You want to get from here to there as safely and comfortably as you can with your pet. It’s not such an easy proposition. But that’s why we’re here–to make your journey as rewarding as it can be. If it were up to us, we’d have that little guy at the end of the Mr. Peabody cartoons with the sweeper-upper, scooping poop, tidying up, answering any questions you might have, making your trip as pleasant as possible. Well, we can’t find him, but we’re doing our best to get you all the pertinent pet travel information you need.
Make sure you keep a list of Emergency Veterinary Clinics in the area to which you’re headed. You can find a number of these in our database of emergency vets.
Rabies vaccinations are a must for all travel abroad, and for returning to the United States. Many airlines also require these vaccinations also. Check with your vet for the complete range of vaccinations required, and of course, check with the airline and country to which you’re heading.
Unfortunately, if you’re not traveling by car, domestic travel in the US is problematic. While some local transportation businesses and authorities may allow pets, Amtrak and Greyhound buses do not. Therefore, your options for traveling with a pet are drastically reduced.
Car trips can be hazardous to your pet. How many times have you seen a small dog sitting on the drivers lap, looking out the window? Or the cat lying on the rear shelf on the car? A sudden stop, or even an accident can send your pet flying. A loose pet in a car can also escape if someone opens the door, forgetting that your pet is able to jump out before you can grab him or her. They make special harnesses for dogs like seatbelts, and the cat-carrier can always be used to transport your cat safely. Of course, make sure the carrier is also secured to the back seat with a seatbelt.
Many dogs and cats do not travel well in a car. Consider speaking with your vet about sedatives. If your pet gets car sick, consider travel-sickness pills. Again, check with your vet for recommendations and dosage before giving your pet any medications.
There have been too many incidents of cats and dogs suffering from heatstroke after being left in a hot car. Leave at least two windows (for cross draft) open slightly to provide fresh air. You might consider one of those solar powered fans that fit in the window. The fan fits snugly in the window, the sun powers the fan, and air is circulate within your vehicle. However, we strongly recommend that you DON’T leave animals in the car in hot climates or during the warmer months, as even a short time in a hot vehicle can be injurious to your pet.
Keep in mind here at the Homewood Suites Lafayette we are “pet-friendly” and love to accommodate your four-legged family members!Its always better when the WHOLE family travels together!See you HERE!
When you’re talking about my city, I’m proud to say, a lot.Not many people know this but we weren’t always Lafayette.The original Lafayette was a small suburb of New Orleans that was absorbed in the growth of New Orleans.
In 1821, 18 short years after the Louisiana Purchace, we were given the name "St. Jean du Vermilionville". Later, the name would be shortened to "Vermilionville".And before that the earliest records label the area as the Attakapas and Opelousas districts named after the local Indian tribes.None of those roll off the tongue like Lafayette though.
Previous to the Louisiana Purchase, in an effort to colinize the area, in the latter half of the 18th century, both the French and Spanish officials granted lands freely along the bayous Carencro and Vermilion. Generally, the size of 6-8 arpents along the stream with a depth of 40 arpents (arpent is a French measurment equaling 0.84 acre so these were generally 5 - 6.75 acres by 33.5 acres).
Before 1765, very few Europeans settled in the area other than trappers and smugglers. The earliest settlers in the area were Attakapas Indians. Several burial mounds exist along the Vermilion and Bayou Teche.By 1765, Acadians were arriving in New Orleans and the Spanish governor began settling them in the Lafayette area at St. Martinville and Opelousas.
In 1803, Thomas Jeferson, negotiated one of America’s biggest achievement in History with the Louisiana Purchase from Nepolian.Our French roots are still felt throughout Louisiana.In 1823, the Louisiana legislature divided St. Martin parish and created Lafayette Parish. The parish name Lafayette was chosen due to the enthusiasm of General Lafayette's visit to the United States. However, the city's name remained Vermilionville due to the fact that the name "Lafayette" was already given to a suburb of New Orleans. Eventually, in 1884, the suburb was incorporated into New Orleans and Vermilionville became Lafayette.
The Homewood Suites by Hilton, Lafayette embarks on its Grand Opening and while we are excited about our future we still find it enlightening to reflect on our rich history!
We here at the Homewood Suites Lafayette have a lot of events that draw crowds from all over just to see our shows.We have chosen these three to showcase as some of the diverse and wonderful family events you can enjoy in our area!
