Location: Baton Rouge
Top Things to do in Baton Rouge
Top Restaurants in Baton Rouge
Top 10 Things to do in Baton Rouge, United States
Settled by Europeans on Native American hunting grounds, the city of Baton Rouge has grown up under the influence of English, French, Spanish, and native cultures. The city is proud of its Cajun and Creole heritage, with clubs famous for playing the blues, and streets full of restaurants serving up everything from spicy Bayou foods to Caribbean home cooking. Located on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi delta, visitors can watch the sun set over the levees or ride on a riverboat casino.
Restaurants in Baton Rouge
1. Alex Box Stadium/Skip Bertman Field
Overall Ratings
5 based on 108 reviews
Reviewed By 1NCfoodie - Charlotte, NC
This was my first (but not my last visit) to this baseball park. We had tickets just behind the visitors dugout. Seats were comfortable, game was lively, a lot of fun things going on. Concessions were just a tad pricey but the nachos with pulled pork were out of sight! I got a refill x 1 cup so it helped reduce the cost of beverages. Will be looking for tickets as the weather warms a little. Great fun family evening with the Tigers vs. Sacred Heart.
2. LSU Tiger Stadium
Overall Ratings
5 based on 788 reviews
Reviewed By Allen21096 - Chicago, Illinois
Tiger Stadium at Louisiana State University is unbelievably beautiful, as are the grounds that surround it. On the walkway through the front arches, you'll find commemorative plaques for the Tiger titles. You'll also find a statue of Mike the Tiger keeping guard at the front of the stadium.
3. Capitol Park Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 200 reviews
With thematic exhibits on diverse aspects of Louisiana history, industry and culture, the museum includes two permanent exhibits: Grounds for Greatness: Louisiana and the Nation and Experiencing Louisiana: Discovering the Soul of America.
Reviewed By Cia1964 - Wauconda, Illinois
This place is stuffed with information in thorough, interesting, detailed displays. You can go through it more quickly if you need to and still take away some good knowledge, but the best thing is to allow a few hours to really take it all in....or...MoreThank you for your kind review! Check out our website for information on our changing exhibitions and free/low cost programming.
4. Mike the Tiger Habitat
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 481 reviews
Reviewed By Ray H - Irvine, California
It was a nice day and Mike was out for picture taking. Make sure that you go up the ramp to the Assembly Center to see him from both sides. Also, he likes to sit up there.
5. Louisiana State University
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 221 reviews
Louisiana's top university since 1860 has a beautiful, tree-covered campus and lots of attractions to visit, like the Union Art Gallery, Museum of Art, Greek Theatre and Museum of Natural Science.
Reviewed By Allen21096 - Chicago, Illinois
The furthest south school that I had been to was Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, so when we were going through Baton Rouge and saw a chance to see LSU, we decided to take a drive through the campus. The campus and its buildings are absolutely beautiful. The buildings are rich in heritage and history.
6. USS Kidd
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 515 reviews
Reviewed By Allen21096 - Chicago, Illinois
The U.S.S. Kidd is a Fletcher-class destroyer that was built during World War II. She was commissioned in April 1943. At the time, the U.S.S. Kid was the six hundred & sixty-first destroyer to be built for the Navy. She was named after Rear Admiral Isaac Kidd, Sr., who was killed at Pearl Harbor, as he was was aboard his flagship - the U.S.S. Arizona. She served the Navy well and even though she sustained battle damage, she was repaired and went on to serve in Korea and was decommissioned in June 1964, after 21 years of service. Buck was the docent. He was very friendly, personable and very informative about the U.S.S. Kidd. The U.S.S. Kidd is located on the Mississippi River at Baton Rouge's Riverfront Plaza. Besides the ship itself, there is also the U.S.S. Kidd Museum and the Louisiana Memorial Plaza is immediately adjacent to the museum. We happened to be there on a day when there was heavy fog, so at the beginning of our tour, the ship almost appeared ghostly. The U.S.S. Kidd has been designated a National Historic Landmark and has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
7. Louisiana's Old State Capitol
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 540 reviews
Once described by Mark Twain as the "ugliest thing on the Mississippi," this neogothic building, situated atop a bluff, contains a stained-glass dome, an impressive spiral staircase and a museum covering state politics.
Reviewed By alpw - Albuquerque, New Mexico
My husband and I were in Baton Rouge on our New Orleans trip. We drove over to Baton Rouge to see the capital building. We went over to the old capital, which should been open, but we couldn't get in. The outside looked beautiful, though.
8. LSU Rural Life Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 309 reviews
Step back in time to pre-industrial Louisiana at this 27-building museum complex, one of the best outdoor museums in the U.S., featuring tools, furniture and other artifacts and, the highlight, a recreated 19th-century plantation that portrays the daily lives of these early settlers.
Reviewed By Ontario76 - Oakville, Canada
It it absolutely worth the visit, but use your car even if you are across from the entrance! The outdoor museum and old buildings sectjonmis what you most want and it will be about 3 miles walking, each way! So we told our hotel guide the story for the next visitors.
As for the many displays and buildings, allow 2 hours, we think. We started too late and ended up with them closing the buildings on us. We said we were disappointed with that, and they gave us free re-entry in the morning. We used it and were grateful. Learned lots more by having more time. We can figure out the way a lot of the old machinery works since it is open to inspect. The explanations of how to do the other chores is very useful, plus the lives of the slaves in their tiny cabins.
9. Louisiana State Capitol
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 588 reviews
This art deco masterpiece has been the site of a bombing, an assassination and the infinite machinations of state kingpins and politicos.
Reviewed By darthgrim - Cedar Park, Texas
I stopped by to check off another capitol on my way back from Mardi Gras in New Orleans and did not think this would be a highlight, so I was pleasantly surprised. The skyscraper design is really interesting; it was Governor Long's idea to show that the state was progressive. He considered a dome/rotunda as wasted space and offices in the tower could be rented out. The day I visited they were not offering guided tours, but all of the staff were enthusiastic and knowledgeable and two people even left their desks to show me their favorite details and other points of interests.
Some interesting things to check out include: Huey Long's grave in the front, the many bullet holes in the hallway where he was shot (ask staff to point it out), a fragment in the ceiling from a bomb that exploded in the 70s as part of a labor dispute, the detailed Art Deco lobby, and the free observation deck with view of the capitol lawn and Mississippi River.
When I visited there was some restoration work concerning the limestone going on in the front of building, but the building was still open from a side entrance. I was able to find a free street parking space in the back of the building, but I'm not sure how many free public spaces are available.
The staff made the visit fun, educational, and memorable, and it's been one of my favorite capitols to visit. This place is definitely worth a stop!
10. East Baton Rouge Parish Library
Overall Ratings
5 based on 89 reviews
Reviewed By RNewOrleans - New Orleans
The EBRPL has a good selection of digital titles and audio books available and the digital service seems to be working well since changes last year.
Staff are friendly and helpful in person, however, a number of email inquiries to the IT department have gone unanswered.
The library seems to purchase an excess of audio books as opposed to eBooks, an unfortunate policy.
Facilities are pleasant and convenient.
The new library is a great addition to the Baton Rouge infrastructure.
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