Back-to-School Weekend Adventures in Lafayette

Gators, exotic birds, and other animals are just outside our doors—well, maybe within a short drive. Swamp tours, where guests can find these unique South Louisiana critters, are located in nearby Lake Martin and within the Atchafalaya Basin, offering everything from nature tours to heart-stomping airboat rides. 

Louisiana isn’t called the Bayou State for no reason. Lafayette and its surrounding region boast numerous bayous, rivers, and wetlands, all waiting for you to dip your paddle. There’s even the Bayou Vermilion flowing through town! Visit the Bayou Vermilion District for a list of canoe and kayak launch sites.

Museums may be the ultimate hot day experience for families—enjoying history, art, and family activities in an air-conditioned environment. Lafayette is fortunate to have many outstanding museums, including the Children’s Museum of Acadiana, the Lafayette Science Museum, the Hilliard Art Museum at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and the Acadiana Center for the Arts. Vermilionville and Acadiana Village are two living history museums where visitors can travel back in time to the early settlement of Lafayette and experience firsthand how early residents lived. 

Heading back to school in South Louisiana doesn’t mean summer is over — not by a long shot. It’ll be a while before fall kicks in, so cool off at the area’s many splash pads and pools. 

Splash pads at Moncus Park, Parc San Souci, Girard Park, Parc Lafayette shopping center, and St. Julien Park at the Broussard Sports Complex are all free to enjoy. The splash pad at Palmetto Island State Park, situated south of Abbeville, charges a small fee for park entry. Still, the oversized waterpark is worth every penny—plus, you’ll have access to hiking, biking, and canoe trails, some of which are along the Vermilion River. 

Red Lerille’s health club offers a multi-experience outdoor pool for a daily access fee, and two city parks feature pools – Martin Luther King Recreation Center and the Earl J. Chris Pool in the Robicheaux Recreation Center. 

Lafayette has been graced with some of the most beautiful and unique murals and public art. The best place to discover many of these colorful creations is downtown. Start with the Lafayette sign in Parc San Souci, which changes color with the seasons. (Be sure to take a selfie as the “Y” and hashtag #YLafayetteSign). Look for sculptures that present history, such as Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus at the Rosa Parks Transportation Center and the 9/11 Memorial. 

Downtown is filled with breathtaking murals, many of which are by renowned Lafayette muralist Robert Dafford. There’s “Premier, Dernier et Toujours” at 712 Jefferson St., which tells the story of our cultures arriving on Louisiana soil; “Until All That’s Left is a Postcard” at Jefferson and Garfield Streets, which spotlights our unique and fragile Atchafalaya Basin and “Ex-Garage” at 600 Jefferson St., an homage to Cajun music. The innovative “Fields of Study” by Chris Pavlick at the Lafayette Science Museum examines five scientific studies. And that’s just a sampling.

When my kids were little, and we couldn’t afford a full vacation, we’d check into a family-friendly hotel, kick back, and enjoy a refreshing pool. Lafayette has several family-friendly hotels waiting to let you relax in a lounge chair, and many offer end-of-summer specials as well. For those on a budget, try America’s Best Value Inn and Fairfield Inn & Suites on Evangeline Thruway and Home 2 Suites by Hilton at Parc Lafayette within walking distance of River Ranch.

Only a short drive away are a host of attractions, such as the International Petroleum Museum & Exposition in Morgan City, the Acadian Memorial in St. Martinville, the Conrad Rice Mill in New Iberia, and the Opelousas Museum and the Louisiana Orphan Train. One of the most popular attractions is the TABASCO Factory at Avery Island, where the famous hot sauce is made. Have lunch at the 1868 restaurant and TABASCO ice cream in the gift shop, then drive through Jungle Gardens, a semitropical garden and bird sanctuary created by TABASCO founder Edmund McIlhenny and Mary Eliza Avery.

If money’s an issue, no worries. There are numerous affordable or free activities to enjoy in Lafayette and the surrounding area. Click here for a list of free things to do in Acadiana.