Adventure Outdoors Magazine Summer 2017 | Page 144

Lafayette truly comes alive in the fall and spring with remark-
able weather to compliment the multitude of free concert
series taking place. It all kicks off Wednesday with the Mer-
credi Show at Pelican Park followed by Thursday at Rhythms
on the River in River Ranch’s Townsquare rolling into Friday
with both Bach Lunch and Downtown Alive! taking place in
Downtown Lafayette.
FOOD
Lafayette has the Cajun & Creole flavors you crave, along
with the freshest in Louisiana seafood, and always a little
something unexpected. Homegrown chefs are putting an
inventive spin on time-honored recipes with the freshest
local ingredients. But don’t take their word for it. Lafayette
has received many awards for their cuisine including being
named the "Tastiest Town of the South " by Southern Living
Magazine, "Best Food Town" by Rand McNally , and "Top 10
Foodie City" by Livability.com.
©DennyCulbert
©DennyCulbert
One staple to the area’s unique cuisine is the smoked
pork and rice delicacy known as boudin. While the in-
gredients are basic, the variations of how to cook
boudin are endless, which is why you need to take a
trip down the Boudin Trail. Stretching across the metro
area, there are a dozen restaurants cooking boudin
every which way you can imagine, and some you
can’t.
OUTDOOR
Lafayette also happens to be situated on the Missis-
sippi Flyway and the Atchafalaya Loop of America’s
Wetland Birding Trail. Nature watchers and photogra-
phers have access to some of the best birding sites in
North America, including Spanish Lake. At last count,
birders have spotted 240 species in its expansive
shoreline and bottomland hardwood forest.
If paddling is your passion, Lafayette is the perfect
starting point to explore their rivers, swamps and bay-
ous. The newest addition to Lafayette’s paddle trail is
the creation of a three day, three night paddle trip that
takes you through two parishes and multiple cities
along the way where both primitive camping and lodg-
ing is available.
Whether your passion is for their 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.