![Lafayette Azalea Trail](/sites/default/files/2022-08/2022_lot_festivals_-_azalea_trail_09_photo_select_hero_0.jpg)
The area of Lafayette, Louisiana is at the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun and Creole Country, an area known as the ‘Happiest City in America’.
The rich cultural history, the tasty culinary scene and the distinctive Cajun and Zydeco music are all part of the cultural legacy created by the diverse people who settled here — Acadian, Creole, French, African, Spanish, Italian and Native Americans. It’s an area where the Cajun dialect is still spoken.
Visit Eunice and Opelousas for the Zydeco music, and Breaux Bridge for the crawfish. Head to St. Martinville (one of Louisiana's oldest towns and historically significant to the Acadian legacy) to see the beautiful architecture and buildings, many of which are listed on the historic register. Visit museums, antique markets and historic churches. You must try the region’s famous boudin (sausage), dance to live music and visit one of the many festivals happening year-round such as Festival International de Louisiane, the Sweet Dough Pie Festival or Courir de Mardi Gras.
Once you’ve had your fill of crawfish, sweet dough pies, cracklins, étouffée, catfish, head into the boundless wonders of the Atchafalaya Basin, the largest river swamp, containing almost one million acres of swamps, bayous, and backwater lakes. Learn more about the Lafayette area's restaurants and food. Start planning your trip!