Archaeology handicrafts and science and technology sites to visit The United States Of America

To begin the visit of the Cajun country, Vermilionville should be a mandatory step to understand the life of the Acadians until the end of the 19th century, but also that of the Creoles, the native Indians and the descendants of Africans. In this beautiful site in the middle of nature, on the banks of the Vermilion Bayou, a Cajun village has been entirely reconstructed, some of the houses presented are original, others are replicas. It is very lively and in several houses, a craftsman, Acadian of course, tells you, in French most of the time, about the life of yesteryear and his trade, without forgetting various historical and cultural notions. The visit is self-guided but it is possible to reserve in advance a guided tour, in French upon request (fee in addition to the admission). As a bonus, don't miss:

The Sunday Ball: on Sundays from 1 to 4 pm, put on your best dancing shoes and come take a step back in time at the Vermilionville Ball.

La cuisine de Maman, open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 2pm. Try the gourmet cuisine of Vermilionville's restaurant, the locals are particularly fond of its gumbo (and so are we!). For dessert, try the chocolate cheesecake.

Cultural days with a great program of activities (free admission): Creoles in June, Acadians in August and Native Indians in November.

The Welcome Center boutique: the perfect place to bring back beautiful souvenirs.

It's a steep slope and can be reached on foot, by bicycle or by shuttle bus (21 stops in the valley, free of charge). It is 13 km long and 1.6 km wide, and is 1,209 meters high. From the bottom of the valley, you can see the steep walls, and the two rocks so often photographed for their beauty: El Capitan and the Cathedral. From the top of the walls fall countless impressive waterfalls, some of which are over 700 meters high. Many hikes start from the surroundings of the valley. The valley is very crowded in summer.

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River extends over 38 kilometers, between the falls, upper and the mouth of the Lamar River. It reaches a depth of 60 to 245 meters and a width of 300 to 1,400 meters. In the upper part, where the throat is deepest and narrower, rocky walls offer beautiful tones ranging from yellow to orange and red brown.

Fine rock needles from erosion flow, isolated, depths, and sometimes a white vapor escapes from hot springs and geysers located at the bottom of the canyon. At the bottom, the Yellowstone River appears to be quiet. In fact, it mutates into rapids which, twice, rush into the depths of huge waterfalls: to the south, at the beginning of the canyon, the Upper Falls (33 meters high), and about 900 meters downstream the Lower Falls or Great Falls (94 meters high).