2023 Guide to Summer Fun in Lafayette!
I’d like to think that the world slows down in summer. However, after a week or so, the kids become stir crazy and I am sure every mother begins searching for “things to do with kids in Lafayette“ and “Lafayette Summer Camps.” Lucky for us, Acadiana is full of FUN! Begin your summer bucket list, Lafayette. Summer fun starts NOW!
Special thanks to our sponsors for making this guide possible!
Summer is a time for outdoor fun, relaxation, and family vacations. But it’s also a season that comes with its own set of setbacks. From sunburns and insect bites to dehydration and heat exhaustion, families are vulnerable to a variety of health issues during the summer months. That’s why Ochsner Lafayette General has easy access to urgent care throughout Acadiana. We know accidents can happen at any time, so we’re open seven days a week with extended hours on nights and weekends.
Rather than waiting hours in the Emergency Room, visit an Ochsner Lafayette General Urgent Care Center and receive prompt treatment. Equipped to handle minor sprains, injuries and infections, we’ll get patients big and small the medical attention they need and back in the sun (or shade!) in no time. To learn more, visit Ochsner Lafayette General Urgent Care HERE!
At Lafayette Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Anita Gouri and her team of pediatric dental specialists offer personalized dental care for infants, children, teens, and youth with special needs. We have a brand new, state-of-the-art location at 1512 Camellia Blvd, with the latest in technology and design, to best serve our little patients’ needs!
Lafayette Pediatric Dentistry is a boutique-style, family-oriented practice, where we involve parents in all aspects of their child’s care. We are known for our personalized touch, and as your partners, we provide guidance and support for you and your child, customizing all treatment according to their individual needs.
We offer high-quality, comprehensive children’s dentistry, including:
- Dental exams, cleanings, fluoride and preventative care
- White crowns, white fillings, and oral growth/development guidance
- Laser dentistry for procedures without needles
- Tongue-tie diagnosis and release
- Safe sedation for anxiety-free procedures
- Care for pediatric dental emergencies
First visit is FREE for children ages 3 and under!
Check out our event categories included below and jump straight to that section by clicking below to see all of the family-friendly summer events in and around Lafayette this summer!
Indoor Fun & Entertainment | Outdoor Sports, Parks & Adventure | Water Fun | Museums & Tours | Snoballs & Sweet Treats | Arts & Crafts | Additional Resources
Indoor Fun & Entertainment
Acadiana Gymnastics Training Center :: one hour classes & parents night out
Acadiana Lanes/Premier Lanes :: bowling, laser tag, arcade, cafe & bar
All The Rage :: rage room, axe throwing & splatter paint
The Axe Throwing Place :: targets include Traditional Targets, Monster Crush and other Friendly Competitive Games
Cajun Fast Track (Henderson) :: go kart track, mini golf, virtual reality room, laser tag, & so much more all under one roof.
Dave & Buster’s (COMING SOON to LAFAYETTE)
Elevation Station (Broussard) :: a trampoline open jump, trampoline basketball, an air bag, a trapeze, trampoline extreme dodgeball, gladiator pit, arcade games, a Meltdown game, kiddie zones, and seven party rooms
Epic Entertainment :: rides, games, climbing wall, virtual reality & more
Escape 360 :: 2 escape rooms; 1 hour each
Escape Room Lafayette :: 8 unique, fun and interactive games for all. Bring your group and experience 60 minutes of FUN!
Escape the Roomz/ Unravel:: a unique experience which combines creative thinking, logic and teamwork into 60 minutes of brain challenging fun!
Fun Nation :: roller skating & indoor playground
Kids Bowl Free :: More than 1,500 bowling centers around the globe provide 2 FREE Games of bowling each day to kids during the Spring and Summer.
Kid’s World of Lafayette :: Kids World is a two-story, 1,700 total sq. ft, playground structure, filled with climbing obstacle courses, slides, swings, ball pits, A BALL BLASTER AND SO MUCH MORE!
The Little Gym :: Classes, parties, camps & drop-in events
Miko’s Playhouse and Coffee Shop :: enjoy indoor play and coffee at this precious play space designed for children 6 and under. Reservations not required but recommended
Planet Ice Rink :: Planet Ice is a brand new rink facility with ice rink, party rooms, concessions and more
Planet VR :: a virtual reality amusement park
Premier Laser Tag :: Premier Laser Tag provides a unique experience using heavy fog that allows you to see your lasers. Experience the power of the LASERTRON system with up to 12 different power ups!
Rock’n’Bowl :: live music and bowling
Sky Craft :: aerial arts classes for ages 5 through 99. Our Studio is a place for kids to play and learn, and a place for adults to reach their inner child.
