How to Visit Baton Rouge, LA
- 1). Relive history on the USS Kidd. The World War II destroyer, docked on the banks of Mississippi, shows visitors what life was like on a warship. In addition to tours of the ship, visitors can camp overnight, staying in one of the ship’s five berth compartments.
- 2). Pack your clubs and go golfing. The City of Baton Rouge maintains seven reasonably priced golf courses open to the public. They include City Park, Beaver Creek, Howell Park, Greenwood Park, J.S. Clark Park, Webb Memorial Park and Santa Maria Park.
- 3). Tour the capitol. The Louisiana State Capitol building and grounds are open for tours. The 34-story building features sculptures depicting scenes from the state’s history and has a viewing tower on the top floor.
- 4). Explore the swamp. Tour the 101-acre Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center, which features both swampland and an upland hardwood forest. The two ecosystems are connected by trails and boardwalks, providing visitors with the opportunity to see a large variety of flowers, trees, alligators, birds and turtles.
- 5). Spend an afternoon at the Louisiana Art and Science Museum. Located in a restored 1920’s train depot, the museum features interactive science and art exhibits, fine-art exhibits, a planetarium and the Challenger Learning Center. A Ptolemaic-era mummy is featured in the Ancient Egypt Gallery, along with other ancient artifacts from Egypt.
- 6). Tour Magnolia Mound Plantation. The restored plantation offers tours, workshops, lectures and special events on its 16-acre site. Built in 1791, the plantation contains a large collection of Louisiana-made objects and furniture. Visitors can tour the main house, overseer’s house, quarter house, pigeon house, carriage house and the grounds.
- 7). Take an airboat tour. A number of companies offer tours of the swamp, bayous and marshes, affording visitors close-up views of alligators, herons and moss-draped trees. Visitors can choose to tour in either an airboat, barge or kayak, depending on the company.
- 8). Learn what life was like for the settlers of Baton Rouge at Louisiana State University’s Rural Life Museum. The museum features artifacts from rural life up to the 20th century, houses a collection of plantation buildings and includes an exhibit of buildings showcasing architectural styles throughout the years.
- 9). Make a wager at one of the area’s casinos. Belle of Baton Rouge, Hollywood and Paragon Casinos provide slots and table games for visitors who can’t resist a quick gaming stop. Casinos provide free parking and a variety of dining options.
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Go for a ride at Dixie Landin’ Amusement Park. The park features 26 rides, games, shops and food stands. Next door is the Blue Bayou Water Park, which offers over 20 water attractions, including a seven-story serpentine slide and the Ragin’ Cajun, an eight-story twin speed slide.
