Click here for a list of local places that ship out of state. This article was sponsored by Lafayette Convention & Visitors Commission, Lafayette Economic Development Authority and One Acadiana. Notable natives include world-renown "Blue Dog" artist George Rodrigue and architect A. Hays Town. Look up and see white egrets and pink spoonbills flying right overhead. From exploring the swamp to sampling Cajun and Creole food, drink and festivals, here are 10 things you must do in Lafayette, LA. The Hilliard Art Museum at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette has collections of Japanese woodblock prints, photographs from more than 100 photographers, folk art, plus a Louisiana collection that includes paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures. News Locals celebrate everything from music, art and food to shrimp, crawfish and frogs. Kadejah Mayfield, a 20-year-old University of Louisiana at Lafayette student, was raised here but moved away several years ago. Now she's back, but she doesn't necessary think her fellow residents are always that chipper. NEW: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list. Things to do in Lafayette LA Lafayettes thriving arts scene encompasses visual art, theater, live music, Lafayette, LA strives on economic development. Whether your passion is for our rich cultural history, the bustling culinary scene or distinctive blend of Cajun and Zydeco music, you can be sure you will leave beaming from ear to ear. Lafayette's rich history, culture, and scenery provide perpetual inspiration for the arts. Happiest City in America Lafayette, Louisiana 2.81K subscribers 805 views 2 years ago Lafayette, LA is at the heart of Louisiana's Cajun & Creole Country, an area known for letting the good. To identify the happiest cities in America, according to residents, 24/7 Wall Street reviewed the happiness score of all 383 metro areas in the U.S. from digital health companySharecares Community Well-Being Index. The index measures whether individuals feel a sense of purpose, have supportive relationships, are financially secure, satisfied with their community, and are in good physical health. white egrets and pink spoonbills flying right overhead. In November 2013, "Travel + Leisure" magazine named Lafayette one of 20 America's Best College Towns. : ! Lafayette has everything you would expect in a major city. , . For a taste of genuine history, visit Vermilionville, a reconstructed Cajun colonial village where you can watch daily life re-enactments from the time period 1765-1890. According to the prior findings of social scientists, Lafayette famously declared the "happiest city in America" in 2014 may be uniquely positioned to come out of all this with its social and emotional landscape intact. Known as the "Happiest City in America," "Tastiest Town of the South" and a " Top Music Mecca," Lafayette is located in the heart of Louisiana's Cajun and Creole region called Acadiana. Crawfish season is January to June when local joints serve piles of spicy boiled crawfish. Rochester, Minnesota; Corpus Christi, Texas; Lake Charles; Nashville, Tennessee; and Fort Walton Beach, Florida round out the top 10. Nearby towns like Breaux Bridge and New Iberia also offer main streets with local shops and restaurants worth exploring. 2023 Good Sam Enterprises, LLC. For starters, we have two great dog off-leash dog parks at Brown Memorial Park andBeaullieu Park, plus awesome on-leash trail adventures at the Acadiana Park Nature Station. The area also has lots of local art galleries. The city boasts the largest free, outdoor Francophone event in the U.S. known as Festival International de Louisiane, along with tons of other free festivals and community events, mild temperatures and some of the fastest internet in the world giving it a metropolitan appeal. From local eateries to dance halls to outdoor Livability explores what makes small-to-medium sized cities great places to live. An envelope. Good Sam provides everything you need to have a good trip. Lafayette is a city well-acquainted with happiness; as we celebrate withajoie de vie(joy of life) in both work and play. South Louisiana summers are filled with sunshine and winters are mild and comfortable, rarely dipping below 50 degrees. At the Acadiana Center for the Arts, you can take art lessons, view exhibitions, and catch performances. Acadiana is home to the most significant wetland swamp in the country. Our team can't wait to help you find your dream home in Lafayette and the surrounding areas. Lafayette is home to a symphony orchestra, the Hilliard Art Museum, the Heymann Performing Arts Center, Acadiana Center for the