10 Fun Things to Do in Lafayette, Louisiana with Kids
If you’re heading down to Louisiana on vacation and only stick to the beaten path, you’ll be missing an underrated gem.
Just 60 miles west of Baton Rouge, Lafayette is within the third-largest metro area in Louisiana and is full of family-friendly activities year-round. It was even once named the Happiest City in America.
Things To Do In Lafayette, Louisiana For The Whole Family
Here’s a look at just a few of the most interesting things to do in Lafayette, Louisiana while on a family vacation.
1. Vermilionville
Lafayette is steeped in 18th-century Acadian history. This recreated, 23-acre village represents the early life of those first settlers who descended from the French (Cajuns are descendants of Acadians). The site includes living history tours, a Creole and Cajun restaurant, and period homes.
2. Lafayette Science Museum
Both kids and adults will enjoy this highly regarded museum, home to numerous Louisiana natural science exhibits on everything from spacecraft and paleontology to an interactive bug exhibit for children called the crawl space. There’s also a planetarium and over 1,000 works of native Louisiana art on display.
3. Take In A Concert
Not only is Lafayette considered one of the happiest cities in America, but it also calls itself the Free Music Capital of the World. It’s not an exaggeration. Any given day and night numerous musicians and bands are performing distinctive Creole, Cajun, and Zydeco music around town.
4. Explore The Boudin Trail
The Boudin Trail is probably unlike any trail you’ve trekked before. Instead of biking through the region or going from one historical marker to the next, you’ll be eating a lot of meat. You read that right. On this trail, you try different kinds of boudin, like a sausage with a dash of black pudding flavor. There’s usually rice and pork in the Cajun version.
5. Take In A Cultural Festival
Lafayette has numerous yearly festivals, with the largest being the Festival International de Louisiane, a multiple-stage live music extravaganza usually held in late April through early May. Other eclectic festivals are honoring Lafayette history to choose from, including some dedicated just to shrimp and boudin.
And yes, there’s a Cajun version of Mardi Gras held in February.
6. Go On A Swamp Tour
It wouldn’t be a trip to Louisiana without a good old-fashioned swamp tour — and Lafayette is surrounded by a huge bayou. You’ll see alligators, birds, turtles, and usually other creatures. There are many tours to choose from, but if you want the traditional tour by airboat, check out Atchafalaya Basin Landing.
7. Children’s Museum Of Acadiana
If you and your children are more inside people as opposed to outside swamp tour people, head to this nonprofit museum. Geared toward younger children, the museum offers hands-on activities, themed rooms, and even a chance for kids to broadcast what the visit was like at an in-house television station.
8. Treat Yourself With Tabasco
Tabasco is probably not a kids’ favorite condiment, but the young ones will still enjoy a trip to Avery Island (actually a salt dome 20 miles outside of Lafayette), where the McIlhenny family founded the iconic hot pepper sauce company in 1868. There are self-guided tours, pepper plants, and even a tasting room.
9. Jungle Gardens
While on Avery Island, a stop at this botanical garden and bird sanctuary offers 170 acres of stunning landscapes — think large, old oaks and Spanish Moss. Snowy egrets make their home at “Bird City” on the property.
10. Go Shrimpin’
Well, sort of. At Delcambre, a coastal fishing town just outside of Lafayette, you can buy shrimp right off the boats as they dock. Or if you can find shrimp at the Delcambre Seafood and Farmers’ Market. Whatever you do in Delcambre, do it with shrimp.
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Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.