Are you looking for a place to take your next vacation? Look no further than Baton Rouge. As the capital of Louisiana, Baton Rouge has something for everyone. Located right on the Mississippi river, Baton Rouge is full of culture and fun. Check out some of my favorite Baton Rouge attractions below.
Swap Tour: A tour of the Manchac Swamp is a must. I’ve always used Cajun Pride Tours and have been very pleased. Swamp creatures are used to the tour boats and pop out from the underbrush and shrubs. Often, they come right up to the boat! While safe and comfortable in your tour boat, you can come within feet of alligators and other swamp animals. For more details, visit www.cajunprideswamptours.com.
USS KIDD &Veterans; Memorial: This “Pirate of the Pacific” destroyer is located in the heart of downtown Baton Rouge. Visitors can walk the decks of the ship as well as see the amazing aircraft that flew during two decades of conflict. Names of fallen Americans are carved into the walls of the Louisiana Memorial Plaza. You can’t help but be touched by the number of servicemen and women who gave their lives in the name of freedom. Hours of operation are 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. daily.
On August 16, a special observance to commemorate the end of hostilities during World War II will take place. This is a great way to honor World War II veterans. Activities will begin at 11:00. Go to www.usskidd.com to learn more.
Dixie Landin’ Amusement Park and Blue Bayou Water Park: Located right next door to each other, these two attractions are great for the entire family. Dixie Landin’ boasts 26 rides, games, souvenir shops, and more. My family loved the Ragin Cajun, which is a 14 story roller coaster. The giant ferris wheel provides a great view of the entire park and let’s you plan what you want to visit next. After spending the day at the park, you’ll be ready for the Blue Bayou. This water park has more than 20 water attractions. The slides are amazing! Make sure you check out Racers, which is their newest water slide. It’s the fastest and tallest racer slide in the world! The great thing about visiting these parks is that you get admission to both for one price. Visit www.bluebayou.com for pricing information.
LSU Rural Life Museum: Touted as one of the top 10 outdoor museums in the world, the Rural Life Museum lets you travel back in time to 19th century Louisiana. The museum is divided into three main areas. The Exhibit Barn houses numerous artifacts that were used for everyday life. The Plantation Quarters is actually a complex of buildings including a commissary, kitchen, sick house, and more. All the buildings have authentic furnishings that take you back to life on a plantation. The third area of the museum showcases former housing types. You can view the construction of a pioneer’s cabin, shotgun house, dogtrot house, and more. The museum is open daily from 8:30 am.-5:00 p.m. year round, and there is a nominal admission fee. Check out www.rurallife.lsu.edu for more details.
Baton Rouge Zoo: This is a great place to visit no matter what time of year you’re in Baton Rouge. With wonderful exhibits such as Realm of the Tiger, The Otter Pond, Parrot Paradise, and lots more, everyone will have a great time at the Baton Rouge Zoo. Hours are from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9:00-5:00 on weekends. You can learn more at www.brzoo.org.
Baton Rouge is a vibrant, exciting city with tons of things to enjoy. I’ve just touched on a few here, but rest assured, you won’t run out of fun things to experience!
