This is a fantastic place to visit and learn about the history of the area, where the locals came…read morefrom and how they adapted to surviving and thriving in the environment. There's a walking trail, several artifacts on display and a 35 minute movie that explains the history both good and bad. If you're in the area it's a great way to spend 1-2 hours.

This has been on my list of places I want to visit for quite some time now. I am so glad I made it…read more There is no admission fee. The Acadian Cultural Center is in Lafayette and is run by the National Parks System and has no admission fee to the center and most programs. There is a film, permanent and special exhibits that share the history, customs, language, and contemporary culture of the Acadians who became Louisiana's Cajuns. The video titled "The Cajun Way: Echoes of Acadia" is about 45 minutes in length and is very informative. The whole place is a delight. I recommend it for anyone in the area.

List as great small space museum. Lots of historical facts and beautiful space. Nice to visit in…read moretandem with the Acadian museum which is next door along with the Longfellow Evangeline Oak outdoor exhibit. Recommended place to RVer's from Harvesthost.com from the www.campingonthebayou.com site in St Martinville, LA. Great opportunity zone for a walking tour to see several sites and grab a coffee from Studio Gallery and Coffee. Find more from YELP at https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-studio-gallery-and-coffee-bar-saint-martinville.

Admission here includes admission to the Acadian Museum next door. There are a lot of information…read moreboards detailing the history of African Americans in the area. There is a whole lot of information to take in. They also seem to be expanding the display areas. Words fail me when trying to explain this place. If you are in the area, come by.

I came to the museum before going in for the rodeo and I am so very glad. The drive out is just…read morebeautiful. There was so much information about the history of the jail, and kind of brush over some of the harshness. I would recommend this for anyone in the area, even if you are not here for the rodeo. Of course I recommend the rodeo. I think that it is hilarious that someone wrote a review saying that they thought that this would be about Angola the country. The name on Yelp clearly states that this is part of the Louisiana State Penitentiary, and the website listed on the about section leads you to a website specifically for a museum about the Angola Prison. The reviews on Yelp talk about this being a museum. And you think this is about the country? HAHAHA

This is a review of the museum not the actual prison…read more The drive to Angola is beautiful. There are rolling hills and beautiful fields which make you forget you are headed to one of the country's most notorious prisons. Immediately before the razor wire topped fence of the prison is a museum that until recently, I did not know it existed. There is no cost for the museum, but donations are accepted. I didn't know it at the time, but I learned later that the gentleman working the in the museum gift shop was a retired Corrections Colonel. Considering he worked at the prison for over 30 years, I wish I would have known so that I could have heard some of his stories. The tour of the museum is self guided. There are displays of the wildlife found at Angola and the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame. While those were interesting, the really cool stuff was yet to come. There was a mock up of a prison cell that makes you realize you do not want to end up here. If that wasn't enough to convince you the wall of confiscated weapons and graphic photos of the injuries they caused should help you avoid a life of crime. Also inside was the electric chair. This was no mock up as proven by the gouge marks on the arm rests from those souls who met their demise in that chair. Whether you are opposed or support the death penalty, this chair is a reminder of what a death sentence ultimately means. Once we finished perusing the museum, we headed to the gift shop. You can buy all sorts of Angola themed items. I opted for the "Angola-A Gated Community" t-shirt and some Angola hot sauce. The shirt draws a lot of odd looks and the hot sauce was comparable to Louisiana Brand Hot Sauce. Whether you are already in the area, or want to take a special trip, I highly recommend you check out this museum.

