Baton Rouge, French for Red Stick, is the state capital of the state of Louisiana in the United States of America. It holds the title of being Louisiana’s second-largest city. Nestled along the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge is a great place to take a stroll by the riverbank or gamble at one of the riverboat casinos.
It is a university town that is about an hour and a half drive from New Orleans, by car. Families, students and tourists from around the world enjoy this city.
Be sure to pay this college town a visit and see these places:
1. Louisiana's Old State Capitol
Louisiana’s Old State Capitol is a Gothic style, historic building that I love so much. When I was in Baton Rouge visiting friends and family, this site was a must.
It overlooks the Mississippi River and I loved seeing the rooms where the Louisiana State legislature used to be until the new capital building came along.
Louisiana's Old State Capital
Address: 100 North Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA
Opening Hours: Tuesday - Friday 10 am - 4 pm; Saturday 9 am - 3 pm
Contact: +1 (225) 342 0500
Website: Louisiana’s Old State Capital
2. Louisiana’s State Capitol
The Capitol is a tall and powerful building since it is the Louisiana seat of government and home of the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Governor of Louisiana. It is the tallest state capitol building in the United States and the tallest building in the city of Baton Rouge. It is also a National Historic Landmark.
Louisiana's State Capitol
Address: 900 North Third Street, Baton Rouge, LA
Opening Hours: Daily 8 am - 4:30 pm.
Contact: +1 (225) 342 7317
Website: Louisiana’s State Capitol
3. The Old Governor's Mansion
This is a beautiful mansion where Governors used to live, but it is now a tourist attraction and known to some as Louisiana’s White House.
It was built while Governor Huey Long was in office. Many Louisiana Governors got to live here and enjoy the mansion. It was also used as a museum at one time and is now a historical landmark.
It is one of the places I enjoyed showing to others since I found it to be so nice. It is a beautiful house by a lake that has historical value.
The Old Governor's Mansion
Address: 502 North Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA
Opening Hours: Open for tours 10 am - 4 pm Tuesday-Friday.
Access: It is located between Royal and St. Charles Sts in Baton Rouge
Contact: +1 (225) 387 2464
Website: The Old Governor’s Mansion
4. Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center
The Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center (BSNC) is a huge nature center with an award-winning exhibit building. It is a perfect place to walk, hike and bird watch. 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.
This place was close to my house in Baton Rouge and I used to love to walk here. Good exercise with good scenery - a mix that cannot be beat.
Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center
Address: 10503 North Oak Hills Parkway, Baton Rouge, LA
Price: Admission: Ages 2 and younger: free. Ages 3-17: 2 USD. Ages 18-64: 3 USD. Ages 65 and older: 2.50 USD. Full-time college students with university ID: 2.50 USD.
Opening Hours: Tues-Sat: 9 am - 5 pm; Sunday: noon - 5 pm. (Trails and gate close at 5 pm) Closed: Mondays, New Year’s Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, & Christmas Day.
Access: BSNC is located one block off of Bluebonnet Blvd. between Perkins and Highland Road. Turn toward the Whitney Bank and follow N. Oak Hills Pkwy into the parking lot.
Contact: +1 (225) 757 8905 Website: Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center
5. USS Kidd
The USS Kidd is a National Historic Landmark that is now a museum. I love it because it is located on the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge and you can go inside and tour the ship. It is quite popular with the young locals.
USS Kidd
Address: 305 River Rd S, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802
Price: Admission Fees: Adults 10 USD. Veterans and Seniors 8 USD. Children 6 USD
Opening Hours: Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 9:30 - 3:30 pm. Sat-Sun 10 am - 4 pm
Contact: +1 (225) 342 1942
Website: USS Kidd
6. Louisiana State University (LSU)
The main university in Louisiana is Louisiana State University. It has a nice quadrangle, where I used to love to sit and study. I also loved the university tower and lake. While visiting LSU, catch a game at Tiger Stadium, have a bowl of Crawfish Etoufee at The Chimes and visit Mike the Tiger, a real Bengal Tiger, who is the college mascot. He is taken to the college football home games and brought out during halftime in a special cage.
Louisiana State University
Contact: +1 (225) 578 8654
Website: Louisiana State University
7. Magnolia Mound Plantation
This is a historical place in Baton Rouge that now hosts all kinds of events like the Miss Teen USA pageant. It is a pretty plantation that is not to be missed.
Magnolia Mound Plantation
Address: 2161 Nicholson Dr, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 am - 4 pm and Sunday 1 pm - 4 pm
Contact: +1 (225) 343 4955
Website: Magnolia Mound Plantation
8. Liberty Lagoon
This is a waterpark that is fun for kids. It is great since Baton Rouge gets hot over the summer.
Liberty Lagoon
Address: 111 Lobdell Ave, Baton Rouge, LA
Price: 12 Months and Younger: Free. Under 48″ tall: 10 USD. Over 48″ tall: 12 USD.
Opening Hours: Closed until April 2017
Contact: +1 (225) 923 3202
Website: Liberty Lagoon
Why visit Baton Rouge?
It is a lively college town that has a lot of southern charm and is worth seeing. You will love being here and will not want to leave.
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