A symphony and sunset before the fireworks display!ASO & Chubby Carrier live music performances; Hot Dog eating contest; Watermelon Seed Spitting contest; Costume contest; Raffles; Food and Drinks; Face Painting
Over 5,000 people attended the 2010 Red, White and Boom, making it our largest crowd to date. It's a new day at the ASO and we want to make this 4th of July bigger and better for our community. This year the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, the City of Lafayette, and the AcadianaCenter of the Arts will present the 2011 Red, White and Boom. Grammy award winner Chubby Carrier and his Bayou Swamp Band will be our headliner. Chubby and his band will be working with some of our summer camp children the week prior to the 2011 Red, White and Boom. Those children will perform with Chubby, his band, and your Acadiana Symphony Orchestra. This year we will offer additional musical performances during the afternoon, multiple children's activities, fun contests and of course a finale full of some of our favorite patriotic music choreographed to an amazing fireworks display. Celebrate with friends, celebrate with music, celebrate with the City of Lafayette, the AcA and your Acadiana Symphony Orchestra.
A few hours before the sun goes down there will be a parade at .
No one is exactly sure of the year in which the Erath began celebrating the 4th of July. The holiday was celebrated in Erath with a festival prior to World War II, but no festival was held during the war. In 1946, however, the festival was re-established with Roy Theriot serving as the first President and Curney Dronet as the first Parade Chairman. Theriot and Dronet worked in conjunction with the Erath Lions Club to re-establish the festival.
Throughout the late 1940’s and 1950’s, the festival was run by the area merchants as a way to promote Erath, and thereby bring more business to Erath. The Erath merchants would contribute money each year to stage the festival. Several Erath residents that were instrumental in the early success of the festival included: B.J. Gary, Marion Boudreaux, Johnny Suire, Edward Suire, K.A. Bolner, J.P. Landry, Leo Bernard, Sulie Dubois, Emmett Bares, J.D. Vincent, Inez LeBlanc Vincent, Neuby LeBlanc, Fred Dugas, Wilton “Belu” Sonnier, Lee Bernard, and Curney Dronet.
In the early 1962, Dr. Leroy Suire and his wife, Elvie, along with Richard Dubois, Wilton “Belu” Sonnier, and Eddie Shiner took over the operation of the festival. John Earl LeBlanc was elected President around 1964, and served for several years. Les Travailleuses took over the organization of the Erath 4th of July Celebration in 1972. This local women’s organization ran the festival until 1975.
Two people that played an integral part in the Erath 4th of July Celebration throughout the years were Richard Dubois and Relie LeBlanc. Both men were involved in the organization, off and on, since the 1950’s. One of the events that the two men used to stage on the day of July 4th was the go kart races. waterfights. For many years, the special contests were held following the waterfights. These contest included the watermelon and cracker eating contest, which are still held along with the potato relays, and the greasy pole contest, which is no longer held. South Broadway Streetwas closed the morning of the 4th, and all telephone poles and fire hydrants were covered with hay to protect the participants. Go kart races were then held up and down Broadway Street. Later on that day, the area fire departments would participate in the
The Acadian Museum in Erath has also been a major benefactor of the funds raised by the Association. The museum has received several donations from the Association to ensure the continued success of the museum. The Association also donated the flag poles in front of the ErathCity Hall. The Association voted to donate funds to the Erath Backers Club for use in the construction of a baseball field for the Erath High School Baseball team. Funds were also donated for town lights in Erath, technology at Dozier Elementary and two large signs for the town of Erath. The Association also donated barricades to Dozier Elementary.
New Iberia 4th of July Parade
New Iberia’s schedule includes many things, among them ecumenical services at St. Peter’s Church, a parade down Main Streetand a ceremony at BoulignyPlaza.
The parade starts at at Main Streetand Prairie Avenue, and will progress to BoulignyPlaza.Once the parade reaches its destination around , the ceremony will begin.The parade will be flanked at each end by a firetruck, the second and last of which will be carrying local artist Paul Schexnayder dressed as Uncle Sam. His family will be riding along with him.
This is Schexnayder first time participating in the Fourth of July parade, but he once dressed up as the Easter Bunny.
Eight civil war re-enactors will be in the parade, shooting volleys (of blanks) down Main Street.
Veterans and pageant queens will also be among those in the parade.Veterans and Boy Scouts will carry a flag measuring 12 feet by 20 feet in the parade, and will hoist it up the flag pole at their destination.
In previous years attendees filled up all 400 chairs set up in the plaza, and people were lined up standing along the sides.So if you want a seat come early.
The Iberia Community Band and Louisiana Kids will be providing music at different points in the ceremony, as well as during the parade.
The re-enactors also will do a Civil War drill during the ceremony.There will not be fireworks, but civil war re-enactors will shoot their muskets by the bayou. Schwing and fellow veteran John Cobbes will shoot a miniature cannon.The cannon packs such a punch that most can’t be closer than twenty feet from it!
