Gardens, Parks & Zoos in Lafayette

Otherwise known as the “Healer’s Garden,” these demonstration beds surrounding the historic village’s La Maison du Traiteur, or The Healer’s House, showcase plants used in medicinal ways by early Acadians, Creoles, and Native Americans in South Louisiana.

The Lafayette Museum is housed in a circa-1800 home built by Jean Mouton, one of the town’s earliest settlers. Jean’s son, Alexandre Mouton, became Louisiana’s first Democratic Governor. In addition to the artifacts, artwork, and historic furnishings inside, the museum grounds are flush with flowering vegetation.

Part of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the Horticultural Center is both a teaching and learning resource for faculty and students and a horticultural resource for the community. Members of the Lafayette Parish Master Gardener Association plant demonstration gardens on the Center’s acreage that are open to the public as part of the organization’s outreach mission.

The Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission designed its Visitor Center at 1400 NW Evangeline Thruway not only to distribute useful information about the area but also to provide an oasis for visitors to stretch their legs and relax. Peruse the rotating artwork by our city’s many world-renowned artists and stroll along a boardwalk overlooking a bayou with local flora and fauna.

Nineteenth-century actor Joseph Jefferson, famous for his portrayal of Rip Van Winkle on stage, built a Victorian-style mansion on Lake Peigneur at Jefferson Island in 1870. He then lovingly landscaped 15 acres into the stunning semi-tropical gardens it is today. Above it all are 350-year-old live oak trees.

TABASCO founder Edmund McIlhenny created his company on the natural oasis of Avery Island outside New Iberia. His son, Edward McIlhenny, loved its natural beauty and founded Jungle Gardens, which includes a bird sanctuary, more than 100 varieties of camellias, 64 varieties of bamboo, and countless exotic botanicals on 170 acres.

We’re fortunate in Lafayette that spring arrives early and bursts with color—especially due to the red, pink, white, purple, and salmon colors of our azaleas. There are so many azaleas—about 20 miles of city streets are lined with the colorful bush—that we formed the Lafayette Azalea Trail. It begins at the Visitor Center and meanders through the city, passing many Lafayette landmarks. Some of the bushes are more than 50 years old!

This gorgeous stretch of green space once served as a horse farm for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Now it serves residents and visitors as a natural retreat for hiking, concerts, the weekly Lafayette Farmers & Artisan Market, special events such as yoga and garden talks, and more. Dogs have their day at two dog parks, and children will adore the playground, treehouse, and innovative splash pad, which is more of a water adventure.

For those who want to escape into nature, Acadiana Park features a 6-mile trail system that meanders through woods with native flora and fauna and along bayous, the perfect way to get a feel for our South Louisiana terrain. The park includes the Nature Station, campground, 36-hole Disc Golf course, sports fields, and more.

There’s history inside Lafayette’s centrally located Girard Park, adjacent to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette—the land contains remnants of Civil War earthenworks and once contained an airfield. Today, the 33-acre park includes a duck pond popular with children, a 1.25-mile jogging trail, a splash pad, a playground, and more. The park is home to festivals and special events, such as Festivals Acadiens et Créole in the fall.

This downtown park beats from the heart of the city, as well as in most residents’ hearts. It’s here that children come to dance in the splash pad, and adults to dance at the free spring and fall Downtown Alive! and Bach Lunch concerts, and at the annual Festivals International de Louisiane. The small but mighty park is home to a 6,000-square-foot inclusive playground and an interactive Lafayette sign where you can be the Y in Lafayette.

The beauty of Beaver Park on Lafayette’s south side is its access to the Vermilion River. The park’s a great place to fish along the boardwalk, launch a canoe or kayak, and picnic with a lovely view of the water. Its vast green space includes a Frisbee golf course.

This 18-acre park, a short drive from downtown Lafayette, has recently constructed a skate park to join its soccer field, lighted tennis courts, jogging path, and indoor facility. It’s become a hotbed for skating enthusiasts.

More than 1,000 animals are on display at Zoosiana, including giraffes, lions, monkeys, and Louisiana natives such as alligators. Ride the Safari Train or Storybook Carousel, enjoy the landscaped grounds that include centuries-old live oak trees, and enjoy the petting zoo where animals eat out of your hands.