Arts, and a plethora of local galleries. Lafayette is a city well-acquainted with happiness; as we celebrate with a joie de vie (joy of life) in both work and play. 2023 Lafayette Economic Development Authority. The people here have a pure joy of life. "Well, it is a great place to party," she said. In Lafayette, Louisiana, residents are proud of their superlative designation as the Happiest City in the United States, which was awarded by the Wall Street Journals MarketWatch a while back. Acadiana is home to Cajun, Zydeco, and Swamp Pop music played with instruments like washboards, accordions, triangles, and fiddles. Whether your passion is our rich cultural history, the bustling culinary scene or distinctive blend of Cajun and Zydeco music, you can be sure you will leave smiling from ear to ear. All are in Louisiana; Lafayette topped the list. One of the main events that everyone looks forward to in the fall is Festivals Acadiens et Croles . Lafayette, Louisiana is at the heart of Cajun & Creole Country, an area known for letting the good times roll, or as they say it laissez les bons temps rouler, and people are starting to notice. Plan Your Escape to the Lafayette, the Happiest City in America Lafayette, Louisiana is at the heart of Cajun & Creole Country, an area known for letting the good times roll, or as they say it laissez les bons temps rouler, and people are starting to notice. The area also has more intimate community celebrations like the Cajun and Creole Christmas gatherings that include light shows, parades, tours of festive homes and more. The heartbeat of Cajun Country, Lafayette dates back to the 18th century when Canada's Acadians settled in the area, and over the next few hundred years, the Greater . Home to more than 1.3 million people, Helsinki is the capital of Finland the happiest country in the . Register for this Trip The Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Best Place to Live, What a Budget of $300,000 or Less Will Get You in 10 Cities Across the Country, 6 Affordable Islands You Can Actually Live On, 10 Best Cities for Antique & Flea Market Lovers, 10 People On What Its Really Like to Leave NYC for a Smaller City, Array The West and Rocky Mountains regions, specifically California and Colorado, appear to be the states with the most cities where residents feel happy. [0] => 161670 The Wall Street Journal's MarketWatch.com recently named Lafayette, LA as the "Happiest City in America" and it's no mystery why. Savor World-Class Cajun & Creole Cuisine For example, Lafayette has some pretty awesome pools and splash pads. The 22-parish area known as Acadiana was officially designated in 1971, but its history goes Top Retirement Destination Where to Retire magazine, 10 Best Warm Weather Getaways USA Today, Top Music Mecca in the South ConventionSouth, Top 50 College Towns in America College Rank, 10 Smaller Cities Poised to Skyrocket Realtor.com. University of Louisiana at Lafayette Student Union Ballroom, Sugar Mill Pond Independence Day Celebration, 25 Reasons Why Lafayette is the Happiest City. Take that, rest of the country who makes fun of us in Louisiana. Whether your passion is our rich cultural history, the bustling culinary scene or distinctive blend of Cajun and Zydeco music, you can be sure you will leave smiling from ear to ear.- The Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist in Downtown Lafayette, LA stands as a sentinel to the faith of generations of followers. The eight parishes that comprise the area are Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion. Men's and women's sporting events are all family-friendly and promise a good time. According to a . Festivals Acadiens et Creoles | October 14-16, 2022. It's the real deal. It's the real deal. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C., Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, 2. Gulf Brew | October 22, 2022. The mediancost of a home in Lafayette is just $159,100, compared to the $231,200 national average. Keep up to date with our latest rankings and articles! Another Cajun treat is cracklin, which is fried pork belly with the pork skin. We then leverage that expertise to develop city rankings for a range of topics including small towns, college towns and our annual Top 100 Best Places to Live. Based on a national average of 100, the cost of living in Lafayette comes in at 87.7, according to Best Places. Loaded with a variety of family-friendly things to do, Lafayette living truly puts the "life" in work-life balance. Sharecare surveyed more than 450,000 U.S. adults, concentrating on these five areas of individual well-being, as well as analyzed more than 600 elements of social determinants of health from additional data sources. Home to more than 235,000 people, Lafayette Parish is filled with history, cuisine, live music and local culture. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic challenged the well-being of millions of people, happiness was not easy to quantify. The Wall Street Journals MarketWatch.com recently named Lafayette, LA as the Happiest City in America and its no mystery why. Sed tempor mauris a purus porttitor, , : , : , . Many of our local restaurantsTaco Sisters, Central Pizza, and Borden's Ice Cream in particularalso go out of their way to accommodate pooches(and their humans). From Mardi Gras to the Festival International de Louisiane, this city certainly knows how to have a good time, earning it a place on the list of happiest cities in America. Plan your escape to the Happiest City in America. Holidays like Christmas and Easter are celebrated in a big way, and Lent is highly revered. Maybe try searching? The regions history dates back to the 18th century, when Canadas Acadians were expelled in the late 1700s and settled in Louisiana. An curved arrow pointing right. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Connecticut, 4. Try dozens of delicious flavors made with pure cane sugar. Theres all kinds of flavors to experience in Lafayette. Nunc imperdiet rhoncus arcu non aliquet. In Lafayette, you can immerse yourself in the arts. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Lafayette has been named the Happiest City in the US by the Wall Street Journal's MarketWatch. 515 Cathedral St. Lafayette, LA 70501- Downtown Lafayette provides a rich and unique experience for groups, large or small. Whether your passion is for rich cultural history, the bustling culinary scene or distinctive blend of Cajun and Zydeco music, you can be sure you will leave beaming from ear to ear. For questions, please see our Privacy Policy & California Privacy Rights. Festivals & Events in Lafayette Louisiana The popular saying laissez les bon temps rouler means let Bienvenue Lafayette! In the growing city, metropolitan food is more than sustenance - it's a way of life, a tradition, and a heritage. For those 21 and up, grab a drive-thru daiquiri. With our distinctive blend of food, music and culture it's. Called the happiest city in America year after year, plus tastiest Southern town and music mecca, this New Orleans-adjacent city and geographic heart of Louisiana is oozing with joie de. Kick off your weekend starting Thursday with Rhythms on the River, a free evening concert held in River Ranchs Town Square. Lafayettes work hard, play hard attitude makes it a fun place to live and also a thriving place to do business. Though that answer is different for everyone, identifying these things might be a step in the right direction towards achieving . And contrary to what you may have heard, it's not all crawfish and barbecue. Festivals Acadiens et Croles celebrates local culture with food, music, art, and dance every fall in October. Boasting the titles 'Tastiest Town in America' and 'Happiest City in America', Lafayette in Louisiana brings something unique to the palates of visitors. French immersion is offered at local public schools, a French music festival is held each April, and on stages around town, many musicians sing in French. Omaha-Council Bluffs, Nebraska and Iowa, 43. In Lafayette, theres always something to celebrate. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, 22. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address below and get the latest posts delivered straight to your inbox. SacramentoRosevilleArden-Arcade, California, 33. This site is hosted, designed, and copyright 1994 - 2023 by, Get Ready for Restaurant Week New Orleans 2023, 6 Home Improvement Projects to Complete This Summer, Drinks With a Side of History: Historic Bars in NOLA, Why Lafayette is Known as the Happiest City in America. Read on to discover why. Lafayette, for example, is host to Festival International de Louisiane, the largest outdoor Francophone event in the world, as well as Mardi Gras and Festivals Acadiens et Croles, a three-day music, food and arts celebration. Residents and tourists alike have many opportunities to catch a beat and hear music played on washboards, accordions, triangles and fiddles, whether its at live music venues such as Blue Moon Saloon, Feed & Seed, Hideaway on Lee or at festivals, including the Festivals Acadiens et Croles that takes place each October. Theres lots of talent in the region: Local musicians have won 16 Grammys. "Oh, that's spot on," said Dickinson, referring to Lafayette's new title. It looks like nothing