Visit Lafayette : 9 Top Attractions and To-Do Lists When Visiting Lafayette (2024)

Lafayette is a stunning city in South Louisiana, the USA that is best known for its traditional food, music, and festivals. It is also known as “The Hub City” because of its connections with oil-producing industries on the Gulf coast. A visit to Lafayette is a must for every tourist who wishes to experience the serenity in the USA. Recently, the city has even been named “the happiest city in America”. No doubt, you are going to thoroughly enjoy visiting the top-rated tourist attractions in Lafayette.

Visit Lafayette: 9 Top Attractions and To-Do Lists When Visiting Lafayette

Here are some of the best places to visit in Lafayette. Make sure to prepare a list according to the geographical locations of each place. It will help you plan an organized tour in and around Lafayette.

1. Haan Museum of Indiana Art

Visit the Haan Museum in Lafayette to have a look at priceless artifacts of the age-old centuries. There are works of famous Indiana artists like T.C. Steele, Marvin Bartel, Axl Rose, and John Mellancamp of Hoosier State exhibited here. Don’t kiss out having a look at the antique furniture as well. You can stroll down the lush gardens embedded with sculptures and do a bike trail along the garden tracks. The entry fee is $10 for adults and $5 for children.

Lesser Known Titbits:

• It is located in a 15,000-square-foot World’s Fair mansion which is itself an antique building in the city.
• It has a huge collection of furniture from the American Renaissance revival period.

Location: 920 State St, Lafayette, IN 47905, United States

Timings: Open only from Wednesday to Saturday, 1-4 PM.

2. Columbian Park Zoo

It is an excellent and well-maintained zoo in Lafayette that you can visit with your family. The cost per person is just $2, which makes it a must-visit place in Lafayette with your gang of members. Enjoy the lush greenery with a host of unique species of animals entertaining you all the way. There are American barn owls, foxes, dolphins, pelicans, deer, wolves, dogs, and lots of birds. The zoo also hosts special kid-friendly events on a regular basis.

Lesser Known Titbits:

• The zoo has more than 190 animals that belong to over 90 species.
• You can watch predatory birds like eagles and vultures catch their prey live in this zoo!

Location: 1915 Scott St, Lafayette, IN 47904, United States

Timings: 10 AM-7 PM

3. Hilliard Art Museum

The full name of this museum is Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum. It is named after Paul and Lulu, who donated $5 million for the construction of the museum in Lafayette. It is a must-visit place where art and education beautifully blend to create wonders. The museum contains over 2000 objects of interest ranging from American, European, and Asian to even African art and culture. If you are a history freak, you will get to witness some amazingly unknown structures. They speak volumes about 18th, 19th, and 20th-century world history.

Lesser Known Titbits:

• Popular collections include Japanese woodblock printings and oil paintings of the famous American modernist Henry Botkin.
• In 2010, Mark Landis donated a painting of Charles Courtney Curran, which was a mere forgery or photocopy of the original. It was immediately discarded which made headlines.

Location: 710 E St Mary Blvd, Lafayette, LA 70503, United States

Timings: 9 AM-5 PM (Sunday closed).

4. Clegg Memorial Garden

Stroll along the steep slopes of Clegg Memorial Garden, which is a well-maintained hilly garden area. It looks best during the spring season when the blossoms add to the scenic beauty in a great way. The garden is located beside Wildcat Creek, which is the State Waterway of Lafayette. The garden consists of woodland, savanna, and hill prairie grasslands which are a beauty to watch. The main aim of maintaining this garden is to preserve the Indiana forest culture in the state.

Lesser Known Titbits:

• You can see a rare ecosystem along the slopes of this hillside garden.
• Hiking is allowed for tourists, mainly during the spring season. You need special permission for this that many don’t know.

Location: N 400 E, Lafayette, IN 47905, United States

Timings: 8 AM-8 PM

5. Vermilionville Historic Village

Located on the banks of Bayou Vermilion, the Vermilionville Historic Village derives its name from the same. It is an excellent scenic beauty that treasures the cultural and inspirational history of the native Americans. The natural resources and their products are carefully manifested in this place. It will take about an hour or so to complete a tour of the entire historic village. The ambiance is great, and you can spend quality time with your family, witnessing the rich cultural heritage of Lafayette. The entry fee is $10 for adults, $6 for children and teenagers(upto 17 years), and $8 for seniors.

