The capital city of Louisiana, Baton Rouge is home to great museums, unique attractions, and outstanding restaurants. Watch a game at the LSU Tiger Stadium, visit the LSU Museum of Art, and see a planetarium show at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum. Best historic things to do in Baton Rouge include the LSU Rural Life Museum, USS Kidd and the Old Arsenal Museum.
Baton Rouge For Art Lovers
If you love art, you will definitely want to spend a day or two at the Shaw Center for the Arts. Start your day at the LSU Museum of Art, located on the fifth floor and spread across 13,000 square feet of space in fourteen galleries. After enjoying the art, stop for lunch at the Capital City Grill. In the afternoon, visit the LSU School of Art Glassell Gallery and relax in the park. In the evening, you can also see a show at the 325-seat Manship Theatre. This magnificent modern space has soaring fifteen foot high ceilings and can accommodate artworks in all sizes and media.
The museum has one of the largest collections of art in the South. It features a number of collections such as Chinese jade carvings, several works of Clementine Hunter, Newcomb College Pottery pieces, and so much more. Local and regional artists offer some of their art pieces for sale in the museum’s store.
It is a great place to buy a unique gift and support local artists. The museum also has a number of adult, family, and kids programs and activities.
100 Lafayette Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Phone: 225-389-7200
Baton Rouge For History Buffs
There is no shortage of history in Baton Rouge. Head to the LSU Rural Life Museum operated by the Louisiana State University. The museum is located on 40 acres and consists of 30 historic buildings. Plan to spend a whole day here if you can. Alternatively, Louisiana State Museums are made up of nine museums, including the Capitol Park Museum located on North Fourth Street on the mall of Louisiana’s State Capitol. Finally, if you have time to spare, tour Louisiana’s Old State Capitol which dates back to mid-19th century. Another historic building to explore is The Old Governor's Mansion. Located on North Boulevard, Louisiana’s Old State Capitol is a historic building that was the home of the Louisiana State Legislature from the mid 19th century until the 1930s when the current capitol building was constructed.
The Old State Capitol building stands on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River and was built in the Gothic style. It is known by several nicknames, including the Castle of Baton Rouge and the Castle on the River and is one of the best things to do in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and as a U.S. National Historic Landmark, the building is now called the Museum of Political History, and it is an educational resource containing art objects, artifacts, documents, and much more.
100 North Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Phone: 225-342-0500
More to Explore: Louisiana Art & Science Museum
Located on South River Road, the Louisiana Art & Science Museum consists of art galleries, science galleries, and a planetarium. Housed in a historic 1925 railway station, the museum seeks to educate and entertain visitors of all ages. In addition to its permanent collection of fine art, the museum also mounts temporary revolving art exhibits.
With its ancient artifacts and exceptionally interesting mummy, the Ancient Egypt Gallery is quite a popular exhibit. If you are wondering what to see in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with kids, this is a great place to visit. The Irene W. Pennington Planetarium serves several purposes: in addition to presenting its sky shows, it is also the venue for films and music shows. The museum’s educational programs include classes, lectures and workshops.
100 South River Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Phone: 225-344-5272
Mike the Tiger Habitat
Located on North Stadium Road, the Mike the Tiger Habitat is the residence of Louisiana State University’s official mascot. and one of the top things to see in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The original tiger, Mike I, lived in a small 2,000 square foot enclosure beginning in the 1930s until Mike I passed away in 1956. A new habitat was constructed in 2005. It is 15,000 square feet in size.
Whereas the original habitat was simple and only had logs for Mike I to climb over, the new habitat includes a waterfall and a stream that flows into a pond, many plants, and rocks for the new Mike to enjoy. The habitat’s backdrop is an Italianate tower that is in keeping with the architecture of LSU.
North Stadium Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Phone: 225-578-4823
USS Kidd
The USS Kidd is a Fletcher-class destroyer that was launched in 1943. Nicknamed the “Pirate of the Pacific,” it was named after Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd who died on board the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The USS Kidd saw many battles on the Pacific during World War II and was decommissioned in 1946 only to be re-commissioned in 1951 for use during the Korean War. Decommissioned again, this time in 1964, the USS Kidd was selected as a memorial for World War II veterans from Louisiana.
