Lafayette, Louisiana is a vibrant city located in Acadiana, known as the heart of Cajun and Creole culture. It is home to many attractions such as the Acadian Village, Vermilionville Living History Museum, and Lafayette Natural History Museum. Whether you're looking for a unique cultural experience or an exciting night out on the town, Lafayette has something for everyone. There are many restaurants serving up authentic Cajun and Southern cuisine, great shopping opportunities, outdoor activities at Girard Park and miles of trails connecting the city's scenic parks. Reviews of Lafayette often mention how friendly the locals are and how the city has a close-knit community feel; people all over agree that there’s no better place to explore local culture than in Lafayette. The city's diversity of attractions makes it an ideal destination for travelers of all ages looking for interesting ways to spend their time in Louisiana.
based on 37 ReviewsGet to know Lafayette with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Lafayette
Lafayette is your home. It's my home. It's our hom - 10/30/2007
I am floored by the negative comments about Lafayette, LA- both about the city and its people. My question is for those who made rude comments about the people of Lafayette. You say they don't accept you...are rude to you...are uninviting. How do you act towards them? Unaccepting? Rude? Uninviting? I'd venture to say yes on all accounts. My fiancé moved here several years ago for work. He'll be the first to admit that he hated it. Then he came to realize that this is HIS HOME and he could continue to hate it or venture out and become involved in the community. He strives to be an example to his co-workers, all of which are from out of state, that if you open your mind and your heart to the area, the area will welcome you in with open arms...just as I strive to be an example to his co-worker's significant others. You don't like the schools? Get involved. You have issues with the roads? Get involved. You have issues with the people? Get involved. You can sit on your sofa and stew about
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Lafayette, Louisiana - 8/5/2007
The first one must know about Lafayette, and Louisiana in general, is that the climate from March to through October is extremely hot and humid. Second, the public school system is abysmal, which caused is by wide scale cronyism, and legendary governmental corruption. Everyone that has the wherewithal sends their children to private or Catholic schools. The roads, generally, are awful, and not just because of the aforementioned systemic corruption. There is no bedrock to speak of, foundation slabs merely float on the soil. Same thing for roads. Even new roads don't last very long because of the poor foundation.
On the plus side, Lafayette is extremely diverse. Whites only represent a major minority. The climate is conducive to growing anything. Unemployment is low, and it is fairly easy to find a job, even though the jobs may not be the best available. Of course, there are hurricanes and we all know what happened with Katrina.
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Lafayette is a family-friendly town - 5/5/2007
Lafayette is very family-friendly. There are many activities surrounding children's sports: karate, t-ball, hunting, fishing, and the like. There is a children's museum and a natural science museum (needs a little work, though!). We also have the University of Louisiana - Lafayette here, with all the amenities that come with a college town. We have one of the largest Academy Sporting Goods in the country, and we have multiple outdoor-outfitting shops. The annual Festival International is held every April and is a free event, with great music and wonderful food. The area is predominately Cajun-Catholic, with an influx of people from other areas of the country due to the 70's and 80's oil boom (which eventually busted, I might add). Professional jobs pay a livable wage given the low cost of living in Louisiana (no property taxes), although housing is more expensive due to the scarcity of units (Hurricanes Katrina and Rita of 2005). New Orleans is about 2 hours away, and Baton
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Unique lively city continued - 4/20/2007
The rest of my post that was somehow cut off (Maybe I had too many words for a post on this site.
As I am a well rounded educated individual, oh and have all my teeth, I could choose to live anywhere, but choose to stay here, something is just different about this place that keeps me here. Maybe because its like no place else in this country.
I Currenly don't live in Lafayette but work in Lafayette, Am Currenly in Opelousas about a 20 min drive north of Lafayette (Only because of the cost of housing to me is too high in lafayette and has gotten worse since the hurricanes of 2005
As we say done here Leze Le Bon Temps Rouler (Let the Good times Roll)
and Joir De Vive (Joy Of Living). Lafayette is a city of Life and Good times.
John P. Breaux
Citizen of the state of Louisiana (not the Former Senator that Resides in
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Uniquely different - 4/20/2007
I don't know what all the negative commets about Lafayette are for.
I was raised in this very Unique Louisiana City. The City has a Very lively and Unique Culture. Yes We the people of Lafayette are very different from most places in this Cookie Clutter Country. At least most of our Neighborhoods are Unique and most homes don't look the same and are different Architecturaly. We are a very Different City than most Louisiana Cities. You Can Travel From one end of the state to the other and No Dialect is the same, New Orleanians sound like there from Boston or other New England Dialect. Lafayette people have a very differnt dialect all on there own cher.
Lafayette and Surrounding area is one of the fastest growing cities in the state of Louisiana even before Katrina & Rita. If it was so bad Schools, Roads, People, Then why is it one of the fastest growing cities in the state. (As some where saying in Other post that schools and other quality of life issues were
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here to stay - 2/27/2007
I am an outsider but I've been here for 12 years. I feel very accepted anywhere I go. Cajun people are just like everybody else; if you are friendly, they are friendly in return. I love the food and the culture, however I am not a party goer nor do I participate in Marti Gras. There seems to be more partying here than other places I,ve been: that is the biggest negative to me. The hot humid weather is unpleasant at first but you get acclimated to it after awhile. I'd rather have the heat than the cold in winter any day. Love the swamps, cypress trees and spanish moss. I am here to
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Leaving Lafayette... - 10/13/2006
Having been part of a military family for 16 years now, I have lived in a lot of places, in various parts of the country. I must say that Louisiana is the least favorite place I have lived. The town is pretty much trashy, except for certain exclusive areas. The people won't like you at first, give them a couple of years. The schools are at the bottom of the nation's list for a reason. Pay for a private school, it is worth it. Have you ever noticed a lot of LA license plates on the highway? It is because you have to leave LA to find anywhere nice to visit. The festivals, booze and food is aplenty, but most of the natural resources have already been screwed up. We have requested to leave this area early. Moving
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Culture - 9/12/2006
The University of Louisiana offers many opportunities for music, plays and the like. Also the acadiana symphony orchestra offers a lot of free performances. There are lots of concerts (pop and country) at the Cajundome. There are also many chances to experience cajun/creole
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I must disagree, it's a great place to live - 5/6/2006
I'm a Cajun, raised in the Lafayette area and like many young people I moved away after I graduated from USL. I've had the opportunity to live in every region of this country and travel to others. I've learned that there are good and bad aspects of anyplace you live. The culture here is slow and easy and the family is the most important aspect of their lives. The culture that was said to be non-existant is apparent in the multitude of festivals that are held practically every weekend in the spring and summer. The weather is hard to take, which is why I don't live there, but better than the desert SW like Phoenix. Then again, it's all what you make of it. I don't know where these people are from who are denegrating the Cajun people, but I've never been anywhere with kinder more generous people. Just have a flat tire, anywhere else in this country you are on your own. In Cajun country you'll be turning away
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I must disagree, it's a great place to live - 5/6/2006
I was raised in Lafayette and like many young people couldn't wait to leave. I've had an opportunity to live in every region of this country and after military life and travel nursing I've found out that there are good and bad aspects to any place you live. I miss the people and culture of Lafayette. I agree the weather is hard to take, which is why I don't live there, but I prefer it to Phoenix. It's all a matter of taste. As far as the people, I don't know where these other people who are denegrating the Cajuns are from, but I've never been anywhere where the people were nicer or more accepting of outsiders. Remember, until the 1940s this was a very isolated Cajun area, now filled with people from all walks of life and different areas of the world. It's uneducated people who judge a whole culture on the actions of a
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