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St. Landry Parish Tourism

OPELOUSAS
Start off your morning by stopping in at the Opelousas Tourist Information Center with its Jim Bowie Display, located within Le Vieux Village just off of I-49 on Highway 190 at Exit 19B. Here, you’ll be given material listing the various points of interest, antique shops, restaurants, music venues, accommodations and a helpful map.

Take time to walk through Le Vieux Village where the old train depot will house the only museum dedicated to the story of the children of the “Orphan Trains.”

Make your way to Main Street, where you will find the Opelousas Museum & Interpretive Center. The center is comprised of a Main Exhibit Room, The Civil War Room, The Geraldine Smith Welch Doll Collection and The Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival Archives.

Did someone say “Zydeco”? Yes, Opelousas is the “Home of Zydeco” music, and any weekend you will find great Zydeco, Cajun and Swamp Pop music at the local dance halls and numerous festivals.

As you continue on your tour of Opelousas, don’t miss the old hardware store, J.B. Sandoz, located just across the street from the Interpretive Center. What memories it will rouse!

For those interested in local history, visit some of the city’s many cemeteries. Cemetery tours are held annually each October in the St. Landry Catholic Church Cemetery, which is right across the street from the St. Landry Catholic Church. Re-enactors portray local citizens who lived during a selected era and are now found buried there. Tours may also be scheduled of the historic Michel Prudhomme Home, one of the oldest structures in Louisiana.

The St. Landry Parish Courthouse Square, located in the heart of the Historic District, provides a lovely stop for visitors, where quaint cafes offer breakfast, lunch or afternoon coffee. And be sure to save time to shop at our many antique stores found throughout the city.

Next, a visit to the stately Opelousas Museum of Art is a must, where rotating exhibits of national quality can be viewed year-round. Also of interest is the Creole Heritage Folklife Center located on West Vine Street. Here, you can experience the rich traditions and heritage of the African-American community, especially that of our Creole culture.

The newest attraction in the area is the 80,000-square-foot Evangeline Downs Racino (race track & casino), with slots and a complete quarter horse and thoroughbred racing schedule.

Annual festivals include the Spice & Music Festival in June, Yambilee in October and Creole Festival in November.

In Opelousas, you’ll find several new and renovated hotels/motels, making Opelousas a good base to settle while spending time touring the rest of the interesting towns in the area. National franchises include Holiday Inn & Suites, Best Western, Days Inn and Americas Best Value Inn. For more information, visit www.cityof
opelousas.com.

PORT BARRE
Several RV parks can be found in the area, including The Bayou Teche RV Park. Located only five miles east of Opelousas on Highway 190, here you can learn about the history of Bayou Teche and see where it begins! Don’t forget to stop in at Bourque’s Supermarket & Deli to try their very own jalapeno, sausage and cheese bread! And for the best cracklins, plan to attend the Cracklin Festival held on the second weekend in November. For more information, visit www.townofportbarre.com.

WASHINGTON
By traveling north from Opelousas on Highway 182 (Scenic Byway) or Exit 25 off of I-49, you can enjoy a day and night in the historic steamboat town of Washington. As you enter, you will notice that much of its 19th century architecture and character has been preserved, as more than 80 percent of the buildings are on the Historic Register.

The Washington Museum and Tourist Center, located on the corner of Main Street (Highway 182) and Highway 103, houses fascinating displays and artifacts from Washington’s past. The Museum will also provide assistance in scheduling tours of some of the lovely antebellum homes and gardens, like Magnolia Ridge.

And if antiques are your weakness, then you’ve come to the right place! The art deco school now houses over 100 antique dealers, plus a dozen or more shops can be found throughout the town.

Worked up an appetite after all of that shopping? Perfect! Sit along Bayou Courtableau, one of the state’s most unique restaurants found in a restored steamboat warehouse. Then, round out your visit with a peaceful night at one of the many beautiful bed and breakfasts found in Washington. Washington is also the site of its annual Catfish Festival that takes place in March. For more information, visit www.washington-la.org.

EUNICE
Whether you travel the Zydeco-Cajun Prairie Scenic Byway or Highway 190 going west, you can reach Eunice, the Prairie Cajun Capital! Your drive will take you along fields of cattle, rice and/or crawfish ponds, all adorned with prairie wildflowers, depending upon the season.