Southern Stone Indoor Climbing :: For ages 5 and up … open to the public daily without reservations or prior experience
Surge Entertainment :: trampoline park, arcade, bowling, bar & grill
The Grand Theatre (2 locations in Lafayette) :: offering Real D 3D, IMAX and reclining seats
The Yard :: 5,000 sq ft climate-controlled facility, complete with batting cages, pitching lanes, and a host of athletic equipment
We Rock the Spectrum (Broussard) :: WRTS is committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and fun environment to foster learning, exploration and safe sensory experiences.
CLICK HERE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF LAFAYETTE INDOOR FUN!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES::
The Ultimate Guide to Summer Camp in Lafayette, Louisiana
The Perfect Birthday Party Location: The Little Gym of Lafayette!
Outdoor Sports, Parks & Adventures
Acadiana Paintball Complex LLC :: 6 paintball fields. Open during the week with a reservation.
Broussard Sports Complex at St. Julien Park (Broussard) :: baseball & softball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts and basketball courts. Also includes an amphitheater, playgrounds, splash pad, beautiful walking and fitness trail and a stocked fishing pond & concessions by Bons Temp Grill.
Carencro’s Pelican Park (Carencro):: modern facility with artificial turf infields. The park hosts youth and high school baseball, co-ed league softball and league flag football. There is also a concert stage that hosts the Mercredi Show concert series twice a year.
Carencro Sports Complex (Carencro) :: soccer field, flag football, volleyball & special events
Girard Park :: 1.25 mile jogging trail, outdoor pool, stocked fishing pond, outdoor work-out station, full size pavilion with restrooms and grill (reservations required), open play area, tennis courts, tennis wall, outdoor volleyball courts, outdoor basketball courts, backstop ball diamond, covered picnic areas, restrooms, water fountains, youth playground area with a special needs playground, 9-hole disc golf course, an outdoor splash pad, ping pong table, fitness equipment, and petanque courts
Heymann Park Recreation Center :: .5-Mile Jogging Trail, lighted tennis courts with hitting wall, baseball field, basketball courts, 18-hole disc golf course, covered picnic areas, restrooms, & children’s playground,
Kart Ranch :: go-karts, water wars, miniature golf & indoor arcade with concession stand
Lafayette Golf Academy :: driving range with ball rental
Levena Paintball LLC (Duson) :: target practice field, five paintball fields with a “low impact” impact field coming soon!
Martin Luther King Recreation Center :: (affordable drop-in rates) outdoor pool, as well as playground, tennis courts, basketball courts, a weight room and more
Moncus Park :: Veterans Memorial, Our Lady of Lourdes Interactive Water Adventure, Giles Automotive Family Small Dog Park, Ochsner Playground, 4-Acre Lake Reaux, Savoy Family Treehouse, Ochsner Promenade walking paths, Orlando Mountain (highest point in Lafayette), Hiking Trails & Fishing Pier
Mountain Bike Acadiana :: Website provides list of bike trials and events in Acadiana.
St. Etienne Driving Range (Broussard) :: self-service golf facility equipped with a fully covered roof & premium turf mats.
Skate Park at Thomas Park (COMING SOON) in Lafayette
Top Golf (COMING SOON to LAFAYETTE)
Youngsville Sports Complex (Youngsville) :: soccer fields, Sugar Beach Volleyball courts, tennis courts, walking path, splash pad, batting cages, corn hole & pickle ball courts. Amphitheater coming soon!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ::
Lafayette’s Newest All Inclusive Playground Will Be Located Downtown!
Water Fun :: Lakes, Pools, Splash Pads & More!
Splash Pads
Palmetto State Park Splash Pad (Abbeville)
St. Julien Park Splash Pad (Broussard)
Pixus Splash Park (Youngsville Sports Complex)
Pools & More
Camp Margaritaville RV Park (Breaux Bridge) :: Swimming pools and NEW water playground
City Club at River Ranch :: resort style pool, interactive water features & lazy river
Crawfish Aquatics– offers swim lessons and pool rental for a private parties
Isle of Iberia (New Iberia) :: RV Resort offers swim days
Martin Luther King Recreation Center :: (affordable drop-in rates) outdoor pool, as well as playground, tennis courts, basketball courts, a weight room and more.
Riverside Swim Club :: (membership) offers a baby pool, large pool, grills, and diving board
Red’s Lerille’s Health & Racquet Club :: (membership)
Swimply :: Rent a pool!
Worth the Drive
Cypremort Point State Park (Cypremort Point) :: A half-mile stretch of a man-made beach provides a delightful area for relaxing, picnicking and enjoying the water. It also affords an opportunity for fishing, crabbing, water skiing, windsurfing and, of course, sailing.
