While Acadiana is a destination that beckons any time of year, the summer is an especially great time to enjoy all that Cajun Country has to offer. In addition to authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine (and an all around stellar food scene), the region is home to incredible architecture, public art, festivals, live music, outdoor recreation and so much more. Here are some of our top recommendations for the summer season.

What Not to Miss

Lake Charles | Downtown at Sundown Concert

Lake Charles hosts the Downtown at Sundown Concert Series on four consecutive Fridays through June 13 from 6-9 p.m. on the corner of Ryan and Broad streets. This year’s lineup includes Bayou Rhythms Night in conjunction with the opening of a Lake Area Music History exhibit at the Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center. In addition to live music by local and regional artists, the events feature tabletop art galleries, activities for children and food booths for downtown restaurants. All beverage sales will benefit the Literacy Council of SWLA. visitlakecharles.org

New Iberia | Teche Area Farmers Market

Discover a harvest of homegrown produce from local farmers, plus a wide selection of homemade products by area artists and crafters, at the Teche Area Farmers Market (2:30-6:00 p.m. each week on Tuesday). facebook.com/techeareafestivalandfarmersmarket

Lafayette | Lafayette Farmers and Artisans Market

The Lafayette Farmers and Artisans Market, with its many tents at Moncus Park, is the place to go for seasonal, farm-fresh produce and artisanal crafts — plus live music with the Cajun Jam. It takes place every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. marketatmoncuspark.com

Lafayette | ArtWalk Lafayette

ArtWalk Lafayette occurs every second Saturday in downtown Lafayette with exhibitions, live music, theatrical performances and immersive art experiences. Summer dates are June 14, July 12 and Aug. 9. downtownlafayette.org

Where to Pass a Good Time

Lake Charles | Rikenjaks Brewing Company

Join up with friends and family for Sunday funday Zydeco Brunch at Rikenjaks Brewing Company from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Live music by  Zydecane starts at noon, so be sure to get there early. rikenjaks.com

Luling | Dr. Rodney R. Lafon Performing Arts Center

The Dr. Rodney R. Lafon Performing Arts Center in St. Charles Parish offers opportunities to engage in the creation and appreciation of the arts. In addition to regular performances, the center also hosts Summer Spotlight Intensive Camps in visual arts (June 2-6) and musical theater (June 9-20). facebook.com/lafonartscenter

Lake Charles | Escape Room  Louisiana

Downtown Lake Charles is home to Escape Room  Louisiana, where friends and family can work together — collecting clues, solving puzzles and deciphering codes — to find a way out. Themed rooms from which to choose include Grandma’s House, The Ship and The Manor. escaperoomlouisiana.com

Where to Take the Family

Cameron | Holly Beach Crab Festival

A fun weekend is in store at the Holly Beach Crab Festival June 13-15. Located along the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, the event includes a crab cook-off, crab bingo, live music, axe throwing, food vendors, sandcastle-building lessons, a dunking booth, sno cone vendors and more.  visitlakecharles.org

Thibodaux | The Bayou Country Children’s Museum

Kids learn through interactive play as they explore the local culture on exhibits like a sugarcane harvester, shrimp boat and Mardi Gras float. bayoucountrychildrensmuseum.org

Lake Charles | Lake Area Adventures

Opened in March 2023, Lake Area Adventures is a 35,000-square-foot family entertainment center with a ropes course, gamers lounge, airpark, climbing wall, an aquatics center and The Terrace restaurant. lakeareaadventures.com

Lake Charles | Urban Air Adventure & Trampoline Park

In addition to trampolines, the indoor playground also features bumper cars, go-karts, climbing walls, a ropes course, a tubes playground, an arcade and more. urbanair.com

Lake Charles | Millennium Park

Located near the waterfront, the park features a playground with themed equipment like a pirate ship, Hazel the Steamer and a Cajun cabin; a splash pad; and a separate area for toddlers with swings. visitlakecharles.org

Sulphur | Bayou Games Paintball Complex

An outdoor complex with four fields on more than 31 acres is the perfect place for some competitive play in paintball, airsoft, laser tag and gellyball. There’s also a 33-foot, seven-screen video game trailer featuring new and classic video games on Xbox One, PS4, PS VR and Nintendo Switch stations. bayougames.com

Lake Charles | Port Wonder

A new family-friendly destination located on the lakefront, the 32,000-square-foot complex is home to the new Children’s Museum of Southwest Louisiana and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Nature & Science Center. Enjoy aquariums, plus galleries focused on nature, health, technology and city living. Port Wonder also features outdoor play areas, a covered fishing pier and walking trails that connect to the Cypress Alligator Pond and the Lakefront Boardwalk Promenade. portwonder.org

