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If you’ve been thinking about taking a vacation lately but wondering if it’s a good idea amid COVID-19, we’ve got some suggestions for you. With cities reopening, there are nearby destinations that could be a great getaway without going too far away. There is an added bonus of benefiting the Louisiana economy by traveling in the surrounding parishes. And even if you’re from the Acadiana area, you might find out about places you did not know existed! Note: some places might still be closed or may have different hours, we recommend calling in advance. If you can’t visit these places now, bookmark them for later!
Staycation Ideas Per Parish
Lafayette Parish
Places to Stay
- Louisiana Cajun Mansion Bed and Breakfast has a wine room, patio and pool areas and a breakfast solarium with three suites to choose from and two ‘glamping’ options.
- Mouton Plantation is a historic house in Downtown Lafayette that offers many suites and rooms along with cabins and offers a gourmet breakfast.
- T'Frere's House Bed & Breakfast has eight rooms to choose from with two additional suites in ‘The Garconniere’ behind the main house which offers more privacy.
- Buchanan Lofts has four lofts to choose from, located downtown near Tsunami, Central Pizza, Dwyer’s and many other easy to walk to spots.
Things to Do
- Zoosiana has over 1,000 animals with a train, playground, petting zoo and more.
- Acadiana Park Nature Station is 150 acres with 6 miles of hiking trails. You can also camp onsite.
- Cajun Food Tours is a great way to experience the delicious food of South Louisiana!
- Vermilionville offers “cultural excursions” by learning about the historic homes and Acadiana history. You can also dine at La Cuisine De Maman Restaurant and rent canoes and kayaks.
- Acadian Village offers self-guided tours and guided group tours of the historic homes and grounds.
- Children’s Museum of Acadiana offers fun & educational exhibits for children with a grocery store, bubble factory, dental office and more.
Acadia Parish
Places to Stay
- Le Village offers three rooms, a loft and event spaces in the ‘heart of Cajun country’.
- Maison D'Memoire has four cottages to choose from, each of which are at least one hundred years old and restored.
- Lakeview Park & Beach has 7 cottages to choose from and 95 full hook-ups for RVs. There is also a community cottage that can be used for small gatherings. During your stay you can enjoy live music and a beach swimming area.
Things to Do
- Grand Opera House of the South is a two-story opera house in “historical downtown Crowley.” You can schedule a tour, check out their events and rent the venue.
- Historic Rice Theatre was built in 1939 with a “Art Deco-style” and now hosts live entertainment.
- Zydeco Cajun Prairie Byway is a way to tour “iconic music spots, crawfish farms, sweet potato fields and sites of some of Louisiana’s best festivals.”
Iberia Parish
Places to Stay
- Rip Van Winkle Gardens has three cottages to choose from, which are pet friendly and offer a continental breakfast for two. This place can also be added to the things to do list because you can explore the gardens and dine at Café Jefferson on the property.
- Antique Rose Ville has a Bed & Breakfast on their four-acre grounds and gardens. The gardens "feature over 100 antique roses, beautiful perennials and exotic tropical vegetation.
- Lake Fausse Pointe State Park is located in the Atchafalaya Basin and offers campgrounds and lake-front cabins. There are three hiking trails and a canoe trail for some fun outdoor activities.
Things to Do
- Avery Island/ Jungle Gardens has many attractions such as a beautiful scenery of bamboo, bird city, wildlife, Buddha statue and more.
- Shadows on the Teche offers guided tours of their historic grounds Monday through Saturday and educational programs for first grade through twelfth grade students.
- Cypermort Point State Park is in the Vermilion Bay with opportunities for sail boating, fishing, swimming and more.
St. Martin Parish
Places to Stay
- Old Castillo Bed & Breakfast is a historic building near the Bayou Teche. There are seven rooms to choose from, some with balconies and an adjoining room if needed or you can rent the whole house.
- Maison Des Amis is one of the oldest homes in Breaux Bridge, overlooking the Bayou Teche. There are four rooms, each with “access to the porch overlooking the gardens and bayou.”
- Maison Madeleine B&B at Lake Martin is a historic French Creole cottage that has an option of a one- or two-bedroom suite with porch areas, outdoor sculptures, native plants and oak trees to relax amongst.
- Country Charm Bed & Breakfast has an option of three suits with a private stock pond for fishing.
Things to Do
- Buck & Johnny’s offers zydeco breakfast on Saturdays from 8am – 11am and other live music events in the Downtown Historical District of Breaux Bridge.
- Tante Marie Restaurant offers a variety of food and coffees with appearances of local artists during Cajun Jam and other events.
- Antique Shopping: walk down and around W Bridge Street & E Bridge Street to spot many unique shopping opportunities.
- Cajun Fast Track offers fun activities such as go carts, arcade, laser tag, mini golf and more.
- “Lake Martin is one of Louisiana’s largest nesting colonies for many species of water birds.”
- Cajun Country Swamp Tours offers eco-swamp tours. You can choose from a “2 Hour Basin Backwater Swamp Tour” or a “2 Hour Atchafalaya River Swamp Tour”.
- Mcgee’s Landing offers swamp tours, airboat rides and sunset tours in the Atchafalaya Swamp.
Vermilion Parish
Places to Stay
- The Ducote-Willians House is pet-friendly with two rooms to choose from. A ‘gourmet specialty breakfast’ is included during your stay.
- Crawfish Haven has three rooms available for individual rentals or you can rent the whole house. This bread & breakfast has a unique offering of crawfish excursions on their 2-acre property.
- Palmetto Island State Park is located on the Vermilion River with cabins and campsites. There is a boat launch for fishing in the river and access to lagoons for canoeing and kayaking.
Things to Do
- SHUCKS! Restaurant is “known throughout Louisiana as the premier restaurant for authentic Cajun dishes and arguably the best oysters in the world.”
- RiverFront Restaurant is a waterfront location with food that delivers a “fresh taste of Louisiana.”
- Steen’s Syrup has become a staple to South Louisiana cuisine. The mill is located “in the heart of Abbeville, Louisiana on the banks of Bayou Vermilion.”
There are many hidden gems in our surrounding parishes to explore with an added benefit of gaining knowledge of our Louisiana history when you visit. Checking out Airbnb spots in these parishes would also be a good idea. And although we have been given the go-ahead to get out of isolation, we still need to take sanitary precautions while on vacation. Here is what the experts have to say about certain activities and their associated risk:
Activity Risk Levels
- Low Risk
- Spending your day at the beach or pool
- Going to a vacation house with another family
- Going camping
- Exercising outdoors
- Low to Medium Risk
- Staying at a hotel
- Medium to High Risk
- Eating indoors at a restaurant
- Outdoor celebration such as a wedding with more than 10 guests
- Getting a haircut
- High Risk
- Attending indoor events with a large amount of people
- Going to a bar or nightclub
- Varied Risk
- Going shopping at the mall
- Outdoor sports
How to Reduce the Risk
Hospital epidemiologist and infectious diseases expert Dr. Emily Landon from University of Chicago Medicine, recommends choosing “outdoors over indoors, masking over not masking and more space for fewer people over a smaller space.” If you are considering a medium or high-risk activity, here are some precautions to take to mitigate your risk:
- Wear a mask or other face covering in public spaces.
- Try to visit places during off-peak hours.
- Give people space—make sure you’re socially distancing and avoid contact sports.
- Avoid touching shared items. If you’re staying in a hotel, bring disinfecting wipes for items like the TV remote control and other hard surfaces.
Stay safe and have fun! And contact us if you need any help with your accounts.
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