Bienvenue à Vermilion
We invite you to visit Vermilion Parish, “the Most Cajun place on earth!” Located just minutes south of Lafayette and west of New Iberia, Vermilion Parish is easily accessible from I-10 via Hwy. 26, Hwy. 13, I-49/Hwy. 167 and Hwy. 90. All of these highways connect to Hwy. 14, which runs through our parish. You may also travel to our parish from Texas via Hwy. 82. This is a scenic drive along our back roads where you can view nature and our wildlife.
Over 150 years in the making, Vermilion Parish is a multicultural blend steeped in history with a dash of "joie de vivre" or, love of life, finishing the mix. This bilingual, coastal parish is very large and diverse with wandering bayous and farmlands, authentic local cuisine, family-friendly festivals and Cajun towns connecting it all. Vermilion is one of the state's largest and most diverse parishes. We're 1,174 square miles of mostly habitable land. Pretty good news though, no pirogues required.
What to See and Do in Vermilion Parish
The communities of Delcambre, Erath, Abbeville, Kaplan and Gueydan are linked by the Bountiful Byway that crosses the parish to reveal cattle, rice and sugarcane farms, waterfowl, tree lined bayous, museums, great eating establishments and much more. Travel along this nationally recognized gateway of Cajun culture at your own pace, but please schedule a couple of days. As you travel along Hwy. 82 to the southern part of our parish, you’ll see how our agriculture and aquaculture provide the basis for many of our local dishes. Soak up the visual beauty of our open, expansive terrain that includes farmlands, marshes, rural countryside, alligators and other wildlife mixed in with small communities along the way. Be sure to take a camera and binoculars because this area features some of the best birding in America.
We would love for you to spend a few days with us and take your time exploring our beautiful parish. Whether you are looking for a clean hotel, secluded campground or quaint bed and breakfast inn, Vermilion Parish has what you need to stay as long as you'd like.
Let’s Eat!
Ask around south Louisiana where to get the best Cajun cooking and they’ll answer Vermilion Parish. You have to eat, so why not come to the “most Cajun place on earth” where we’ll prepare a meal for you that will make you wish you had a bigger stomach! Feast on fresh seafood straight from our gulf waters or on a plate of crawfish etouffée made the same way grandma did. With over 40 locally owned eating establishments, you won’t go home hungry. From over-stuffed po-boys and raw oysters to fresh boiled crawfish, shrimp and crabs, we have it all and more. Come for a visit, your place at the table is ready!
Come Pass a Good Time!
In Vermilion Parish we know how to have a good time and we have plenty of fun throughout the year at some of the state's most popular festivals. At the Cajun Food Fest you're sure to sample some of our authentic Cajun cuisine like alligator sauce piquante. Taste the world's largest omelette made with 5,000 eggs at our most unique festival, The Giant Omelette Celebration. Learn about our French heritage and deep-rooted culture by visiting one of our many museums. Tour a hundred-year-old church or Vivian Alexander, home to the designer egg purses. Dance at a fais-do-do or just sit and watch the barges go by. From outdoor adventure to indoor fun, we have wide variety of activities for any age.
