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!

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.