Lesser Known Titbits:

• It is a Cajun and Creole living history museum of the world. The entire structure is completely based on its true heritage and the history of Louisiana.
• It contains exquisite structures like La Chapelle des Attakapas, Beau Bassin, La Maison Boucvalt, among others.

Location: 300 Fisher Rd, Lafayette, LA 70508, United States

Timings: 10 AM-4 PM

6. Lafayette Science Museum

Sneak a peek into the evolution theory of the universe in the Lafayette Science Museum. Various specimens related to paleontology, geology, marine biology, and evolution are exhibited here. It is a treat to the curious minds and science freaks. It is a kid-friendly place with a big planetarium hosting regular shows on the wonders of the universe and much more. Learn something new by visiting the fun shows that this museum hosts every afternoon.

Lesser Known Titbits:

• This museum in Lafayette has received numerous awards from the best jury in the USA, mainly because of its wonderful presentation of evolution.
• The admission fee is very less- $2 for 4-17-year-olds, $5 for 18-61 years olds, $3 for people aged above 61 years, and free for children below 3 years.

Location: 433 Jefferson St, Lafayette, LA 70501, United States

Timings: Friday (9 AM-5 PM), Saturday (10 AM-6 PM), Sunday (1-6 PM), remains closed from Monday to Thursday.

7. Olde Tyme Grocery

If you are looking for the best place to dine or have a quick bite in Lafayette, Olde Tyme Grocery is the best option. It is one of the most popular food joints in Lafayette where you will find several food options and amazing cuisines. Their best delicacies include po’ boy sandwiches, fried shrimps with some cold beer, and daily gourmet specials. The ambiance is great, and the cost for one will be around $8-$15.

Lesser Known Titbits:

• The place hosts live music shows amidst a beautiful setting, mainly in the evenings.
• They have a special menu for tourists during the wee hours every day.

Location: 218 W St Mary Blvd, Lafayette, LA 70506, United States

Timings: 8 AM-10 PM

8. Imagination Station

Want to engage in some fun science and technological activities in Lafayette? Imagination Station is one of the best places to visit with your family and take part in sci-fi activities. It indulges in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The experts here portray how science can be really fun. They will bring up various wonders of the universe and make you indulge in the same. Your children will find this place interesting, where they can spend hours indulging in real knowledge.

Lesser Known Titbits:

• The basic income of Imagination Station comes from the donations made by tourists as well as the local people of Lafayette.
• The entry fee is $7, but it is free for members. The tourists can also take a membership.

Location: 600 N 4th St, Lafayette, IN 47901, United States

Timings: 10 AM-3 PM (only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays)

9. People’s Brewing Company

Experience the essence of local tap beer in Lafayette at People’s Brewing Company. It was established in 2009 and has remained a popular tourist spot since then. Even the locals all praise this place which offers beer tasting opportunities to everyone around. The best options include Indiana-quality Boiler Gold Ale, Wheat beer, and Ol’ Tavern beer, among others. Visit this place to taste some of the finest quality beers in all of Lafayette.

Lesser Known Titbits:

• Free weekend tours of the brewing stations are available.
• Free live music from 6 PM-8 PM.

Location: 2006 N 9th St Rd, Lafayette, IN 47904, United States

Timings: Monday to Wednesday: 2 PM-9 PM, Thursday to Sunday: 12 PM-9 PM

Visit The Popular Places In Lafayette For An Adventurous Fun Trip

The cozy city of Lafayette has lots to offer to its tourists. The locale and scenic beauty are par excellence. You can also plan a tour of the hidden gems in Lafayette like Gotreaux Organic Farm, Cafe Des Amis, Cajun Country Swamp tours, and much more.

The best times to visit Lafayette, Louisiana are in April, October, and November. The weather is pleasant and the spring blossoms will be a treat for the eyes during April.

Pack your bags and plan an exotic holiday to the county seat of Tippecanoe, Indiana. It will be one of the best experiences for you and your family and friends with a fun-filled trip and lots of adventures.