Fontainebleau State Park (Mandeville) :: sandy beach, biking, boating, camping, paddling & glamping
Grand Isle Beach (Grand Isle) :: Renowned for its world-class fishing and birding habitat, Louisiana’s only inhabited barrier island offers unblemished views of the Gulf of Mexico, miles of beaches and boundless wildlife.
Holly Beach (Cameron) :: Holly Beach is nicknamed “The Cajun Riviera.” This rustic beach is perfect for fishing, shelling, and bird watching.
L’auberge Lazy River (Lake Charles) :: resort style pool, lazy river & cabanas
Lakeview Park & Beach (Eunice) :: man made beach, water inflatables, cabanas & camping
Lake End Park (Morgan City) :: fishing, swimming, cabin rentals
White Sands Lake Day Beach (Enon) :: an aqua park complete with inflatable water slides, trampolines, the blob bag, floating mats, and more! Read a local mom’s full review and tips here: White Sands Lake Day Beach
Additional Resources
Educational / Museums / Tours & Gardens
Museums & Tours
Acadian Cultural Center :: From horses to the oil industry, the Acadian Cultural Center’s exhibits tell the story of Louisiana history and cultures.
Acadian Memorial and Museum (St. Martinville) :: In honor of the
3,000 Acadian men, women and children who found refuge in Louisiana after British forces exiled them from Acadie.
Conrad Rice Mill/ Konriko Brand (New Iberia) :: Group Mill Tours are available. The tour consists of a slide presentation about the area and a guided walk tour of the mill.
Eunice Depot Museum (Eunice) :: Restored in 1984, the building is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and contains exhibits and collections depicting the lifestyles of the early settlers of this Cajun prairie town.
Hilliard Art Museum :: exhibits, schedule a tour & events
The Lafayette Museum :: historic home & gardens
Lafayette Public Library (4 Lafayette Branches, Duson, Scott, Carencro & Broussard/Youngsville Locations) :: The Lafayette Public Library System includes several branches throughout Lafayette Parish.
LARC’s Acadian Village :: 32 acres with authentic homes of the 19th century donated by the families whose ancestors once occupied them.
Lafayette Science Museum :: exhibits, planetarium & hands-on experience
Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site (St. Martinsville) :: A reproduction Acadian Farmstead is situated along the bank of Bayou Teche. The Farmstead is an example of how a typical single-family farm would have appeared around 1800.
Prehistoric Park (Henderson) :: Stop by to learn something new about our favorite kind of animals – dinosaurs! This is Louisiana’s only attraction dedicated to these amazing creatures of years past.
Shadows-on-the-Teche (New Iberia) :: As a former plantation home, the story of the Shadows is as much about the hundreds of enslaved men, women, and children who lived and labored at the site as it is about the Weeks family.
TABASCO® Factory Tours (New Iberia on Avery Island) :: The self-guided, TABASCO® Factory Tour will take you through the history and process of making TABASCO® Sauce.
Vermilionville :: artisans, gardens, historic homes, exhibits & much more!
Gardens
Jungle Gardens at Avery Island (New Iberia) :: Jungle Gardens offers wonderful attractions that will appeal to nature lovers, bird watchers and any visitor interested in experiencing the beauty of nature and abundant wildlife in a pristine, tranquil setting.
Rip Van Winkle Gardens (New Iberia) :: located on Jefferson Island, visit the Jefferson Mansion, “The Gardens” & “The Rookery”
Worth the Drive
Longue Vue House and Gardens (New Orleans) ::”We invite you to explore our grounds and ponder the human relationship with nature and design. All in the exceptional peace of a breathtaking estate and a remarkable document of 20th-century American society, politics, and arts.”
New Orleans Museum of Art (New Orleans) :: Modern sculpture garden on 11 acres, walking paths & water features
Capital of Louisiana (Baton Rouge) :: Learn how this National Historic Landmark has withstood war, fire, abandonment and even a few fist fights.
USS Kidd & Veterans Memorial (Baton Rouge):: tour downtown Baton Rouge’s Fletcher-class destroyer USS Kidd (DD-661) and the Louisiana Veterans Museum.