305 South River Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Phone: 225-342-1942
Knock Knock Children’s Museum
For families with young children, one of the best places to visit in Baton Rouge is the 26,000 square foot Knock Knock Children’s Museum. Located at the top of a hill, the museum features a lovely view of the City-Brookes Community Park and has worked hard to create an inclusive space for families from all walks of life to gather, learn, play, and interact with one another. Run by a private, non-profit organization, the museum features several exhibits called “Learning Zones”, which feature hands-on learning opportunities to ensure that children have fun while developing new skills like reading, writing, listening, and speaking. In addition to exhibits for basic skills, Knock Knock Museum also has Learning Zones designed specifically to help children develop an interest in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) subjects.
1900 Dalrymple Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808, Phone: 225-388-3090
Red Stick Farmers Market
The days to get fresh produce in Baton Rouge are Thursdays and Saturdays, which is when the Red Stick Farmers Markets are open in various parts of the town. Red Stick markets are open-air markets for farmers or food producers only; all products sold in the market are grown in the area by local farmers. During peak seasons, there are up to seven markets in seven different locations around Baton Rouge, making fresh local produce available to most of the city.
There are about 50 farmers who are members of the Red Sick Farmers Market, and they offer a number of different locally grown foods including fresh vegetables and fruits, seafood, meats, artisan breads, honey, homemade pies, cheese, milk, herbs, native plants, and various specialty foods such as pickles and jams.
501 Main St., Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Phone: 225-267-5060
Downtown Baton Rouge
Downtown Baton Rouge is a commercial, residential, and entertainment area located along the banks of the Mississippi River. If you are looking for date night ideas in Baton Rouge, this area rich with culture and history, and it is the home of many restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues as well as residences. Great restaurants to try include Azteca’s Mexican Cuisine, Tsunami Sushi, and many more. There are many bars and several hotels and casinos from which to choose.
Baton Rouge Zoo
The Baton Rouge Zoo is located on Thomas Road north of downtown Baton Rouge. < Opened in 1970, the zoo is home to more than 1,800 animals from all around the world, including amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, and more. If you are wondering what to do in Baton Rouge with kids, this is a great place to visit.
The zoo is involved in survival and reintroduction programs for animals like the Arabian oryx and the Guam rail.
Its Otter Pond is a replica of a cabin, and visitors can watch otters as they swim underwater. Another popular exhibit is the Parrot Paradise, a walk-through aviary, the home of many kinds of birds. The zoo has education programs for children including field trips, day camps, and much more.
3601 Thomas Road, Baton Rouge, LA, Phone: 225-775-3877
Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center
Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center, located on North Oak Hills Parkway, is a large nature center with a 9,500 square foot Exhibit Building set on 103 acres of land. Within the center there are boardwalks and paths where visitors can see a variety of habitats such as forests and swamps as well as wildlife like armadillos, coyotes, deer, foxes, otters, and many other creatures.
Birdwatchers can enjoy seeing a variety of migratory birds as well as year-round residents. If you are looking for things to do in Baton Rouge today, this is a great stop. In the Exhibit Building, there are displays of live animals and mineral exhibits, and children are able to touch natural objects such as feathers, pelts, and much more.
10503 North Oak Hills Parkway, Baton Rouge, LA, Phone: 225-757-8905
Blue Bayou Water Park and Dixie Landin'
When it comes to having a good time, few things could be better than enjoying two incredible amusement parks, especially when they’re located right across of each other. That’s exactly what draws guests to the Blue Bayou Water Park and Dixie Landing – two of Baton Rouge’s most popular family parks. The Blue Bayou is a water park filled with tons of exciting attractions. Known as the “Land of Giants”, the Blue Bayou is home to five of the world’s largest waterslides such as the largest in-line water slide, the largest tornado slide, and the largest aqua loop in the world. Dixie Landin’ is just as exciting with 27 attractions to enjoy with family and friends. Take a ride on one of three rollercoasters, take a trip on the log floom, or scream your lungs out on the drop tower among other equally entertaining rides.
18142 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States 70810, Phone: 225-753-3333
BREC's Magnolia Mound
Located on Nicholson Drive one mile south of downtown Baton Rouge, BREC's Magnolia Mound is a 1791 French Creole house that was originally a cottage. Built near the Mississippi River, the plantation is often referred to as Magnolia Mount in documents that date from the period.
Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, the architectural style of the plantation and its outbuildings show the influence of the West Indies and the early French settlers. The original four-room cottage was expanded in 1812 and again in the late 19th century. The city of Baton Rouge bought the 16-acre property in 1966 in order to preserve the house and the grounds.
2161 Nicholson Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, Phone: 225-343-4955
