'''Lafayette''' [http://www.lafayettetravel.com/] is a city in Louisiana. It's the unofficial capital of Cajun Country. This flourishing moderate sized city fortunately escaped the worst of the one-two punch of hurricanes Katrina and Rita which devastated much of south Louisiana on either side of the city in 2005.

The city is home to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Music and dancing is an integral part of community life. Several restaurants and dance halls thrive in the area and the city hosts several musical festivals throughout the year.

Get in

Interstate 10 runs through the northern part of Lafayette.

Get around

See

  • '''Acadian Cultural Center''', 501 Fisher Road, (337) 232-0789, [http://www.nps.gov/jela/Acadianculturalcenter.htm]. 8AM-5PM daily. You can spend an hour or so here learning about the history of the Acadian (Cajun) people. Free, donations accepted.
  • '''Vermilionville''' 300 Fisher Road, (337)233-4077 [http://www.vermilionville.org/] Tuesday-Sunday 10-4. $8 adults. A heritage and folklife park depicting the way of life on the Bayou. The park has costumed interpretors and traditional craft demos.
  • '''University of Louisiana at Lafayette''' 104 E University Ave. [http://www.louisiana.edu/] A large four-year university with a great campus and an alligator swamp next to the Student Union. There is University Art Museum on campus, and an International Film Series is screened every semester.
  • Do

    Buy

  • Mall of Acadiana. Decent sized shopping mall at the corner of Ambassador Caffery Pkwy and Johnston St.

    Eat

  • '''Prejean's''', 3480 N. I-49, 337-896-3247 (''[mailto:prejeans@prejeans.com]''), [http://www.prejeans.com/]. Su-Th. 7AM-9:30PM; F,Sa 7AM-10:30PM. Touristy but enjoyable Cajun food. $8-20.
  • '''Bisbano's Pizza''' 1540 Johnston St (337) 233-0420. Good pizza; free wi-fi.
  • '''Hub City Diner''' 1412 South College (337) 235-5683. Louisiana cooking in a diner atmosphere.
  • '''LaFonda Restaurant''' 3809 Johnston St (337)984-5630. Tex-Mex menu with great margaritas.
  • '''Randol's Restaurant''' 2320 Kaliste Saloom Road (337)981-7080, [http://www.randols.com/]. Popular Cajun family style restaurant with a dance floor and a bar. Live Cajun or Zydeco music every night.
  • '''Judice Inn''' 3134 Johnston St, (337)269-1653. Popular little joint for cheeseburgers and beer.
  • '''Olde Tyme Grocery''' 218 W St Mary (337)235-8165. Great po-boy sandwiches. The atmosphere is basically a few tables in an old grocery building. Lots of character!
  • '''Julien's Po-Boys'''1900 W. University Ave (337) 232-5168. Two other locations in Lafayette. Serves great po-boy sandwiches and spicy platters.
  • Drink

  • '''Downtown Lafayette''' Hosts live entertainment nightly with its verity of clubs and kind of resembles New Orleans French Quarter on a smaller scale.
  • The Strip. cKinley Street. A row of bars right next to The University of Louisiana at Lafayette. From The Keg to the McKinley Street Pub there is a bar for every college niche.

    Sleep

  • '''Hampton Inn Lafayette''', 3941 State Road 26 East, 1-765-447-1600 (''Fax: 1-765-449-9963''), [http://www.hamptoninn.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=LAFHHHX]. $100 (''for an extra $20 get the jacuzzi suite'').
  • '''Lafayette Microtel Inn & Suites''', 301 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy, 1-337-235-9010, [http://www.microtelinn.com/reservations/locationdetail.asp?facid=589].
  • '''Ramada Lafayette''', 120 E. Kaliste Saloom Rd., ''+1'' 337-235-0858, [http://www.ramadagulfcoast.com/].
  • Blue Moon Guesthouse. 15 East Convent Street. -877-766-BLUE. ttp://www.bluemoonhostel.com/index.html. A clean, safe, and very hospitible hostel located in downtown Lafeyette.

    Get out