Charming small towns and B & B's near Lafayette?

I am hoping to find a pretty B %26amp; B in one of the small towns around Lafayette. I am not sure which town or what would be a good location. We will be coming from Austin and want to stop for the night somewhere charming and have a not too expensive dinner. It will be a long trip from Austin, I imagine, so closer is better then further for that night. The next day we would like to drive to St. Francisville and explore other small towns before going into New Orleans.

Any suggestions of a good town to stay in, B %26amp; B%26#39;s, towns not miss or good places to eat would be appreciated.

Charming small towns and B %26amp; B's near Lafayette?

Just in case others are searching for B %26amp; B%26#39;s, I found this great site:

http://www.louisianabandb.com/

Charming small towns and B %26amp; B's near Lafayette?

Lafayette is about 7 hours from Austin. Breaux Bridge is about 15 minutes past Lafayette. I suggest that you select one of the Breaux Bridge properties from the link that you supplied. If you%26#39;ll be there on a Friday night, pick Maison des Amis. They have a cafe (Cafe des Amis), which has a Zydeco breakfast every Saturday morning, and guests get preferential seating.

Here are a few restaurants in the area:

http://patsfishermanswharf.com/

http://www.mcgeeslanding.com/cafe.html

http://home.netcom.com/~rkiser/Directions/Mulates.htm

http://www.randols.com/

If you%26#39;re looking for a scenic drive, get off I-10 at the Grosse Tete exit (LA Hwy 77) and head north to New Roads. New Roads is a quaint little town on the shore of False River, an oxbow lake. Just north of New Roads is a free ferry that will take you across the Mississippi River, to St. Francisville.

If you%26#39;re looking for a great place to eat between Grosse Tete and New Roads, try Joe%26#39;s Dreyfus Store Restaurant, in Maringouin.

Just in case you%26#39;re in the Vacherie area which is a small town between Baton Rouge and New Orleans in the same town as Oak Alley, St. Joseph %26amp; Laura Plantations, there%26#39;s a Bed %26amp; Breakfast, Cottage on the Farm B%26amp;B. check it out on the web: www.bbcottageonthefarm.blogspot.com

Thank you for the great suggestions!

After working on this part of the trip more, I have decided that it will be too much to try to include St. Francisville. It looks like a lovely little town but I think that we will need to save it for next time (when we will hopefully be doing less driving).

We are planning to stay at Maison Madeleine in Brauex Bridge. I have only been able to find their website. I could not find any reviews. Does anyone have first hand experience with this lovely B %26amp; B?

Randol%26#39;s was recommended as a great place for dinner and music. It sounds great!

The next day, before we drive to New Orleans, I am trying to decide between: exploring, a swamp tour, Vermillion, and stopping at a plantation on the way (I have narrowed it down to Evergreen or Laura). I think that we might have time for two. Any suggestions?

Thank you again for all the terrific help!

Here%26#39;s the only thing I was able to find on La Maison Madeleine.

Southern Comforts

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008

Back from a ten-day sojourn in Louisiana, I can鈥檛 stop talking about a perfect B %26amp; B, Maison Madeleine, just south of Breaux Bridge, in the heart of Cajun country. Steps from the shores of Lake Martin and the departure point for world-class swamp tours (I actually found myself wondering if the huge sleepy alligators languidly sunning themselves were Disney World papier mache until one slapped its tail and slid into the water), the exquisitely restored Creole Cottage (c. 1840) is also within easy walking distance of the Lake Martin bird sanctuary, a haven for nature lovers. Not only is hostess Madeleine Cenac extraordinarily gracious, she has pitch-perfect taste, and produces fabulous breakfasts, featuring the farm-fresh eggs laid by her personable chickens. If you鈥檙e in the neighborhood, this is the place to stay. maisonmadeleine.com

(More comments by Rod)

Your choice of plantation really depends on your preferences. The main attractions for Laura and Evergreen are their authenticity. In my opinion, either would be a good choice. Evergreen tours are by appointment only, so remember to call ahead. In all probability, your family will be the only tour participants and you%26#39;ll have a very personal tour.

If you%26#39;re looking for a plantation home that displays the grandeur of the Old South, there is, in my opinion, only one choice.

http://www.nottoway.com/

Either eat dinner or Saturday breakfast at Cafe des amis. Their food is to die for. The Sat breakfst is a Zydeco dance event

http://www.cafedesamis.com/

New Iberia is a small town just south of Lafayette. Love the area and like the tour at the Shadows of the Teche.

I knew I remembered a B%26amp;B there and a quick search provided this place http://estorge-nortonhouse.com/ that looks lovely in the pics and it does look to be the same one I remembered. You may want to take a tour of the Tabasco Plant at Avery Island, - free tours - just minutes from New Iberia. (I believe they are closed om Mondays)

Another charming town is St. Martinville, just a little east of Lafayette and New Iberia. They have a nice (small) museum on the history of the Arcadian%26#39;s - which is free or for very small token price. I believe there are a couple of B%26amp;B%26#39;s there. (I stayed at the Old Castillo Inn many years back. Loved the location right on the bayou and out my window was Longfellow%26#39;s Oak.) Bedandbreakfast.com is a great site to use, somewhat more complete (but no directory site gives all) than louisianabandb.com which is the state association site and a far cry from being complete.

Once in the New Orleans area, if you want to stay outside of the city, there is a nice B%26amp;B on the northshore (Slidell) called Woodridge Bed and Breakfast. There is a great swamp tour near the B%26amp;B and the old town district has several interesting shops. Lots of nature to explore too.