Top Attractions and Activities in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Big cats, beauty pageants, and blues. These are just some of the best things to do in Baton Rouge. The capital of Louisiana showcases its historic ties to French exploration and Native Americans in its name. When Pierre Le Moyne Sieur d’Iberville first came to the area in 1699, he discovered a red pole along the Mississippi River that marked the dividing line between the Houmas and Byougoula Indigenous territories. He named the site Baton Rouge, meaning Red Stick, and it has since grown to be the second-largest city in the state of Louisiana.

Things to Do in Baton Rouge

During my fourth visit to Louisiana, I wanted to explore Baton Rouge, so I left New Orleans for a 90-minute drive to this stunning city. Leaving New Orleans, you can meander along one of America’s great highways, Louisiana’s River Road. Be sure to stop at Whitney Plantation Museum, which uniquely focuses on the lives of enslaved people, telling their stories through sculpture and art.

Alternatively, you could take the more direct route on Highway 10. The 80-mile drive can take you an hour and a half, or one or two days if you stop at every charming diner and wedding-cake plantation. That drive alone can change your life and help you fall in love with Louisiana. It certainly did for me.

1. Beauty Pageants in Baton Rouge

As I rolled up to the Baton Rouge Marriott, I found the lobby full of young ladies dressed in fluffy tulle skirts and sparkly tiaras. They were participating in the Miss Baton Rouge pageant and aspiring to reach the Miss Louisiana pageant, potentially leading to more excellent opportunities.

While their mothers happily shared that every little girl deserves to shine, it was delightful to ride in the elevators with these charming young ladies, who left trails of glitter everywhere while heading to my comfortable hotel room. The Baton Rouge Marriott serves as a preferred hotel for these well-behaved pageant participants.

2. Tiger Stadium at Louisiana State University

Another important dividing line can be found mid-field at Louisiana State University’s Tiger Stadium. Celebrated as the loudest stadium in the USA, the cheers from the crowd during a 1988 game against Auburn University registered on the seismograph at the campus geoscience complex.

With a capacity of 102,321 seats, LSU is the eighth largest stadium globally. Every game weekend, the entire campus becomes alive with tailgate parties where fans compete for prime grilling spots, unpack lawn chairs, and crack open cold beers. Marching bands and enthusiastic mascots adorned in the team’s colors of purple and gold parade through the grounds while friends and families savor shrimp and grits, grilled meats in various forms, and crab-stuffed po’boy sandwiches.

3. Mike the Tiger

Across from the stadium, you’ll find the enclosure for Mike the Tiger, specifically Mike VII. He is a 345-pound Bengal/Siberian cross rescue tiger who arrived in the habitat in 2017, continuing the lineage of Mikes that began with Mike I in 1936. The most recent Mikes have come from big cat rescue shelters across the US, and his habitat is nothing short of impressive.

The 15,000-square-foot environment includes a live oak tree, a waterfall, and a stream for Mike to cool off. There are plenty of plants and bushes for him to hide behind, along with a specially heated or cooled comfort rock to ensure his well-being. In addition to relaxation, Mike participates in tiger research, conservation, and husbandry programs—a unique lifestyle indeed. A full-size bronze statue of Mike stands guard at the entrance.

4. The LSU Museum of Art

LSU’s influence resonates throughout Baton Rouge. The LSU Museum of Art features permanent and rotating exhibits emphasizing Southern artists and several neighborhood art programs. However, I was keen to experience one of the university’s other projects, the LSU Rural Life Museum & Windrush Gardens.

5. LSU Rural Life Museum

I’m uncertain if the LSU Rural Life Museum and Windrush Gardens are always as tranquil as during my visit, but this outdoor museum is well worth a few hours of your time. In fact, it was recognized as one of the Top 10 Outdoor Museums in the World by the British Museum. It holds the most impressive collection of Louisiana’s historic architecture that I’ve ever seen and showcases the largest collection of 18th and 19th-century buildings in the state. As I wandered the gravel paths, I was reminded of the haunting visions of the two ladies of Versailles. I didn’t see any ghosts, but I wouldn’t have been surprised to come across some.

This site was never a grand plantation home but rather a family farm of approximately 400 acres purchased by the Burden family in 1861, who later donated it to LSU. The museum comprises three sections: The Working Plantation, Folk Architecture, and The Exhibit Barn.

At The Working Plantation, the lives of enslaved people are poignantly depicted through the buildings they lived and worked in. The excellent state of the cypress wood used in construction ensures durability, preventing rot and resisting insects and moisture. Consequently, these buildings remain solid and grey, open to both visitors and the weather. The Overseer’s House dominates the quadrant containing the slave cabins, sugar grinder, kitchen, blacksmith’s shop, and commissary.

The Folk Architecture section features a beautifully rustic church with painted windows instead of stained glass, a pioneer cabin, and a breezy dogtrot house. An excellent example of what’s known as a Shotgun House—a long and narrow structure with rooms off a single corridor—stands adjacent to the road, encircled by rose bushes. This style of home is also common in New Orleans. Additionally, the Acadian house has a ladder leading to the second-floor garçonnière, which housed boys’ bedrooms as they entered their teenage years.