Located just east of Eunice is the Savoy Music Center, where a weekly jam session is held on Saturday mornings.

In the heart of Eunice, a branch of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is located on Park Ave. It features extensive exhibits and artifacts that tell the story of this region’s Acadian population, known today as Cajuns.

The Prairie Acadian Cultural Center is open five days a week, Tuesday through Saturday. On Saturdays, the center offers music sessions, native craft and cooking demonstrations, both providing an opportunity for visitors to join in the fun. Be sure to also inquire about the Cajun Prairie Restoration Site located on the corner of Magnolia & Martin Luther King Drive. Here, efforts are being made to showcase the beautiful landscape of the prairie.

Two other important stops during your visit to Eunice should be The Eunice Depot Museum and the Cajun Music Hall of Fame & Museum. And, of course, every Saturday night, at the Liberty Theatre, the “Rendez-Vous des Cajun Radio Show” takes place! This world-renowned live radio program features Cajun and Zydeco music and dancing. You’ll find all of these attractions conveniently located within a three-block area of the Historic Downtown, as well as music and gift shops, a coffee shop and local restaurants featuring traditional Cajun fare! And live music can be found at the Courtyard at Nick’s most weekends.

Eunice also hosts one of the largest Mardi Gras events each spring, a traditional Courir de Mardi Gras. National hotel franchises include Best Western and Days Inn. Several well-managed local hotel/motels and campgrounds can also be found in Eunice. For more information, visit www.eunice-la.com.

GRAND COTEAU
Just eight minutes south of Opelousas, along I-49 at Exit 11, you’ll make several delightful discoveries in the small community of Grand Coteau.

Rich in religious history and historically significant architecture, you’ll want to schedule a tour of the Academy of the Sacred Heart. The Academy was established in 1821 and is the site of a documented miracle that led to the canonization of St. John Berchmans. The moss-draped oaks that surround the school, church and cemetery instill a sense of serenity and days of long ago. You will also want to pause in front of St. Charles College and Our Lady of the Oaks Retreat House, both vital to Grand Coteau’s purpose.

As Grand Coteau was once a stagecoach stop, commerce has always thrived. So be sure to stop in at the various shops found in restored cottages throughout Grand Coteau and enjoy a relaxing meal at the local tea room or at an up and coming restaurant that features New Louisiana Cooking! For more information, visit www.grandcoteau.org.

SUNSET Continue your day in the country by traveling back to I-49. Going under the interstate heading west, you will arrive in the town of Sunset, where an overnight stay can be had at a unique bed and breakfast that utilizes restored “train cars.” And take time to drive by the beautiful Chretien Point plantation, located on Highway 93. It has recently reverted back to a private residence, but it is well worth the drive! And don’t forget to mark your calendars for the annual Celebration of Herbs and Gardens held each May in Sunset. An event the entire family would enjoy!

ARNAUDVILLE Known appropriately as the “Jewel on the Teche,” as it shines brightly these days with the many wonderful artisans and musicians that now call Arnaudville home. Arnaudville can be reached by driving Highway 31 south from Opelousas through Leonville or traveling down Highway 93 east of Grand Coteau. Both are lovely drives that follow the course of Bayou Teche where it joins Bayou Fuselier.

With several great locally owned restaurants, antique shops, art galleries, a quaint bed and breakfast and a lively dancehall, NuNu’s Nitelife, you will definitely want to include Arnaudville on your itinerary.

The monthly Table Francaise event is fun for even a non-Francophone, as you will appreciate the tradition and energy in the room, and the La Jonction Arts Market held the last Saturday of the month is an event in itself. Other special events include the Bayou Blues Revival in April and the Le Feu et l’Eau/Fire and Water Festival in December. To find out the latest in what’s going on in Arnaudville, visit www.arnaudvillechamber.com.

For more information about any of these attractions or assistance with planning your visit, contact the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission Toll Free at 1-877-948-8004 or email us at assistant@cajuntravel.com.

St. Landry Parish ……………………….It’s Gumbo for Your Soul!