Happy Valentine’s Day! There are so many places in Lafayette that are amazing for dates. We wanted to share a few of our favorites. We probably left some businesses out, so let us know which places you LOVE in Lafayette.
Whether it’s a day-time fun date or a romantic evening, Lafayette has plenty of options!
1) Randol’s
Randol’s joie de vivre has stolen our hearts and will steal yours. This local favorite celebrates the simple pleasures of life and revels in deep-rooted traditions of Cajun culture. Randol’s serves locally sourced Cajun cuisine, with great service, and toe-tapping entertainment. We really enjoy the community spirit with fresh produce delivered daily from local farms, fisheries or their own backyard herb garden and crawfish and crab ponds. Acadiana’s best Cajun and zydeco musicians keep the spirit of local culture alive, and dancers can hardly wait for them to tune their instruments before hitting the dance floor. Don’t let your heart miss the fiddler’s beat!
2) Social Southern Table & Bar
Take your significant other out for a romantic evening at Social. With a dim-lit evening, you can enjoy some delicious food. Some of our favorites are the Smoke Fried Chicken-N-Biscuits and Shrimp-N-Grits. Social also has an array of drinks while being known for their Old Fashioneds. A romantic evening is waiting for you & your Valentine at Social.
3) Avery Island
For a more romantic setting located in the heart of Louisiana bayou country, visit the beautiful nature preserve at Avery Island. Jungle Gardens features local and exotic flowers and plants while Bird City is a sanctuary for snowy egrets and other animals like alligator and deer. Avery Island is the home of the world famous McIlhenny Tabasco Company where daily tours are offered of the Tabasco Pepper Sauce Factory (bottling takes place from Monday to Thursday only), and their Restaurant 1868 serves Cajun dishes daily.
LARC’s Acadian Village is Lafayette’s oldest authentic vision of life in 19th century Southwest Louisiana and a showcase of historic homes alongside winding bayous depicting the unique Acadian architecture of the time. A blacksmith shop, general store and two event venues are located in the village. Proceeds from LARC’s Acadian Village go towards persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in reaching their goals of self-sufficiency, quality of life and self-worth. Enjoy a beautiful view for a great cause.
5) Champagne’s Cajun Swamp Tours
Do you want to see live alligators? Have a fun day-time date. Lake Saint Martin offers several venues for swamp tours, but Champagne Swamp Tour owner Bryan Champagne has been guiding Cajun Swamp Tours for over 20 years, and we think you will love it like we do! It’s a great place to bring out-of-town family, too. Offering the only air-conditioned seated waiting area on the lake, the location also has a wide outdoor deck area providing a beautiful scenic seating area while you wait for your tour. The tour will take you deep into the flooded forest where Spanish Moss covers centuries old bald cypress or tupelo gum trees (a natural mosquito repellant), gators lie in wait for their prey, and egrets grace the waters edges or tree tops.
Taste is in the mouth of the beer holder, and we think Parish Brewing Company is tasteful. Best known for their original brew Canebrake, Lafayette’s microbrewery, is actually located in Broussard. Tours are free and offered Saturdays between 12 and 2 p.m. If you can’t make it for a tour, the Tap Room is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the brewery. Have a pint of Canebrake for us!
First comes love, then comes marriage! The Cathedral of St John the Evangelist was the first church in Lafayette parish, built in 1821 and offers tours as well as daily mass services. A statue of Notre Dame del Assumption, patron saint of Acadians, graces the front entry courtyard plaza of this historically designated structure in the heart of the city. Beautiful stained glass, wood pews and an amazing organ decorate the classic interior of this grand brick and stone structure, worthy of being visited. The grounds of the Cathedral host St. John’s Live Oak, one of the largest oak trees in the United States, and you can pay your respects to locals who have passed on in adjacent cemetery.
