Sharing the food, music, culture, and history at the heart of Cajun & Creole Country.

Chere Coen
Author
Chere Coen

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/

A Cake Fit For A King

Most people think of Mardi Gras as our season of merriment before Lent, but many of our traditions, such as the sweet and decorative king cake, begin with Christmas. The season of Carnival begins on Jan. 6, known as the Epiphany or Twelfth Night, the day the three kings visited the Christ Child. In…

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50 Reasons Why Lafayette is the Happiest City

Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission turns 50 this year, and we're giving you 50 reasons to visit our Cajun and Creole city in the heart of South Louisiana. Learn why Lafayette's been named the "Happiest City in America." 1. People European settlement of Lafayette began in the mid-1700s…

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Top Sights in Carencro

Carencro has a long and fascinating history with the Attakapas tribe, and later Acadians arriving in the mid-1700s, but most people wonder about the city's unusual name. Its origins have been argued over the years, with some attributing it to Native Americans telling European settlers that large…

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Top Sights in River Ranch

River Ranch is a planned community in the heart of Lafayette, LA. The traditional neighborhood development features more than 900 households in two districts, each with a park, shopping district, and hiking and biking trails. The original Town Center's trademark gazebo and lawn space are perfect for…

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Things To Do On A Sunday in Lafayette

The fun never stops in Lafayette, a Cajun and Creole city rich in culture, history, and food. And that includes Sundays. You'll find our outstanding cuisine, live music, dance floors, and unique natural environment waiting for your weekend visit. Check out our suggestions on Sunday activities and…

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Top Sights in Broussard, LA

Six miles southeast of Lafayette lies the city of Broussard, routinely one of Louisiana's fastest-growing modern cities. But it began when merchant Valsin Broussard arrived during the cold winter of 1784. The descendant of Joseph "Beausoleil" Broussard, an Acadian hero, Valsin named the place Cote…

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Top Sights in Youngsville, LA

Despite its name, Youngsville dates to 1831 when Acadian J.J. Roy arrived, later laying out a settlement with his son Desiré Roy. Back then, it was called Royville, but folks confused it with Rayville in Richland Parish, and the U.S. Postal Service asked for a change. In 1908, Youngsville came to…

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Top Sights in Scott, LA

Much of Southwest Louisiana developed when the railroad came through in the late 1800s. In 1880, the Louisiana Western Railroad obtained a right-of-way northwest of Lafayette, through the land of V. Cayret, who insisted the railroad place a station there in the hopes of encouraging the creation of a…

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Tips for Vacationing in Lafayette, LA

Life’s easy in South Louisiana, so pack a bag and come on down. But if you need a little more guidance, we’ve compiled a few tips for vacationing in Lafayette Parish and surrounding areas. What to Wear There’s an old joke in Louisiana that our winters here are so short, last year it was a…

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Top 10 Scariest Places in Acadiana

Who haunts the houses and buildings of Acadiana, a region rich in culture and history? Those who refuse to leave hang in shadows, tease us with weird happenings, and some even show themselves in the dark of night. Here are a few scary places to visit in Lafayette, but only if you’re brave enough to…

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