Where to Stay Cool

Lake Charles | L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles and Golden Nugget Lake Charles Hotel & Casino

Side-by-side casino resorts are connected by a boardwalk along the Calcasieu River and have unlimited options for staying cool this summer. Float down their lazy rivers or hang out by the pools with a sno cone in hand from Lulu’s Specialty Snocones that offers regional flavors and tons of toppings. Beaches with volleyball nets, restaurants, marinas and tons of activities also are onsite. llakecharles.com; goldennugget.com/lake-charles

Sulphur | SPAR Waterpark

Located on the west side of Calcasieu Parish, SPAR Waterpark is a great way to cool down this summer. In addition to adrenaline-pumping waterslides, there’s also a peaceful lazy river, the Lagoon Pool, Splash & Play Island, Patch’s Splash Pad and more. sulphurparkswaterpark.com

Where to Take a Quick Trip

Laplace | Bonnet Carré Spillway

Head to the 850-acre Bonnet Carré Spillway near Norco and Laplace for a day of adventure. The smooth and rough riding trails weave and twist through nature and are perfect for four-wheels, dirt bikes or ATVs. Other activities allowed here include fishing, crawfishing, hunting, dog training, camping and wildlife watching.

New Orleans | Wild Louisiana Tours

Enjoy kayaking and canoeing through the historic Manchac Swamp with Wild Louisiana Tours. While paddling the bayou, participants learn how this body of water came into existence and its significance to the Manchac Greenway. wildlouisianatours.com

The Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is a great stop along the Creole Nature Trail, featuring educational exhibits and scenic boardwalks.

Where to G0 Outside

Sulphur | Creole Nature Trail

Discover more than 400 bird species, alligators, marshlands and 26 miles of natural Gulf of Mexico beaches, fishing, crabbing and Cajun culture along the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road. A designated scenic byway, the Creole Nature Trail also features the Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point — a free attraction with hands-on displays, nature education and more. Just down the road from Adventure Point is Almosta Ranch, where families can interact with farm animals and exotic birds. visitlakecharles.org

Port Fourchon | Coastal Wetlands Park Tidal Creek

Developed by the Greater Lafourche Port Commission, Coastal Wetlands Park Tidal Creek is open from sunrise to sunset and features a mile-long loop for kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding.  lacajunbayou.com

Where to Learn

Thibodaux | Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center

Get a hearty dose of all things Cajun. Located within the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, the center highlights the music, religion, cuisine, recreation and livelihoods of the Cajun population through a series of exhibits and films. Swing by on Tuesday nights for the Music on the Bayou and bring an instrument to play along. nps.gov

Lafayette | Les Vues

Held on the last Monday of each month at the Vermilionville Living History Museum & Folklife Park, Les Vues is a free cultural film series curated by filmmakers and enthusiasts across the state. Films range from features to documentaries, and an open discussion with a curator takes place after each screening. The films are free and begin at 6:30 p.m. bayouvermiliondistrict.org

River Parishes | Plantations

One of the most beautiful plantation homes along the Mississippi River, San Francisco Plantation features stunning colors and intricately carved gingerbread, reflecting the Steamboat Gothic architectural style. Meanwhile, the Destrehan Plantation (which features educational exhibits and demonstrations) and Ormond Plantation exemplify West Indies Creole-style architecture. Evergreen Plantation in Edgard offers a large range of architectural styles with numerous homes, cottages, pigeonniers and barns. Whitney Plantation is home to the only remaining French-styled barn in the country and the oldest detached kitchen in the United States, and Laura Plantation is a gorgeous example of a raised Creole cottage. Oak Alley Plantation flaunts sprawling lawns and open pastures dotted with mature trees, ornamental gardens and agricultural crops. Finally, the massive St. Joseph Plantation and Felicity Plantation still operate as a working sugarcane farm. lariverparishes.com

Lake Charles | Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center

Explore three stories of galleries, including the Black Heritage Gallery, and rotating exhibits. Since opening its doors as the City of Lake Charles’ public art gallery and cultural facility in 2004, the center has displayed solo exhibitions by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Ansel Adams, Norman Rockwell and Tasha Tudor, as well as many traveling group exhibitions. The HCH A&C Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and admission is free. cityoflakecharles.com

Lafayette | Acadiana Center for the Arts

Fifty-year anniversary special exhibitions are now taking place in the Coca-Cola Studio (located on the first floor) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Tuesday through Saturday. Also as part of its anniversary celebrations, AcA invites the public to contribute personal memories, experiences and reflections on its website for a new publication that will be released this fall. acadianacenterforthearts.org