I admit, I've seen an abundance of these recreated villages, all across the US. Growing up, my…read moreparents were fond of them, so they've been a part of most vacations, and many of them tend to blend into one another. Vermilionville, however, stood out as one of the best, and is a memory I'll hang onto for a while. The attendants in period garb were friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to answer our questions. The woman with her spinning wheel even gave us a demonstration. She had taught herself to spin whilst working there and explained the excessive amount of hours it took to finish even one sweater. She also made it possible for me to try the bread pudding I'd been eyeing on the restaurant menu; she warned me they were closing in just 15 minutes so we rushed over and put our order in. Now, I'm not sure if their restaurant has its own yelp page so I'll just review it here. That pudding was the most delicious, most perfect bread pudding I've ever had, and I've tried quite a lot from some of the best places in NOLA. The top was crisply caramelized, and the center was a buttery custard infused with vanilla and cinnamon--an aromatic taste sensation. The server brought me two containers to go (an extra as I'd only asked for one!) and I was so excited to try it, I devoured the first one while wandering between the houses. There were some rather beautiful little homes, furnished with accurate historic decor, and I appreciated that we were able to look at things on our own, at our own pace, free from having to follow a guide. We visited on a day it was set to storm, but we were able to see most of the buildings before the sky opened up on us. We foolishly forgot to bring umbrellas of any kind, so we ended up darting between structures, and eventually taking refuge in the old church while the worst of the rain passed. It was atmospheric and memorable. We found some charming animals in a little barn--a donkey and two sheep and we said hello. There were even mushrooms, and among them we found a single chanterelle, so keep an eye out, fellow mushroom hunters! Lastly, you must leave adequate time to check out the gift shop. They have something for everyone, and much of it made by local artisans! I would recommend Vermilionville to anyone with an appreciation for southern history.

We arrived on a Thursday when they opened at 10am. The historical preservation and restoration work…read moreis wonderful. We talked to people dressed in period clothes. They shared historical details in a fun way, bringing the old houses and artifacts to life. The restaurant is onsite so we ate lunch. The food was absolutely amazing! The etouffee arrived in a cup with great flavor and plenty of crawfish (which I forgot to take a picture of). The etouffee menu item comes with a choice of 2 proteins, we selected shrimp and fish. The picture was after we ate half, so you get plenty of food. Every thing we ordered was perfectly seasoned. The bread pudding with praline sauce was wonderful (also not pictured). We would definitely recommend the restaurant as its own destination! The restaurant hours are 11am-2pm and the historical views are available 10am-4pm. Enjoy!

it was such a beautiful piece of land as my friend went to go take her graduation pics. We were…read morethere for maybe 20 minutes as the rain started to catch up to us and not even 10 minutes before 5, the old brunette lady with gray steaks in her hair kept rushing us to leave because they were closing soon. So, as good people we hurried but still took pictures. After, around 4:50 she came back talking about "we're closed you need to leave" excuse me but we still have 5 minutes left and you could at least ask nicely. When we got in the car we still had two minutes before closing, so we went to the restrooms. When she saw us walking to the restrooms she walked over and told us to leave or she'll call the cops and we told her we still had two minutes so she used her key to lock the bathroom so we weren't able to use it. I will NEVER be going back to the plantation ever again.

We love this place. BUT the old brunette lady in the gift shop is terrible. I refuse to go back…read moreafter our experience with her on March 1st 2026. We felt very unwelcome and disrespected as soon as we walked through the door. I even brought over $100 extra money with me so I could purchase a few items from the gift shop. My husband and I was so worked out over the bad interaction that it was very hard to enjoy our tour. We come every year and are heartbroken we cannot return because of this one employee. Please get rid of said employee. I'd be happy to talk to someone about this bad experience as it really bothers me.

The city of Opelousas is a quaint town that is the center of Zydeco music. There are several nice…read moremuseums and restaurants here. Easily accessible from 49, near a few large cities. It was settled by Creoles, French speaking people and Creoles of color. It was the capital of the Confederacy for a few months after the Union overtook Baton Rouge. Any ways. I would suggest the Orphan Train Museum and the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center for sure. Be careful with speeding as it seems like the kind of place where police will pounce on those speeding. Lots of antique stores.

Definitely a very nice children's museum, with a bunch of really wonderful exhibits for kids of all…read moreages. The staff was super nice as well. Our kids really loved the grocery store and dinosaur play place. Only 4 stars as it's relatively small but still the same price as much larger children's museums in other cities.

This is a rest place for kids! We come here maybe 2-5 times a year only bc it's somewhat far from…read morewhere we live. The kids always have a good time when they're here. They keep the place up great! I have a 7 year old and a 4 year old and it keeps them busy for a good while. Their favorite is everyone's favorite, the bubble factory!

Great place for the kids to spend the day and play. Nice small place. They could just run around a…read morewhole bunch of different activities. To keep the kids busy you can play inside or outside. It's pretty affordable and all around a great time! The staff is very nice!

We love the Treehouse. It is a local treasure. The working model train is always a hit with my…read morelittle boy. He also loves the fire truck on the playground and the police car inside! There are so many cute and fun AND educational things to do there!!!