Pack & Paddle is more than an equipment and apparel store — it’s a resource for outdoor enthusiasts to find the best places to explore the beauty of Louisiana’s swamps, marshes, forests and streams. “From clear creeks that are a little bit north of us, to the coast and marshes, there’s just every type of paddling here,” owner John Williams said. “We live in a world class area for it.”
Williams’ parents Doc and Joan Williams opened the Lafayette store in 1974, selling canoes in a 400-square foot Acadian house along the Vermilion River. Williams and his wife, Becky, have since carried on the family’s legacy of adventure. In business for 47 years, Pack & Paddle has grown (6,000 square feet) since its beginnings to offer a shopping experience for adventurers to find outdoor equipment, gear, and apparel for traveling, hiking, paddling and fishing.
Those who enjoy being on the water but don’t want to get into the world of kayaking, can rent canoes, paddleboards, kayaks and pedal kayaks. The Williamses offer a class for first-time kayakers and schedule group and private trips. “We don’t do a lot of nature instruction, necessarily, but more like getting out and enjoying the environment,” said Williams, referring to the excursions they lead. “We’re learning things without it being too much like biology class. We focus more on having fun and being social while learning a couple of things along the way.”
It’s a trip worth taking for adventure in the great outdoors and to explore the beauty Louisiana has to offer. “People who enjoy Louisiana — transplants or even people who grew up here — they never know how to participate until they go on a Pack & Paddle trip,” Williams pointed out. “The next thing you know, they’re avid paddlers. It can be a life-changing thing.”