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1701 N University Ave

Lafayette, LA 70507

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Gangster vibe. Limited bathrooms. Not very clean. Sinks all closed. I won't come back.

Sinks all closed after using the bathroom

Do not come here please do not come here I had a oil leak I told the lady upfront and the mechanic in the shop what was going on i was stop the leak was stopped and my pm long story short they denied the I said this and my transmission is fucked up now because of them

Had 9 pm appointment in shop on November 5th ! Call us and said they had an opening 330pm Told to go to bay 3 asap got to door at 350pm Checked in , and sat in truck,told I was first,after shift change. 6pm told they didn't have water separator. Call the Office and they told them to cancel the water separator and do oil change and check fluids ! 8pm they put the hood down ! They didn't do anything ! Driver went to shop office and told them just change oil ! Told there was t2 road call s in front of me now ! 1030 told couldn't get to me tonite ! I left there disgusted .This people working here are just here for a pay check they don't care about there customers , and we are locals living just 5 miles away ! Plus the shop was dirt !! But like I said they don't care,! We should've went to Speedco. What a waste of my day & had laundry to do, laundry mat closed now,and had to cancel a pick/up ,missed it ! ,could make trip gonna be out of hours! Missed dinner to! What a shit show ! Dear T/A corporate, Travel center of America what has happened to you Signed : the driver It looks like I can't leave the review with out give them 1star - and five thumbs down ! These people don't care about your time with your logbook or where you Gotta be !

stay far away from shop. only one mechanic working n only here for tire change. Lady up front attitude issue

This travel center is a little dated, but it's very clean, fantastic customer service. I recommend if you are in the area.

Quaint, but nice

A huge shout out to the road crew, unfortunately I got out out of service so had to call dispatch to get a seal fixed on my trailer. I left Hammond early to avoid traffic but that didn't go as planned so I was in a rush I didn't eat breakfast and forgot to pack my snacks so I was with out food. I asked the road tech if I could ride with him back to the TA so I can pick up something to eat since I haven't eaten and he replied sorry buddy I can't it goes against company policy. I explained the situation and told him I was hungry and he immediately without hesitation offered to bring me food. It's people like him that restore faith in humanity, it might not sound like a big deal but I'm really grateful for him (Mitch) thanks Mitch for everything

Wow! This is a super nice TA with very sweet and helpful employees. The showers were super clean, the store well stocked and the restaurant had some taco soup that was simply amazing. So much so, I ordered more to go. Great job people!!

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Gauthiers’ RV Center

Your trusted dealer for fifth wheels, travel trailers, toy haulers, class c motorhomes and used rvs in louisiana.

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We love dealing with the folks at Gauthier's RV!!! Over the years, we have bought several campers from Gauthiers. Gladys always welcomes us with a smile as we walk in the door! We have always been more than pleased with everyone there - Derek in sales, Jason & Mike in service, Jeremy & Clark in parts. We feel we have always gotten a fair price for a superior product. And the service after the sale - awesome!!! We have been recommending Gauthiers' to family and friends for many years, and we will continue to do so!

We drove from Denver CO to Gauthier's in Scott, LA to purchase this Forest River Forester Classic 3010DS. Very happy with the Dealer and especially our sales person, Jonathon Truxillo. This is our 6th RV (5th motorhome) over 35 years, All RV's have been new except our first.

Purchased a 2022 Sunseeker from Gauthier's RV Center. Had a few issues, but the staff is amazing. Sales, admin and repair departments have all been very wonderful to work with. I would definitely recommend them for any of your RV needs. Good place, GREAT people. Thank you Gauthier's

It was a pleasure doing business with Gauthiers’ RV Center. We drove 13 hours to pick up a camper that was not available in our area. Jonathan went above and beyond to take care of us (Intoduced us to Boudin and Cracklins’) and made reservations for us in the local KOA. The entire team was knowledgeable and helpful. We found a minor problem and the service department took care of it and worked diligently to get us on the road home. It is refreshing to do business with such a professional group of people that truly care. We love our Rockwood! It was worth the drive!

