50 Reasons Why Lafayette is the Happiest City
Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission turns 50 this year, and we're giving you 50 reasons to visit our Cajun and Creole city in the heart of South Louisiana. Learn why Lafayette's been named the "Happiest City in America."1. PeopleEuropean settlement of Lafayette began in the mid-1700s when Acadians were expelled from their homes in the Maritimes of Canada and settled along South Louisiana's bayous and rivers. They, along with other nationalities and enslaved Africans and free people of color, began anew, creating a multi-cultural hub in Cajun & Creole Country. That rich cultural history gave birth to innovative cuisine, music, and a joie de vivre spirit. It's why Lafayette has been named the "Happiest City in America" and the "Best Food City in the USA."2. HistorySeveral native cultures called Lafayette Parish home before settlers from France, Spain, and Canada's Acadia arrived. Lafayette began as Vermilionville in the 1820s, a settlement established along the Vermilion River....