In addition to many day trips from Baton Rouge, there are a number of destinations within range of the city that make great weekend getaways. Heading east, many residents enjoy both long and short holidays along the sparkling white-sand beaches in Mississippi, Alabama, and the coastal towns of the Florida Panhandle. In addition to serious fishing and boating, you can take in a little golf and see first-class entertainment in casino resorts. Heading west, I-10 is a direct route to western Louisiana, east Texas, and the myriad attractions in the Houston/Galveston area. From Lafayette, you can drive north on I-49 to the green rolling hills of Louisiana’s piney woods country and the Ark-La-Tex area of Shreveport. Travelers find U.S. 61 has much less traffic. It’s a relaxing trip, and you can enjoy the scenery and historic sights of Natchez, Vicksburg, and the Mississippi Delta country. The highways are well maintained and patrolled. It’s a good idea to stop at the welcome centers as you enter a new state. Louisiana welcome centers offer free cups of steaming hot Community Coffee; in Mississippi’s welcome center, you can get free soda. The centers are excellent sources for up-to-date maps, brochures, and discount coupons for travelers on the road.
Welcome to Baton Rouge, site of Louisiana’s state capitol and political center. Whether you’ve chosen the city as a destination for a holiday or as a new home, you’ll find the town a surprise. Wrapped in layers of lush green trees, the town unfolds its south Louisiana heritage as you walk in the footsteps of heroes and scoundrels, dine in quaint neighborhoods, take in exciting festivals, scream out at sporting events, or contemplate a sunset along the Mississippi River levee.
While the city has a French name, thanks to early explorers, the greater Baton Rouge area enjoys a rich multicultural mix. You won’t find people speaking French here. But you will hear a smattering of French, Spanish, or African patois when walking through a mall or enjoying a meal in a local restaurant.
Hugging the east bank of the Mississippi River, the city is one of America’s great river towns, constantly attracting new visitors and residents of all nationalities. The first European settlers left a legacy of antebellum homes and a sense of graciousness. New arrivals are constantly bringing fresh ideas and vibrancy. Louisiana natives often put down roots after attending major universities here. Others, from as far away as Norway or India, come for a short visit and decide to relocate here.
Baton Rouge is Louisiana’s center for higher education, with Louisiana State University and Southern University attracting more than 40,000 students. The area’s petrochemical industries and the Port of Baton Rouge put the city in an excellent position to compete in global markets. Baton Rouge’s strong economy creates an energy that can be felt as you tour the city.
Exploring all aspects of the city, I’ve learned to cherish its beauty and diversity. Writing this guide has given me the chance to take a closer look at the place I call home. Along with my family and friends, I’ve revisited my favorite attractions and sought out exciting new places to explore.
As you follow this guide, you will discover Baton Rouge has many things to offer. You’ll find world-class restaurants, music venues that set you humming, memorable museums, and drama-laden historic sites. Many will become special places you will want to see over and over again.
The lifeblood of Baton Rouge is the Mississippi River, which is about a mile across from bank to bank. Where a young steamboat pilot named Samuel Clemens glided past en route to New Orleans, massive barges and ocean-going vessels still stop at the Port of Baton Rouge in West Baton Rouge Parish. This is not a place to dip your toes in the muddy Mississippi. Instead the scenic view from the landscaped walk on the east bank levee is awe-inspiring.
Early in the morning breathe in the aroma of coffee beans roasting at the Community Coffee facility on the river’s west side. At dusk, listen to jazz musicians perform at Lafayette Park on the east side. Stop for a bowl of gumbo or a catfish po’boy at a Third Street eatery.
Just a few blocks from the river, the pace picks up when you visit the towering State Capitol and nearby state office buildings. Legislators, lobbyists, powerbrokers, and state employees dominate the scene when the legislature is in session. A bit further away, the campuses of Louisiana State University and Southern University are like mini towns filled with energetic students pursing 21st-century dreams.
Short drives will take you to Magnolia Mound and the LSU Rural Life Museum, where you step back several centuries and learn the reality of life experienced by Louisiana residents in the early 1800s. Then join locals at a sports bar near one of the universities or take in a gospel concert.