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Home » Travel Guides » United States » Louisiana (LA) » 15 Best Things to Do in Lafayette (LA)

15 Best Things to Do in Lafayette (LA)

Often hailed as one of the best food towns in the country, Lafayette is a city in the center of Southwest Louisiana’s Cajun and Creole Country.

The city was founded more than 200 years ago beside Bayou Vermilion, a slow-moving tidal river just west of the Atchafalaya Basin, which is home to the largest swamp and wetland in the United States.

You can visit this environment at Lake Martin, which sums up most people’s idea of the southern Louisiana wilderness, with its alligators, rich birdlife and soaring bald cypresses draped with Spanish moss.

A city with a sizable LGBT community, Lafayette is a sociable kind of place, with more than 80 events and festivals downtown each year.

1. Vermilionville Historic Village

Lafayette’s first name, from 1821 to 1884, was Vermilionville, named after the bayou on which the city was founded. For an insight into those earliest days you can head to this outdoor attraction on 23 acres next to Bayou Vermilion.

Here you’ll get acquainted with the Native American, Acadian, Creole and African-descended cultures that inhabited this area between 1765 and 1890.

Awaiting you is a village of charming buildings in the Acadian or Creole styles, many of which are authentic and some that are accurate reproductions.

The village is full of life, and populated by costumed interpreters and artisans, showing off traditional crafts and customs.

There are scores of special events each year at Vermilionville Historic Village, including weekly dances on Sundays. If you book in advance you can also book a trip along the bayou aboard Cocodrie or Le Violoneux, both built using time-honored skills.

Since you’re in the heart of Cajun and Creole country, dining is a big part of the Lafayette experience. This place often tops polls of the best food towns in the United States, and if you’re wondering where to begin, you can always book a food tour.

One pick is the Cajun Food Tour, which works with more than 30 local eateries, with a selection that varies according to the season.

If you’re embarking on your own culinary adventure, some signatures are gumbo, boudin (spiced sausage), étouffée, fried seafood (especially oyster po’boys), crawfish boils (best January through June) and cracklin’ (fried pork fat), while King Cake is a Mardi Gras specialty with its own rich tradition.

In 2016, Lafayette named the Sweet Crude Rouler as its official cocktail, and this is made with local Sweet Crude Rum, sweet and sour, syrup, bitters and club soda.

3. Lake Martin

Right on Lafayette’s eastern flank is the Cypress Island Preserve, 9,500 acres of protected nature composed of cypress-and-tupelo swamp and bottomland hardwood forests. Many of the trees growing in the preserve date back half a millennium.

The main visitor attraction is Lake Martin, just ten minutes from downtown Lafayette. One of many species thriving at Lake Martin is the American alligator, and these can reach 14 feet.

This is also a haven for nesting waterbirds, including roseate spoonbills, white ibises, great egrets, great blue herons and snowy egrets.

From late January, these species make their nests in the rookery, and the views are stunning March through June. You can also walk a 2.5-mile levee trail from the fall to the spring.

If you’re fascinated by the alligators at Lake Martin, you’re sure to see plenty just by driving along Rookery Road, surrounding the lake.

To get even closer, Champagne Swamp Tours offers a range of experiences, from kayak rentals, to airboat rides to guided boat tours.

4. LARC’s Acadian Village

This cultural park in the southwest of Lafayette is a snapshot of Acadian life in the mid-19th century. All of the residences that you’ll see at LARC’s Acadian Village are authentic, having been restored on site and furnished with period items.

These homes are accompanied by a replica blacksmith shop, chapel and general store to paint a picture of a local community some 170 years ago.

LARC is a non-profit organization supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through education and employment opportunities, including the Mardi Gras Bead Store, located in the village.

The biggest annual fundraiser is the Noel Acadien au Village during December, with a Christmas light display, carnival rides, food, visits to Santa and nightly entertainment.

5. Festival International de Louisiane

The largest non-ticketed francophone festival in the United States takes place in downtown Lafayette in April/May.

First held in 1987, the Festival International de Louisiane is usually a five-day event, inviting musicians, artists and craftspeople from across the globe, as part of a celebration of cultural ties between Acadiana and the French-speaking world.

