This city loves its zydeco — and Creole cuisine.
Lafayette, Louisiana, just west of New Orleans, was long thought of as NOLA’s country cousin — and this Cajun-spiced city may be a little less sophisticated, but it’s a lot more rooted in its own history. The soundtrack around town is zydeco, and its restaurants — both fancy and down-home — serve up some of the best crawfish boils, étouffées and po’boys in America. And the area around Lafayette invites visitors to take a swamp tour and see where Tabasco hot sauce was born.
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Explore Lafayette

  • Freetown-Port Rico Historic District
  • Downtown

Freetown-Port Rico Historic District

Overview

On the National Registry of Historic Places, Freetown/Port Rico developed as a haven for freed slaves and other people of color. Today, the neighborhood tells an important story, with a series of artisan-made plaques commemorating its landmarks.

Known For

Historic Homes, Restaurants, Music Venues

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Downtown

Overview

The city’s core has been revitalized — and has the public art and museums to prove it. Restaurants and cafés serve authentic Cajun cuisine, cocktail bars shake up tasty libations and the historic buildings and homes paint a picture of what Lafayette was like long ago.

Known For

Dining, Shopping, Nightlife, Museums

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Nearby Hotels and Resorts

Stay in the Center of it All

Immerse yourself in your destination at these centrally located hotels.

Showing 1-8 of 8 Hotels in Lafayette1-8 of 8 Hotels
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Spend 72 Hours in Lafayette, Louisiana, the Heart of Cajun Country

Large red brick church

Dive Into Downtown

Explore downtown Lafayette, starting in the verdant Parc Sans Souci. Dig in to a traditional Cajun lunch at one of the city’s oldest restaurants, then enjoy some public art, including the plaques commemorating landmarks in historic Freetown/Port Rico, once a haven for freed slaves.

Close up of a flatbread with greens, tomatoes and cheese

Meet the Acadians

Dive deep into Acadian history today. Opt to visit one of two villages that re-create what life was like for the French-speaking Canadians who settled in Louisiana. Then visit the Hilliard Art Museum before dinner and dancing.

Single cypress tree in the middle of a lake

Get Spicy

Head south to Avery Island, home to the company that makes Tabasco sauce — where an on-site restaurant puts the sauce to good use. Then either hop aboard a boat for a swamp tour of Lake Martin or check out the Lafayette Science Museum. Dinner is an epic crawfish boil.

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