If you’re looking for a day trip that offers some history, Lafayette is a great place to visit. The city has several historical sites that you can visit, including the Alexandre Mouton House, which is also known as the Lafayette Museum. You can also explore the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum, which features mid-century works by Henry Botkin, Japanese prints, and folk art. In addition, you can explore the LARC’s Acadian Village, which recreates life in 19th century Acadian communities. This includes reconstructed houses and a general store.
Happy Hollow Park
Happy Hollow Park is a 81-acre destination with several things to do. There are four trails, 2 playgrounds, a picnic & grill area, and a volleyball court. This destination is perfect for families with children. The park is also pet friendly, so you can take your dog or cat for a walk.
Happy Hollow Park is a great place to bring the whole family, as it features multiple picnic shelters and is ideal for family reunions and birthday parties. The park also offers a 1.3-mile asphalt bike trail. This trail is great for biking or jogging. In addition, there are volleyball courts, a softball field, and a tube run for sledding.
Happy Hollow Park is located close to the Celery Bog Nature Center. This park has 81 acres of trails and two playgrounds with slides, roundabouts, and other activities for children. The park is also home to Main Street Amusements, which has over 40 arcade games and pinball machines. The arcade is open on the weekends until 11 PM.
There are many parks, water activities, and historical sites to explore in Lafayette. You can also find shops and restaurants in the area. Lafayette is easy to reach from Chicago and Indianapolis and is a great destination for families with children.
Acadian Village
One of the most unique attractions in Cajun country is the Acadian Village, located in Lafayette, Louisiana. It is an open-air museum that depicts a 19th century Acadian village. This historical attraction is open to the public throughout the year, and it is also a great place for families to spend the holidays.
Visitors to Acadian Village can tour authentic nineteenth-century homes. These houses have been donated by families whose ancestors lived there. Each home shows signs of time, and the wit and ingenuity of early Acadian homebuilders. The homes feature hand-hewn cypress timbers and tall peaked roofs.
The Acadian Village is an open-air museum that aims to preserve the history of Acadian settlers in South Louisiana. Visitors can take guided tours of authentic Acadian homes and enjoy the many events that take place. The village is particularly beautiful during the holidays, when holiday lights illuminate the homes. It is also a great location for family photos.
While visiting Lafayette’s Acadian Village, be sure to visit the General Store. Here you can buy period antiques, books and postcards. You can also find gifts from local vendors.
Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
The Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist in LaFlayette is the mother church of the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette. Originally called the l’Église St-Jean du Vermilion, this church was the first parish in Lafayette Parish, and it was transformed into a cathedral in 1918.
The Cathedral is home to an antique eagle lectern, hand-carved from oak. It was donated by the first Bishop of Lafayette. The altar also includes the four evangelist medallions: Matthew has a human head, Mark has a lion’s head, and Luke has an ox’s head. Another beautiful mosaic depicts a pelican feeding its young. There are also relics of several saints.
The red brick walls of the cathedral are enlivened by white stone trim and mortar joints. It is set back from the street and is accessible for visitors. There is also a bishop’s residence on the south side of the cathedral. This residence is beautifully decorated in an early Renaissance style. A cemetery in front of the cathedral contains many elaborate raised tombs.
The Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist is a beautiful and historical building in the heart of Lafayette. Founded in 1821, it is the mother church of the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette. It was originally called l’Église St. Jean du Vermilion and was officially designated a parish in 1918. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings.
Bird City
Lafayette has been designated as a Bird City by the Environment for the Americas. This program is designed to help people become more familiar with birds and bird conservation. The organization has a variety of initiatives and projects that promote bird conservation and education. This project is modeled after the Tree City USA program, which has a similar goal of educating people about how birds are essential to the environment.
Bird City is known for its resident snowy white egrets, although many songbird species make their home in this area in spring. These include night herons, Louisiana herons, and lesser bitterns. Even the great blue herons occasionally make a visit. Blue-winged teals, pintails, and gadwalls are also common visitors during spring.
Other interesting birds to see in Lafayette include American White Pelicans, which have wingspans of nine feet. They can be seen soaring over ponds in large flocks during the spring and fall. You can also see an adult Hooded Merganser at Greenlee Wildlife Preserve, as well as a variety of shorebirds. There are also numerous American Kestrels in Lafayette, which help control rodent populations.
Birding in Lafayette County is a relaxing and fun activity that allows you to reconnect with nature. While many people may not think of birding as a business, it is worth noting that camping, hiking, and hunting are big businesses. In fact, birding is estimated to be worth $41 billion in the U.S. annually. In fact, the town of Darlington has been designated as a “Bird City” in Wisconsin. The Bluebird Nest Nature Center is located here.
Jungle Gardens
Jungle Gardens in LaFayette is a 170-acre botanical garden and bird sanctuary located on Avery Island in LaFayette, Louisiana. The gardens are open daily, except major holidays. You can visit the park for free, or you can pay a small fee.
Founded in 1935, Jungle Gardens is a popular destination for visitors to south Louisiana. The gardens began as a wildlife refuge for the Snowy Egret, but soon developed into a working nursery selling exotic plants. In 1935, it opened to the public, and has remained a popular tourist attraction ever since.
The grounds are also filled with unusual plants and animals. Most of the plants were brought to the gardens decades ago, but some of them were documented to have lived in the garden for 100 years. Some of the plants that grow at Jungle Gardens have been brought from overseas. You can also walk through the beautiful flower beds, or enjoy the view from a gravel driving loop.
Located on Avery Island in LaFayette, Jungle Gardens is an exceptional destination for bird watchers and naturalists. It is filled with beautiful flowers and a unique collection of tropical and subtropical plants. You can also find a centuries-old Buddha statue and dozens of rare species of birds. The gardens are open every day except for major holidays.
Parish Brewing Co.
Parish Brewing Company offers free Saturday tours and pint glass and apparel sales. The brewery is an independent craft brewer with a unique style. The company makes beer in small batches and offers a diverse lineup. The taproom has live music and a wide selection of rotating craft beers. While you’re at the brewery, check out the brewery’s gift shop for pint glasses and apparel.
Parish Brewing Company makes several award-winning beers. Their double IPA Ghost in the Machine, for example, has been widely acclaimed and won a Best of 2019 award from Craft Beer & Brewing magazine. The brewery also holds monthly brewery-only releases of specialty beers, which draw crowds of beer enthusiasts.
The parish brewery is an example of how a microbrewery can stay competitive in a crowded market while still offering unique brews. Founded in 2009, the brewery started as a nanobrewery brewing beer in 55 gallon drums, but today it produces more than 20,000 barrels of beer a year, employs 33 people, and distributes across the southern United States. The company is still young, and has been able to expand by hiring people with diverse backgrounds.
Parish Brewing Company’s first beer, Canebrake, was a modest hit. Named for the surrounding sugarcane fields, the brewery brewed a small, 50 gallon batch each week and distributed the beer throughout the Lafayette region. It quickly became popular with all types of beer lovers.