In its time, this extraordinary spectacle has been named among the best music festivals in the world, presenting artists from more than a dozen countries on seven stages throughout downtown Lafayette.

Just a few of the acclaimed past performers are Dr. John, The Wailers Band, Tinariwen and Skatalites.

There’s also a truly international array of craft vendors, a children’s zone and a food selection from jambalaya to gyros.

6. Mardi Gras

The second-largest Mardi Gras celebration in Louisiana takes place in Lafayette, attracting as many as 250,000 people to the city.

There have been Mardi Gras celebrations in Lafayette since 1869, but the colorful parades (courirs) became an annual tradition here in 1934, with the foundation of the Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association.

These courirs hark back to a long-standing custom of masked men and women making their way through the countryside, joined by a band and performing for residents in return for the ingredients for a gumbo.

The courirs then return to the town to make that communal gumbo, which is enjoyed by all. The costumes are steeped in a kind of irreverence for authority, with capuchons (pointed hats) that once mocked the French royalty, and mortar boards to poke fun at the well-educated.

Usually starting ten days before Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras), you get a slew of parades making their way through the city, with marching bands, doubloons and beads, and accompanied by other events like masked balls.

7. Downtown Lafayette

Cuisine isn’t the only thing going for downtown Lafayette. Mostly arcing along Jefferson St is a lively commercial district with museums, galleries, live music venues and interesting locally-owned stores for records, candles, clothing, books, shoes, groceries and bicycles.

We’ve seen that Lafayette has a social calendar that puts most towns to shame, and a big event is Downtown Alive!, with concerts on Friday evenings in the spring and fall.

This is another opportunity to catch some Cajun and Zydeco music. Something else to mark in your diary is the 2nd Saturday ArtWalk, a culture-rich experience mixing art, crafts, theatrical performances and yet more live music.

8. Acadian Cultural Center

A stone’s throw from Vermilionville at Bayou Vermilion there’s a unit of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, which is dispersed across several sites in South Louisiana.

Here, the Acadian Cultural Center explores the history and contemporary culture of the Acadians (Cajuns).

Smartly presented multimedia displays look into the origins of this group, along with migration, settlement and their rich contribution to modern life in Lafayette and South Louisiana.

You can also uncover the secrets of Atchafalaya Basin, America’s largest wetland and swamp, and arrange a ranger-led boat trip on Bayou Vermilion. The center has a wealth of programs, from traditional music performances, to dance, storytelling and food.

9. The Lafayette Museum

Downtown at 1122 Lafayette Street stands the Alexandre Mouton House (c. 1800), built by Jean Mouton, who was an early settler in Attakapas country.

He was the father of Alexandre Mouton (1804-1885), the 11th Governor of Louisiana and a United States Senator. Alexandre lived here until 1836, and after marrying Zelia Rousseau in 1836 enlarged the residence significantly.

Further additions were made after being purchased by one Dr. W. G. Mills in 1849, when the house gained its current appearance.

Complete with mid-19th century furnishings, the interior has been restored to the splendor of this period, and is open to the public as a house museum.

You can also browse local history exhibits, displays of Mardi Gras memorabilia, art collections, and tour the beautiful grounds.

10. University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Not many university campuses can claim to have a swamp with alligators right next to its student union. This is exactly what you’ll find at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, within walking distance of downtown.

This school is well known for its Ragin’ Cajuns, with 16 varsity teams in NCAA Division I. Home court for the men’s and women’s basketball teams is the 13,000-seat Cajundome, which also hosts regular WWE events.

The football team plays at Cajun Field, nicknamed “The Swamp” as the the surface is two feet below sea level, using pumps and a drainage system to keep the field in playable condition.

For some culture, do not pass on a visit to the Hilliard Art Museum, which has impressive collections covering Japanese woodblock printing, ancient Egyptian art, European painting, fine art from Louisiana, folk art and more than 150 works by American Modernist Henry Botkin (1896-1983).

11. Lafayette Science Museum

In the very center of downtown Lafayette is a modern and interactive attraction dedicated to STEM subjects.