was found at this location. School spirit is strong here with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and its Ragin Cajuns. Other festivals include Pride, Louisiana Comic-Con, the Zydeco Marathon, Holi Festival and the Boudin Cook-Off. Here's how we can tell that living in Lafayette makes people happy: It's a Foodie Dream This local specialty sausage is a must-try, made with pork, spices, and Louisiana-grown rice. Festivals Acadiens et Croles Celebrates 43rd Anniversary, Plan your Culinary Escape in the Happiest City in America, Circle CG Farm Campground: New England at Its Best, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. She said they ate lunch at Whole Wheatery Eatery Caf in the Oil Center, drank coffee at Black Caf near downtown and then "put on some swimmers" to bring Francois to the fountains. The area's great neighborhoods, top schools and thriving economy make it easy to live and work in Acadiana. More than two centuries later tourists come to Lafayette to get a rare taste of the genuine Acadian experience, from traditional food fixings and music to the warm hospitality that greets you at every turn. The Wall Street Journals MarketWatch.com recently named Lafayette, LA as the Happiest City in America and its no mystery why. Lake Charles made the top ten, ranking 8th and . New York City was deemed the unhappiest city, followed by St. Joseph, Missouri; South Bend, Indiana; Erie, Pennsylvania; and the Evansville, Indiana-Henderson, Kentucky area. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Oregon and Washington, 16. Escape to Paradise at Naples Motorcoach Resort. Lafayette is the happiest city in America. Granted, the summers get pretty toasty (July has an average high of91F and an average low of74F). But for those of us who thrive in warm climates, we find plenty of ways to beat the heat. iheart.com - Logan DeLoye 11h. Known as the Happiest City in America, Tastiest Town of the South and a Top Music Mecca, Lafayette is located in the heart of Louisianas Cajun and Creole region called Acadiana. Home of Downtown Alive!, a spring and fall concert series, and 2nd Saturday ArtWalk as well as over 80 events annually, Downtown is your center for events and fun. Lafayette, LA was named the happiest city in the U.S. by the National Bureau of Economic Research and that's no surprise! The present Dutch Romanesque landmark, completed in 1916, is on the National Registry of Historic Properties. Here are five reasons why Lafayette is the happiest city in the U.S. The people here have a pure joy of life. Maybe it's the excellent food, the strong camaraderie, the upbeat music, the beautiful scenery, the steadfast faithor a combination of them allbut Lafayette stays happy. In early 2015, Lafayette had captured national attention for all the right reasons: . Festival International de Louisiane in the spring hosts hundreds of performing and visual artists from some 15 French-speaking countries around the world. Cayenne, the Ragin Cajun pepper, was even named the best mascot by ESPN. It's a proven fact that dogs make people happy, and we have it on good authority that dogs are happy in Lafayette. For the best website browsing experience, please enable cookies. Residents can enjoy a consolidated government with more than 2,000 employees who work hard to make Lafayette the best community to live, work and play. Go here for instructions on how to enable cookies on your browser. Realtor.com ranked the city second in its list of 10 Smaller Cities Poised to Skyrocket, and Lafayette was selected as a top retirement destination by Where to Retire magazine. (13 million tons of cane sugar are produced annually in Louisiana.). It's easy to make connections and get to know each other here. TheTravel cited the White City's "rich cultural heritage, kind people . "I've never wanted to leave," he said. Lafayette exudes small-town charm with its quaint and walkable downtown, designed in the 1800s. ), Copyright 2010-2023 Livability - Journal Communications, Inc, 5 Reasons Lafayette, LA, Is the Happiest City in the United States, 8 Ways To Get Your Festival On in Lafayette, Louisiana, 13 Reasons Lafayette, LA, Is a Great Place To Live, Why I Moved Back to Lafayette, LA and You Should, Too, A Soundtrack of Lively Cajun and Zydeco Music, Acadiana Symphony Orchestra and Conservatory of Music, Calcasieu Parish School Board Honored For Virtual Learning Program, Calcasieu Parish Public Library Expands Offerings With New Branches, Sasol Chemicals Is Doing Good Things in Southwest Louisiana. Sundra Hominik captured the crowd dancing and clapping along to the song. 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