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re: Lafayette or NOLA which would you recommend
Posted on 5/1/26 at 1:33 pm to justaniceguy
Posted on 5/1/26 at 1:33 pm to justaniceguy
As a Lafayette resident, I wouldn't really suggest visiting here unless there is a festival or something going on. It's a great spot to raise kids, but there's way less to do here than somewhere like New Orleans.
0
Posted on 5/1/26 at 2:22 pm to Dixie2023
quote:
Other than food, what would be worthwhile in these small towns
Acadiana culture is centered around it's rich music tradition. Cajun and Zydeco music are unique to this 7 Parish area and you won't find it anywhere else. Regarding Evangeline Parish - Everyone should experience Fred's Lounge and the Courir de Mardi Gras at least once in their life.
Regarding LAF - Acadiana Village and Vermilionville offer history and provide a travel back in time to when the Acadiennes were exiled from Nova Scotia and settled in SW LA. Both are cool to do once and learn about Lafayette history. If a trip is planned correctly, there are tons of food/music Festivals practically every weekend. Acadiana Center for the Arts, Blue Moon Saloon, RocknBowl, Downtown Alive, etc .. all have great live music.
Lastly, a brief stroll on the ULL campus is cool for out-of-towners because where else can you see live alligators on a college campus and cypress lake?
As noted above, I'd do Lafayette in 1 day for music, food, and Cajun museums, then do Tabasco Tour the next morning, and head to NOLA for 2-3 days.
Posted on 5/1/26 at 2:59 pm to Got Blaze
Nice, thanks. Re Evangeline, I guess I saw the worst of the worst when I helped in animal rescue. From citizens to the officials, specifically, Mamou and Ville Platte. Lafayette sounds wonderful to visit and full with history. I’ll have to take a day trip. I only met up there right off i-10 to help transport so didn’t know anything else. My step dad was from Nova Scotia. Cajun French. Appreciate your response.
Posted on 5/3/26 at 7:35 am to justaniceguy
I also live in Lafayette and suggest NOLA if you’ve never been. When we go, we typically stay in the CBD/warehouse area as someone suggested. Carousel bar at the Monteleone in the quarter is always lively.
A trolley ride uptown to see the houses on St. Charles, with a stop at The Columns for drinks along the way, is a good way to see that area. Great restaurants all over the city.
A trolley ride uptown to see the houses on St. Charles, with a stop at The Columns for drinks along the way, is a good way to see that area. Great restaurants all over the city.
Posted on 5/3/26 at 10:48 am to justaniceguy
quote:
Am I missing out by going to Lafayette instead of Nola?
A thousand times, yes. Lafayette is fine as a small city, but there really isn't much "cajun culture" left, much less culture available to a tourist. You've got Vermillionvile, Acadian Village, and... that's about it. Randol's used to be an easy tourist recommendation, but even that closed and then reopened in Breaux Bridge. You're not going to be able to just stumble into a restaurant and see a couple of guys on accordion and washboard. In my opinion, for a tourist, Lafayette is a day trip, or a single overnight, at best. Comparing it to New Orleans as a travel destination is heavily buying into the pro-Lafayette/anti-New Orleans propaganda. The former isn't nearly as good, and the latter isn't nearly as bad, as people on here pretend that they are.
Posted on 5/3/26 at 3:05 pm to justaniceguy
People who live in Lafayette visit NOLA for fun. No one who lives in NOLA visits Lafayette for fun.
Posted on 5/3/26 at 7:05 pm to Joshjrn
quote:
here really isn't much "cajun culture" left,
There is, but not as much in Lafayette proper. OP would have to be willing to venture out to some of the smaller towns, which IMO, are a good time. But would likely not find that near as exciting as the spectacle of New Orleans.
Posted on 5/3/26 at 7:34 pm to justaniceguy
I’d be happy to give you some awesome local recs for Nola.
This post was edited on 5/4/26 at 9:48 am
Posted on 5/3/26 at 7:57 pm to jdd48
quote:
There is, but not as much in Lafayette proper.
I intended my statement to mean that there isn’t much left in Lafayette, not that there isn’t much left anywhere
Posted on 5/4/26 at 6:17 am to Got Blaze
quote:
because where else can you see live alligators on a college campus and cypress lake?
Monroe
Posted on 5/4/26 at 9:19 am to justaniceguy
Nola by a mile
Posted on 5/4/26 at 10:50 am to justaniceguy
Do NEw Orleans. Not even close. New Orleans is one of the top cities in the world for tourism, good food, good music, and great entertainment.
Posted on 5/4/26 at 7:20 pm to justaniceguy
I love Lafayette but there is much more to do and see in New Orleans.
Posted on 5/6/26 at 10:47 am to justaniceguy
The two places are extremely different. NOLA in a river/ocean shipping hub offering variety but it takes some planning to get past the alcohol-infused tourist scene. WWII Museum is a great start, Zoo, City Park and Sculpture Garden, etc. A good guide locals use is: LINK . A good guide to help sort through the tourist stuff is: LINK
Lafayette gets frequent endorsement in national travel media. The small city prides itself as being the center of Cajun culture. The modern economy is closely tied to oil and gas. My nephew picked it for the start of a family vacation because of a feature in the NY Times Travel. His family of 4 stayed at Juliet Hotel LINK where a wedding party included them in activities.Vermillionville is a reconstructed Cajun settlement worth the visit- LINK Lake Martin is fantastic for a swamp tour. I joined nephew using Cajun Country Swamp Tours - LINK My nephew ended his vacation in NOLA.
Lafayette gets frequent endorsement in national travel media. The small city prides itself as being the center of Cajun culture. The modern economy is closely tied to oil and gas. My nephew picked it for the start of a family vacation because of a feature in the NY Times Travel. His family of 4 stayed at Juliet Hotel LINK where a wedding party included them in activities.Vermillionville is a reconstructed Cajun settlement worth the visit- LINK Lake Martin is fantastic for a swamp tour. I joined nephew using Cajun Country Swamp Tours - LINK My nephew ended his vacation in NOLA.
Posted on 5/6/26 at 1:49 pm to TheOcean
Good Food vs. Sight seeing .. hmmmm
Posted on 5/7/26 at 4:32 pm to diat150
quote:
take hwy 90 back to new orleans and you can hit some of the small towns along the way alot of gems especially when it comes to food.
Hell pick up a couple of speeding ticket souvenirs on that trip also
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