Filled to the brim with playful, hands-on exhibits, the Lafayette Science Museum introduces young minds to nanotechnology, meteorites, biology, aviation, energy, paleontology and much more.

There’s also an all-digital planetarium on the second floor, for exciting live and recorded presentations.

The museum’s building has some history, dating back to 1925 and constructed by prominent local businessman Maurice Heymann (1885-1967) as Lafayette’s first department store.

The city’s first supermarket, another Heymann venture, opened across the street in 1937 and now houses the Children’s Museum of Acadiana.

12. Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist

One of the most striking landmarks in the city is the cathedral for the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette. Dedicated in 1916, this historic building is the third on the site, in a succession going back to the 1820s.

The cathedral is in the Dutch Romanesque Revival style and composed of red brick. Some of the many enthralling details to take in on a tour are the stained glass windows produced in Munich, an organ by Quebec’s Casavant Frères company and oil paintings depicting Jesus and the Apostles.

Jean Mouton donated the land for the church, and you can find his grave in the cemetery, along with his son Alexandre and grandson Alfred, a general in the Civil War.

13. Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival

Downtown Lafayette is 15 minutes from the official Crawfish Capital of the World. Breaux Bridge, with its quaint and low-key downtown, is worth a visit at any time of year.

But this town becomes a major destination on the first weekend in May for the world-famous Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, attracting upwards of 30,000 people each year.

This food and music extravaganza was launched in 1960, the year after Breaux Bridge received its official designation.

You’ll get a chance to sample crawfish every which way, be it boiled, in jambalaya, étouffée, bisque, fried, boudin, pie or as crawdogs, together with a smorgasbord of other Cajun and Creole classics.

The festival has long been a showcase for music, with more than 30 artists performing each year, bringing a blend of Cajun, Zydeco, swamp pop and much more.

If you’re in town a little earlier in the year, crawfish season normally peaks in March and April, and the festival is one of many boils and crawfish events in Breaux Bridge in spring and early summer.

14. TABASCO Brand Factory and Museum

A day trip to keep in mind in Lafayette is Avery Island, about a half hour drive to the south. The island is in fact a gigantic dome of rock salt, three miles long and adrift in salt marshes, swampland and bayous.

The unusual soils here allowed tabasco peppers to flourish, and it was on Avery Island in 1868 that the businessman Edmund McIlhenny (1815-1890) was able to mass-produce Tabasco sauce for the first time.

A combined ticket gives you access to the TABASCO Museum, barrel warehouse, pepper greenhouse, salt mine diorama, TABASCO Country Store and TABASCO Restaurant 1868.

15. Jungle Gardens

Also included in the Avery Island Fan Experience is Jungle Gardens, an incredible 170-acre botanical garden and bird sanctuary established by Edmund’s second son, Edward Avery McIlhenny (1872-1949).

The gardens are teeming with wildlife, from Louisiana black bears to American alligators, as well as a massive flock of snowy egrets nurtured by McIlhenny and returning to the magnificent Bird City area every spring to nest, before departing on their migration in fall.

You can also savor McIlhenny’s exceptional collections of azaleas, camellias and other exotic plants, as well as a 12th-century Chinese buddha gifted to him in 1936.

15 Best Things to Do in Lafayette (LA):

• Vermilionville Historic Village
• Lake Martin
• LARC’s Acadian Village
• Festival International de Louisiane
• Downtown Lafayette
• Acadian Cultural Center
• The Lafayette Museum
• University of Louisiana at Lafayette
• Lafayette Science Museum
• Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
• Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival
• TABASCO Brand Factory and Museum
• Jungle Gardens

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Visitors Guide

Request a copy, e-newsletter, click to sign up, top sights in oil center.

For a century, Louisiana has played a major role in the country’s oil and gas development, and Lafayette has served as a major spoke in the industry’s wheel. That’s why, in 1952, Lafayette businessman and philanthropist Maurice Heymann envisioned a section of town to house businesses associated with the then-burgeoning petroleum industry.

