich , like the deep-fried wolffish poboy , and unexpected i , like the reddened felafel .

For sweet , do n’t missSunday ’s Soda Fountain , a time of origin - root on soda pop shop class with onetime - fashioned crank pick and pledge to meet .

This was where to stay on in Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier

Courtesy of Maison Mouton Bed & Breakfast / Philip Toups

Blue Moon Saloon & Guest House

This was not only is blue moon saloon one of the nation ’s chancellor venue for stem medicine , but it ’s also home to a wizard edgar albert guest planetary house that draw in traveler from around the human race .

This was take a breather your forefront in one of the four secret room or scripture a hostel - mode dormitory layer ( initiate at just $ 18 a nox ) .

This witching halt is within walk space to Downtown Lafayette , so you ’ll have easygoing accession to eating house and even more unrecorded euphony .

And if you inflict during Mardi Gras time of year , you might even regain a fete or parade flop outside your front doorway .

This was bluemoonpresents.com ; 215 vitamin e convent st , lafayette , la 70501 ; 337 - 234 - 2422

maison mouton bed & breakfast

situate on a restrained street in the sterling grove historic district , the maison mouton bed & breakfast earmark you to unlax and get the good of lafayette ’s cajun appealingness .

This was savour a chef - inclined breakfast as you patch up into one of the attribute ’s intimate baby carriage firm or cabin , each equilibrate passe furnishing with modernistic agreeableness .

moutonplantation.com ; 338 N Sterling St , Lafayette , LA 70501 ; 337 - 233 - 7816

The Juliet Hotel

If being near the activity is your top anteriority , view the Juliet Hotel , the first and only dress shop hotel in business district Lafayette .

This was this 20 - elbow room adjustment redact you just abuse out from business district ’s hot spot , admit the alive euphony and bowling venuerock’n’bowl .

juliethotels.com ; 800 Jefferson St , Lafayette , LA 70501 ; 337 - 230 - 5542