Spend a Weekend in Lafayette, LA
Whether you’re new to the area, a longtime local or a visitor, a fun-filled, well-planned weekend spent in Lafayette, LA, is just what you need. This city and its surrounding region are filled with cultural attractions, must-try Cajun restaurants, cool outdoor activities, like kayaking on the Bayou Vermillion or fishing at West Cove, and so much more.
To plan a fabulous weekend in Lafayette, LA, we spoke with a resident who’s spent her fair share of time exploring this area.
Meet Anna Kojevnikov, a native Australian who relocated to the Pelican State in 2018. Since then, she’s immersed herself in the area, including the arts scene. She serves as community engagement director for the Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA), a cultural institution in Lafayette that champions local talent and engages audiences through artistic programing.
Friday
Kojevnikov’s first Friday afternoon stop is mere steps from her downtown office.
“After work on a Friday, I’d probably walk down to Wild Child Wine Shop on Vermilion Street,” she says. The eclectic space sells wine and nonalcoholic drinks – and these are a step above the norm; think craft kombucha and a sumac and chili spritz – along with books and homewares.
“They have a cute little bar and an amazing range of natural wines,” Kojevnikov says. “They do platters with tinned fish. That’s a great place to knock off on a Friday afternoon.”
Kojevnikov admits she appreciates an early Friday night.
“Wild Child is a good time for people in their 40s,” she says of the spot’s not-so-wild 8 p.m. closing time. “If you want to get up and go kayaking, you don’t want to be out too late.”
For those looking to “carry on a little bit,” she recommends the nearby Blue Moon Saloon. The venue was launched in 2001 as an add-on to the existing Blue Moon Guesthouse, and today, bands can perform at the honky-tonk and stay on the premises. The spot is “a huge staple in Lafayette,” Kojevnikov says. “The venue itself is outdoors. There’s a stage, an intimate place to dance and lots of seating.”
Saturday
For day two of your perfect weekend in Lafayette, LA, Kojevnikov makes good on the notion of an early Saturday start on the water with no-fuss kayak rentals from Wanderlust Rentals.
“You don’t have to pre-book,” she says. “They have several stations where you can turn up and grab a kayak and paddle around town.”
She especially likes to put in the water near Vermilionville, a historic village on Bayou Vermilion. It’s now a living museum made up of seven restored homes dating from 1790 to 1880, costumed historical interpreters, the Healer’s Garden, a restaurant and more.
From Vermilionville, it’s a bit over 3 miles by kayak to Lake Charlo, which she appreciates for its pristine natural silence. Despite its proximity to Lafayette Regional Airport and Highway 90, it remains a peaceful, secluded spot encircled by tupelo and cypress trees that are home to alligators and a wealth of birds, including snowy egrets, owls and spoonbills.
Next, she hits up Lafayette Farmers & Artisans Market, which sets up every Saturday at Moncus Park. A couple of her favorite vendors include ALL CAPS Gourmet Mushrooms and Bitter Judy’s Box – as well as Scratch Farm Kitchen, an early vendor that parlayed its market success into a brick-and-mortar eatery across the street from Moncus Park. It is the perfect spot to grab lunch. The constantly changing menu is neatly lettered on chalk boards and butcher paper near the counter where customers place their orders; Kojevnikov usually opts for the vegetarian hash bowl, an amalgamation of “everything you could imagine. It’s basically a deluxe veggie bowl.”
After lunch, she heads to Lafayette’s city center. “There’s an art incubator space there called Basin Arts,” she says. “They have a residency program that runs on a two- or three-month cycle, so every month they have their residents in to do some kind of event.”
The second Saturday of every month is ArtWalk Lafayette, where downtown retailers, museums, galleries and studios host an eclectic range of events and artists. AcA offers free entry (and often opens new exhibits and schedules artist talks) on those days, as well.
A weekend in Lafayette, LA, isn’t complete without some food from Sarrica’s Little Italy, which turns out Kojevnikov’s favorite pizza in town.
“The owner is from Sicily, and it’s the closest thing you can get to authentic Italian pizza,” she says.
The spot even makes its own mozzarella cheese from scratch, an impressive undertaking. After dinner, there’s no shortage of spots to hit up for traditional Cajun, Creole and zydeco tunes.
“We have some really good nontraditional bands as well, but when it comes to traditional Louisiana music, I can’t even describe how many musical artists there are,” she says.
Feed & Seed and Hideaway on Lee offer regular live music. Hideaway in particular “always has really top-notch music,” Kojevnikov says. “Their food is really good. You can go for food, a drink or to dance the night away.”
Sunday
Between outdoor activities and late-night dancing, your Lafayette, LA, weekend requires a recovery day, and for Kojevnikov, that means breakfast at Spoonbill Watering Hole.
“On Sundays, they only do one meal, and that’s brunch,” Kojevnikov says.
The converted gas station still bears a few trappings from its previous life, such as bright red “Conoco” painted on the station canopy. Outdoor customer seating has replaced pumps, and the fusion-ish menu includes brunch staples, like beignets, breakfast burritos, chilaquiles and stuffed French toast. Don’t forget to bring your canine companions, who can order both savory and sweet bites from their very own puppy menu.
This article is sponsored by the Lafayette Convention & Visitors Commission, Lafayette Economic Development Authority and One Acadiana.