Today, the Oil Center is a hub of many businesses, from trendy restaurants and cafes to some of the city’s finest shopping venues. Of course, it’s still home to many oil-related businesses. Because of that history, the National Park Service, which manages historical sites, designated Lafayette’s Oil Center as a National Register Historic District .

It’s easy to spend a day in Lafayette’s Oil Center and nearby attractions within a short walk. We’ve compiled an itinerary to get you started.

Start the day at Parish Biscuit Co. at 1120 Coolidge St. There’s more to the menu than biscuits, but you should not miss sampling those Southern breakfast favorites. Naturally, because this is Lafayette, one of the culinary epicenters of the world, those biscuits come topped with a variety of delectable ingredients. You can smother them in gravy, stuff them with bacon and eggs, or dribble them with crawfish étouffée . Parish Biscuit is open for lunch as well.

There are so many boutiques to choose from, so plan to spend the morning perusing the shops. Many specialize in home décor, women’s clothing, and specialty gifts, such as:

• The Birds Nest at 331 Heymann Blvd.
• Koi at 456 Heymann specializes in women’s linen clothing but so much more.
• Pieces of Eight at 902 Coolidge Blvd. celebrating 50 years in business
• Renaissance Market and Brasserie sells women’s clothing, seasonal décor, and vintage Chanel and French antiques.

For that special occasion or casual wear, try Ballin’s at 321 Heymann, part of a chain throughout South Louisiana.

The Kitchenary at 456 Heymann Blvd. sells everything for the kitchen but also offers a variety of cooking classes and serves up gourmet lunch items weekdays in its café.

Local farm produce and fresh seasonal ingredients are what co-founders Chef Kelsey Leger and Sarah Trotter serve for breakfast and lunch Mondays through Saturdays at the new Five Mile Eatery, Market & Co-op at 317 Heymann Blvd. Best of all, they take their sustainability mission seriously, using certified compostable and/or biodegradable boxes and utensils. And there’s something for vegans and vegetarians, too.

You’ll likely be sitting next to locals at Cafe Lola at 1155 Coolidge, a weekday lunch spot popular with those who work in the Oil Center. Choose from various unique sandwiches, salads, hamburgers , and soups.

With all that great food to be had in the Oil Center, a nice walk might be in order. Girard Park and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette are an easy stroll from most Oil Center restaurants and businesses.

The expansive Girard Park between the Oil Center and UL Lafayette offers various recreational spaces, a duck pond with a gazebo, and a 1.25-mile jogging/ hiking trail. It is also the site of Festivals Acadiens et Créoles , held the second full weekend in October.

The park includes a 9-hole disc golf course, Parc Independence playground for those with disabilities, and historical or commemorative markers since the area was once a site of Civil War activity and the Civilian Conservation Corps.

The Hillard Art Museum on the park’s perimeter consists of two buildings: the original Greek Revival building by noted Louisiana architect A. Hays Town and the modern art gallery constructed of sea-green glass that reflects its neighbor and glows at night. After viewing revolving and permanent exhibits, check out the gift shop that sells unique items, some of which are locally made.

Dinner and Theatre

After a day of exploring, relax with a traditional Italian dinner at Antoni’s Italian Café at 1118-A Coolidge St. The folks at Antoni’s have been an Oil Center staple since 1996, and diners will appreciate their expertise in serving up everything from pizza and calzones to grilled veal scaloppini.

If your taste buds demand Cajun and Creole dishes, such as fried catfish or crawfish pie, and maybe a craft cocktail or two, try Bon Temps Grill at 1211 Pinhook Road.

Finish the evening with a performance at the Heymann Performing Arts Center , which brings in traveling Broadway shows, concerts, special events, and local performing troupes such as the Lafayette Ballet and the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra .

Cheré Dastugue Coen is an award-winning journalist and author of Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana and Exploring Cajun Country: A Tour of Historic Acadiana. Cheré is also the author of the Weird, Wacky and Wild South blog and writes novels under the pen name of Cherie Claire.

Links https://cherecoen.wixsite.com/cherecoen https://www.weirdsouth.com/ https://www.cherieclaire.net/