It’s easy to spend hours here, particularly while visiting the Exhibit Barn, which has displays and artifacts from early Louisiana through the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the Industrial Revolution. Notably, there’s an impressive collection of horse-drawn carriages, farming equipment, and tools.

6. Windrush Gardens

Windrush Gardens serves as a functioning research garden neighboring the museum, filled with stunning beauty. It features three miles of walking paths through Burden Woods. For rose enthusiasts, the specialty specimens in the Rose Garden are a delight. Additionally, there’s a boardwalk over Black Swamp, a Children’s Garden, and unique trees and flowers not found elsewhere in the state, making it a must-visit for gardeners.

7. Sammy’s Grill

After my visit, it was time for lunch. I stopped at Sammy’s Grill on Highland, a local favorite for Louisiana crawfish, Gulf shrimp, and oysters. Alongside rich gumbo and delicious crawfish étouffée over rice, they also offer alligator, either fried or blackened, along with typical Southern sides like grits, or red rice and beans.

I opted for a crawfish boil, a traditional dish featuring potatoes and corn on the cob. Crawfish increase in size as the weather warms from February to May, with Easter generally marking prime time for these freshwater crustaceans. They offer a taste reminiscent of a cross between shrimp and lobster, making a perfect meal once freed from their shiny red jackets.

8. Louisiana Old State Capitol

After lunch, I continued to the Louisiana Old State Capitol for an insightful lesson in politics. Mark Twain was not particularly fond of this National Historic Monument standing on the banks of the Mississippi, referring to it as “a little sham castle.” However, I must respectfully disagree with my favorite travel writer in this instance. The Old State Capitol is impressive in its unique way, showcasing a mix of Gothic and Victorian architecture emerging after it was partially destroyed by fire following the Civil War.

The lobby features an ornate circular cast iron staircase and is illuminated in a palette of colors by an extraordinary circular glass dome dating back to 1882. Off the lobby, a short film titled “Ghost of the Castle” shares the building’s history, while painted Moorish arches lead to various exhibition spaces.

9. Governor’s Office and Reception Room

Things have mostly remained unchanged in the Governor’s Office and Reception Room since the early 1900s, with the exception of an interactive podium featuring speeches by former governors, including Huey Long. A permanent exhibition delves into his controversial legacy as a left-wing Democrat, who critiqued Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal for not providing sufficient aid to the poor. Long famously took on Standard Oil and Wall Street while calling for a tax on the wealthy. His tempestuous nature was evident when he declared, “I am the Constitution,” when challenged on a legal point. Tragically, he was assassinated in 1935 at just 42 years old, leaving a fascinating legacy in Louisiana politics that is explored through the interactive displays. An adjacent exhibition addresses the history of voting and the democratic process.

10. USS KIDD Veterans Museum

Ascend the spiral staircase to the second floor to view the original Senate and House chambers, complete with their stained-glass windows. This location is historically significant as the site where Louisiana seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy in 1861. Group tours climb even higher to reach the rooftop, providing sweeping views of the Mississippi and the USS KIDD Veterans Museum.

This World War II restored Destroyer is unique in the US Navy for its permission to fly the skull and crossbones pirate flag, a request made by the widow of Rear Admiral Isaac Campbell Kidd, Sr., who was killed aboard the USS ARIZONA during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The floating museum is open and free to the public, allowing visitors to explore the entire vessel from stem to stern on all levels.

11. Baton Rouge Blues Festival

I was ushered out of the Capitol building at closing time and crossed the street to find the Baton Rouge Blues Festival in full swing. This free two-day event has taken place every spring since 1981, with a brief hiatus during the pandemic. It celebrates “swamp blues,” a local variety from Baton Rouge. Four stages are set up around the downtown mall, providing plenty of shade, cool beverages, and snacks.

Nikki Hill, known from Montreaux and Monterey Jazz Festival fame, concluded the show during her world tour. In April 2023, headliners will include sacred soul and gospel artist Elizabeth King from Memphis, along with blues and R&B group Tommy Castro & the Painkillers, among others. Seating is available, and the dance floor remains crowded with music enthusiasts of all ages.

12. Mid City Beer Garden

I wrapped up my visit to Baton Rouge at Mid City Beer Garden, featuring an airy courtyard with over 50 beers on tap, including specialty brews. The boudin balls caught my attention, prompting me to sample this Louisiana appetizer, a comfort food staple made with rice, meat, and savory spices rolled into balls and coated in breadcrumbs. The deep-fried result yields an irresistible crispy shell encasing a moist interior.

Dare you to just eat one! These delightful bites are so beloved that Louisiana boasts its own Cajun Boudin Trail for culinary enthusiasts throughout the state. Boudin can be made as sausage or as boudin balls, with each recipe having its unique twist. Following the boudin, I indulged in a house special—a cheese sandwich, but not just any cheese sandwich. This creation contained six types of cheese on a rosemary focaccia bun, and it was absolutely delicious. I then made my way back to the hotel for a refreshing sleep, confident that Baton Rouge will forever remain a highlight in my travel adventures.

Debra Smith was a guest of Louisiana Travel. As always, her opinions are her own. For more information on Baton Rouge and other wonderful cities in Louisiana, be sure to check the Louisiana Travel website. To follow Debra’s journeys, visit her website at WhereToLady.com and follow her travels on Instagram @where.to.lady and on Facebook