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The capital of Louisiana and the state’s second-largest city after New Orleans, Baton Rouge has lots to see and do within its city limits. Situated on the banks of the Mississippi River Delta, this vibrant city ships out 61 million tons of cargo every year. It also attracts legions of visitors who seek its cultural and recreational attractions.
The city gets its name, French for “red stick,” from early settlers who noticed a red pole that marked the border between the hunting grounds of the local Houma and Bayougoula tribes.
The first Europeans came here in 1699, and the city has been controlled by a number of nations ever since, finally secured to the United States after the American Civil War. Although there was an early French presence (a fort was built here in 1719), much of the modern character comes from the migration of French-speaking Acadians who came here during the French-Indian War. Although Baton Rogue is very much a modern city, its cultural traditions are celebrated both in museums and in daily life, and it’s an excellent place to learn about the state’s rich and unique heritage while sampling some of the finest Creole and Cajun cuisine that Louisiana has to offer.
One of the best places to learn about local life is the Louisiana State University Rural Life Museum, full of historic buildings (and reproductions) that give insight into what life was like in the 18th and 19th centuries. The 25-acre open-air museum is full of artifacts, informational panels and old farm equipment, giving visitors a realistic and interactive way to understand the region’s agricultural past.
The Louisiana State Museum also deals with the region’s history and culture, beyond rural life, and is full of displays on everything from the Civil Rights Movement to the shrimping industry. The Shaw Center for the Arts is a multi-use arts building used for both visual and performing arts. The LSU Museum of Art is housed here and features traveling exhibits and a permanent collection of painting, sculpture and photography from around the world. The Shaw Center is also home to the Manship Theatre, which plays host to a large number of theatrical and musical performances throughout the year.
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The Baton Rouge Zoo features animals from around the world, including a Parrot Paradise full of colorful birds, a Realm of the Tiger exhibit dedicated to the striped cats and an aquarium focusing on local water life. There’s also the small Cypress Bayou Railroad tourist train that takes children and adults along the zoo’s perimeter.
One of the city’s most popular spots for kids and grownups alike is the USS Kidd, a U.S. Navy destroyer that saw action in the Pacific during WWII. Today, it serves as a floating educational museum. The Blue Bayou Water Park, with wave pools and water slides—including the world’s largest in-line water slide—is a great place to take kids, especially on hot summer days when the heat and humidity can make even the most patient of visitors a little cranky.
Baton Rogue is one of the world’s top spots for authentic Creole and Cajun food. Food tours that make stops at numerous downtown Baton Rogue restaurants are a popular way to sample local cuisine and are great for foodies who want a little history and context with their meals.
Tony’s Seafood is a market with both fresh and ready-to-eat food, from fried catfish to boudin to muffuletta. They also have a ton of mixes for those who want to try out their hand at cooking up local specialties back at home—just be warned that it’s a popular spot with locals and can get packed.
Louisiana Lagniappe Restaurant is another great place to try fresh Cajun and Creole items, from fried catfish to crab cakes. The word lagniappe is Cajun for “a little something extra,” and it’s customary to give guests at bars and restaurants a bit of lagniappe, such as a plate of chips or an extra shot of whiskey. The portions are huge and come with lagniappe, so come with a good appetite!
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Parrain’s Seafood Restaurant is another hit with locals and visitors alike—along with fried fish they offer plenty of other local treats, from alligator to healthier grilled varieties of fish. Mansurs On The Boulevard serves a more upscale take on local specialties and has a huge wine list.
And if you’re in the mood for something other than Creole and Cajun fare, there are plenty of restaurants serving cuisine from around the world, from Zorba’s Greek Bistro, a casual Greek restaurant, to Tsunami, which serves fresh sushi.
History buffs should take time to tour the state’s two capitol buildings. The Old State Capitol and current capitol buildings are showcases in Gothic and Art Deco styles, respectively.