Welcome to the first full week of March. Typically at this point in the year parents begin stressing (if they haven’t already) about what to do with the kids for the fast approaching Easter vacation. Well, guess what? Our very own Lafayette has made Away.com’s list of 2013’s top 10 spring break destinations for families.
Spring in Lafayette is the best time of year to visit. The summer heat and humidity isn’t nearly overwhelming enough to force everyone into confined spaces with air conditioning. There are plenty of hotels, restaurants, and more kid-friendly activities here than you would think. Here is my suggested Lafayette itinerary gathered from various travel websites:
The Atchafalaya Experience
Among family activities in Lafayette, gator watching is a must-do. The Atchafalaya Basin Swamp Tour will show you the best of the Atchafalaya, one of Louisiana’s largest river swamps. You can’t get more up close and personal with alligators and up to 38 species of birds, otters, deer, mink, and beaver. Tours are led by an experienced father-son team and leave twice daily.
Vermilionville
For older kids, visit the Vermilionville Living History Museum & Folklife Park where actors, interpreters, and craft demonstrators work to provide visitors the opportunity to view life in Lafayette from 1765 to 1890. Fun fact: Vermillionville is the largest physical representation of Creole and Acadian culture in the world.
Avery Island
The Tabasco Pepper Sauce Factory calls Avery Island home. You can take a tour Monday through Thursday entirely for free and learn now Tabasco sauce is aged, bottled, packaged, and shipped worldwide. After your tour, visit the Tabasco Country Store and choose your souvenirs from a wide array of sauces, condiments, collectibles, and other gourmet gifts. Make the most of your visit to the island and stop by the Jungle Gardens and Bird City—170 acres of wildlife and exotic plant species including azaleas, camellias, and bamboo. You might spot a few alligators here as well!
Randol’s Restaurant et Salle de Danse
Though Randol’s might be a bit touristy, it represents the true spirit of Lafayette. Come eat authentic Cajun and Creole dishes like gumbo, shrimp pasta, crab fluffs, and crawfish étouffé. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the deep-fried alligator bites. The local dancers (and sometimes tourists) stepping along to the Zydeco and Cajun music create an atmosphere that is quintessential of the Deep South.
Downtown Alive
If you definitely will be visiting Lafayette this spring, try to come over a weekend so you can experience Downtown Alive, a family-oriented music festival held ever Friday evening downtown. Here is the music lineup for this spring.
People flock in herds to New Orleans, but Lafayette is just as linked to Cajun and Creole cultures as the Big Easy and provides more kid-friendly activities. Do you agree? Would you take your family to Lafayette or New Orleans?
Dr. Mike Malone and his team practice expert cosmetic dentistry in Lafayette, LA. Dr. Malone is the former president and current accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is also the official Cosmetic Dentist of the Miss Louisiana USA and Miss Louisiana Teen USA pageants. Check out his website for more information.