Acadiana is a region ofLouisiana, in the south and south west of the state. It is sometimes called "Cajun Country", noted for its distinctive culture. This is the birthplace of Cajun cuisine, Cajun music, and Zydeco music.
From west to east, Acadiana can be broken into five distinct and unique regions, where Cajun and Creole peoples adapted unique aspects from their environment.
| Southwest Louisiana Also known as "Southwest Acadiana," the "Heel of the Boot," or "Imperial Calcasieu." Home toLake Charles and the Creole Nature Trail, this area comprises the 3 southwesternmost parishes in Louisiana: Calcasieu Parish, Cameron Parish, and Jefferson Davis Parish. |
| Cajun Prairie The prairie region, between the rivers and bayous to the east and the marshes to southwest, forms a unique geographic component in an area covered largely by watery regions. Comprised of Acadia, Evangeline, and St. Landry Parishes. |
| South Central Louisiana The center of the Cajun Country and the heartland of the Cajun people, the descendants of the "Acadiens" exiled from Canada. The region centers aroundLafayette, the fourth largest city in Louisiana. Comprised of Iberia, Lafayette, St. Martin, and Vermilion Parishes. |
| River Parishes Parishes that line the Mississippi River, home to the River Road and historical plantation houses. The more southern parishes form an area known as the "Acadian Coast." Comprised of Ascension, Avoyelles, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, and West Baton Rouge Parishes. |
| Coastal Acadiana The parishes in southeastern Acadiana that are closest to the coast and have a largely wetlands environment. The city ofHouma is often called the "Venice of America," due to the amount of canals and wetlands surroundings. Culture here largely revolves around fishing and water subsistence, and has a strong economy based on offshore petroleum drilling. Comprised of Assumption, Lafourche, St. Mary, and Terrebonne Parishes. |
Acadiana or Cajun Country spreads over the prairies and bayous of SW Louisiana. Acadiana is a reference to the large population ofAcadians, descendants of French speakers expelled fromNova Scotia by the British. These Louisiana Acadians are known as Cajuns, an English corruption ofAcadiens.
While the Cajuns are the dominant population, since early in its history the region has also included Native Americans, Germans, Spanish, French Creoles, and Creoles of Color, all of whom made their contribution to creating Acadiana. Many more people have contributed more recently to the vibrant region with its unique culture, dialects, and food.
While locals were long proud of their traditions, in the early 20th century Cajuns were often looked down on. A fortunate change came about in the last third of the 20th century, when a new widespread appreciation of Cajun culture developed, especially for its music and food.
Roman Catholicism is the majority religion in Acadiana, which makes it stand out together withGreater New Orleans in contrast to the rest of the largely Evangelical Protestant South.
Acadiana is home to the majority of Louisiana's Francophones. The vast majority of people in Acadiana can speak English, though some olderCadiens in rural areas may speak onlyFrench. Many Cajuns are bilingual, and around 30% of Acadiana residents can speak French (as opposed to 7% in Louisiana as a whole). Visitors from other English- or French-speaking regions may struggle with stronger local accents. The local English accent incorporates many basic French words and unique pronunciations.
The dialect of French spoken by the Francophones of Acadiana is essentially similar to the one spoken inNew Brunswick and other Acadian areas ofCanada. Communication in French between Cajuns and residents ofFrance orQuebec usually requires some effort.
The main airport in Acadiana is located inLafayette (LFT IATA), which serves flights toHouston,Dallas andAtlanta.Lake Charles (LCH IATA) is the only other airport in the region with commercial air service, with flights to Houston and Dallas. Other towns have small airports that are only served by general aviation. Alternatively, you can fly intoNew Orleans (MSY IATA) and drive into the region. If you are in New Orleans, there are tour buses and limo services that can bring you to the area.
If you want to travel at your own pace, you should bring your own vehicle or rental car. Tour bus companies are great, but you sign up for a specific itinerary.
In theRiver Parishes along theMississippi River, betweenNew Orleans andBaton Rouge, is a historic region known locally as the Louisiana River Region. Historical plantation homes dating back to the 1800s are on both banks of the river. Some of these are open to the public, ranging from non-profit educational facilities to commercial tourist attractions with major amenities. Pre-Civil War, there were hundreds of wealthy plantations along this trail, growing mostly sugar cane. Most are gone today, but locals have worked diligently to keep the remaining plantations viable and open to the public for visiting.
Listen – and dance to – some Cajun and Zydeco music. There are dance halls and clubs in cities and towns, and some scattered in more remote locations people drive for miles to get to. A few of the more noted ones are:
Acadiana hosts a number of festivals. Some major ones are:
Swamp life:
Real Cajun food! Acadiana is the birthplace of Cajun food. Much of what is labeled "Cajun" elsewhere (including other parts of Louisiana!) has little to do with the delicious real thing.
Not to be confused with the Creole style of cooking native toNew Orleans, Cajun food is more provincial and less glamorous than its counterpart to the east. Equally rich to Creole food, Cajun dishes are often spicier as well. Cajun food also does not rely on tomato sauce to the same degree as Creole food, and in foods common in both cuisines, the Cajun version is often a brown color compared to the Creole's red version. Some of the more notable Cajun food that visitors should sample in Acadiana are:
In addition to these several true Cajun dishes, there are many other items which are unique to Acadiana and can be found, at least in an authentic form, no where else in the world, as well as beloved Southern dishes such as fried chicken and frog legs.
Many enjoy a cold beer with Cajun food or music. Lafayette's Parish Brewing Company concentrates on quality small batch brews, including the popular Canebrake wheat beer brewed with local sugarcane. The Bayou Teche Beer company in Arnaudville sells multiple varieties brewed at the Mississippi brewery Lazy Magnolia. Also popular in Acadiana is Abita Beer, fromAbita Springs in Acadiana's neighbor to the east, theFlorida Parishes. As in all of Louisiana, whiskey is also popular.
While famous for its drive-through daiquiri shops, Louisiana does have an open container law - please wait until you've reached your destination to crack open that frozen deliciousness. When you tour a plantation, depending on the plantation's own rules, visitors over age 21 may purchase an alcoholic beverage and drink it while taking a tour, walking the grounds, etc. This is also true for some swamp tours and golf outings.
| Thisregion travel guide toAcadianais ausable article. It gives a good overview of the region, its sights, and how to get in, as well as links to the main destinations, whose articles are similarly well developed. An adventurous person could use this article, but pleasefeel free to improve itby editing the page. |