Additional Resources
TABASCO® :: The Avery Island Family Experience {Worth The Drive}
Snoballs & Sweet Treats
Snoballs
Babe’s Snowball Stand (St. Martinville, LA)
Coastal Fire and Ice (Broussard, LA)
Crawfish Boss (Broussard)
Creole Flavor Sno (Lafayette, LA)
The Big Chill (Breaux Bridge, LA)
Brain Freeze Snowballs (Broussard, LA)
Frozen Rayne SnoCones (Rayne, LA)
Isis Snowballs (Crowley, LA)
Meaux Sneux Shack (Maurice, LA)
Murph’s Olde Tyme Snowball Stand
Shortline Caboose (Youngsville, LA)
Snowball Factory (New Iberia, LA)
Sno-Ville (Youngsville, LA)
Yabbos (Broussard, LA)
Sweet Treats
Andy’s Frozen Custard (Lafayette & Youngsville)
Baskin-Robbins (Lafayette & New Iberia & COMING SOON to Youngsville)
Bayou Pop (Youngsville) :: over 40 flavors of gourmet popcorn
Bonne Vie Macarons :: daily menu consists of macarons, cupcakes, cookie sandwiches, petit fours, cookie dough cups and more.
Borden’s Ice Cream Shoppe :: Visit the last retail Borden’s Ice Cream Shoppe in the World in Lafayette, Louisiana where you can get a taste of ice cream done “the Old Fashion Way”!
Candyland Cottage & Ice Cream Shoppe (Scott & Rayne)
Classic Cup (Abbeville & Maurice) :: coffee. teas, smoothies, and a “cupcakery”
The Cobbler House (Abbeville & Youngsville)
Emmy’s Ice Cream Bar (Broussard & Lafayette)
Huya Craft Coffee (Youngsville)
Marble Slab Creamery (Lafayette, New Iberia & Youngsville)
Sunday’s Soda Fountain :: sodas, floats, sundaes, milkshakes and baked goods
The Peach Cobbler Factory (Lafayette & Scott)
Kid Friendly Eats
Adopted Dog Brewing:: small arcade room, corn hole & outdoor activities
Agave Mexican Grill & Cantina (Youngsville) :: large patio & playground
Deano’s Pizza (2 locations in Lafayette) :: arcade room
Fat Pat’s (Broussard, Lafayette & Carencro) small arcade area, corn hole & lawn games
Market Eatz :: (Lafayette location & Broussard Location coming soon:: gated outdoor eating area
Parc De Oaks :: Lafayette’s first food truck park!
Pizza Artista (Lafayette & Broussard) :: create your own pizza with kid friendly events & characters meets. Check Facebook page for upcoming events!
SHUCKS! (Abbeville) :: large patio, live music & friendly service
Tchoup’s MidCity Smokehouse :: large outdoor patio- PET FRIENDLY
The Flats :: picnic tables and patio area
Additional Resources
Lafayette Area Restaurant Bucket List
Lafayette Area Snowball Stands :: Where to go to Prevent Summer Meltdowns
Youngsville is Exploding in Flavor :: The New Restaurants We Can’t Wait to Visit
Arts & Crafts
Acadiana Center for the Arts :: AcA supports the creation of new works of art, exhibits, festivals, performances, and public art across an eight-parish region that includes Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion Parishes.
Board & Brush (Broussard) :: The designs and projects at Board & Brush DIY wood sign workshops are always changing, so every time you return, your creation will be a new and distinctive piece of art.
Clayfish Bisque :: locally owned, unique and inspiring pottery painting studio
Hand Star Clay Studio :: learn how to work with clay
It’s Just a Cookie (Broussard) :: (cookie decorating)
Lafayette Art :: visit art around the town of Lafayette
Painted Bayou :: Pottery shop that offers wheel classes, stoneware painting and pottery gifts
Painting with a Twist :: guided painting
Pottery Alley :: Classes, workshops and parties for all ages and skill sets. Come play in the clay with us!
Vivian Alexander Gallery and Museum (Maurice) :: Vivian Alexander uses the studies of the works of Van Cleef & Arpels and Fabergé to create the most important minudières available in the world. Tour the gallery in Maurice.
Worth the Drive
Jackson Square (New Orleans) :: Jackson Square is the location of an open-air artist colony, where artists display their work on the outside of the iron fence. Visitors even have the opportunity to see the artists at work and perhaps have their portrait drawn by one of the many talents utilizing Jackson Square as their studio.
Mesmerica 360 (Baton Rouge) :: Mesmerica is a visual music journey that brings the mesmerizing music of Grammy-nominated composer and percussionist James Hood together with visually-hypnotic, 3D animated art curated from artists around the world, creating an immersive experience designed to transcend time, relax, soothe, and stimulate your mind and senses…
Pasta Lab (Lake Charles) :: make you own pasta!
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience (New Orleans) :: Discover a new way to enjoy the works of Vincent van Gogh and immerse yourself in the artist’s masterpieces at this 360-degree, digital show. Expect digital displays, sound effects, projection mapping and much more!
Additional Resources
Looking for MORE? Check out these additional resources from Louisiana Mom::
Visiting Lafayette, Louisiana With Kids
