Located in Southeast Louisiana, Baton Rouge, the state capital, is situated on the banks of the Mississippi River.
Discovered by French explorers in 1699, Baton Rouge, meaning “Red Stick” in French, was named after the discovery of large, reddened poles placed by the local Native American tribes to designate boundaries between tribes. Today, the city boasts a thriving arts, culture, and food scene and is a melting pot of the many cultural influences of the city’s history. It is also a hub for unique festivals, such as the Baton Rouge Blues Festival, Soul Food Festival, and Spanish Town Mardi Gras.
Baton Rouge’s central location – only an hour away from both New Orleans and Lafayette – serves as a crossroads for Cajun and Creole cultures to meld together. Day trips to surrounding areas are an easy drive from Baton Rouge and the city is perfect as the central location for hub and spoke travel itineraries. If you are looking to experience all the things available in the beautiful state of Louisiana, Baton Rouge is the place.
Main Attractions In The City
During their time in Baton Rouge, you can take a tour of Louisiana’s Old State Capitol which now houses the Museum of Political History. Located just a few blocks away is the current Louisiana State Capitol, a 34-story art deco-style structure that stands proud as the nation’s tallest capitol building. From its 27th floor observation deck, visitors can get a view of the entire city and the mighty Mississippi River.
Downtown Baton Rouge boasts a completely walkable area, with museums and restaurants around every corner. Your clients can spend the day going through Louisiana’s extensive and colorful history at the Capitol Park Museum or walk through the peaceful galleries at LSU Museum of Art. A stroll along the riverfront is a great way to get unbeatable views of the Mississippi.
Baton Rouge is also home to two major universities – Louisiana State University and Southern University – both offering beautiful campuses and a unique history waiting to be explored. Become part of the Tiger family by experiencing an LSU Football Tailgate or groove to the tunes of the famous Human Jukebox, the marching band of Southern.
While in Baton Rouge, make sure you make time to explore LSU Rural Life Museum, where they’ll be transported back in time to experience the lifestyles and culture of Louisiana’s people in the 18th and 19th centuries. They can also take advantage of the adjacent Burden Museum and Windrush Gardens to see the native flora and fauna that make up Louisiana’s lush landscapes.
Unmissable Experiences
The best way to experience Baton Rouge is through the eyes of a local. Groove to the Baton Rouge blues at Phil Brady’s Bar & Grill or Teddy’s Juke Joint, one of the last true birthplaces of the swamp blues.
Looking for a one-stop shop? They should check out the Electric Depot! This former 1900s power plant has been transformed into a multi-purpose social space, and they will find shops, restaurants, a coffee shop and the largest attraction of them all, Red Stick Social. This four-story building offers live music and bowling, as well as a menu filled with tasty food and drink options.
Want to walk where champions have walked, then a tour of LSU’s Tiger Stadium is not to be missed. Available for tours from January through August, this world-renowned football stadium is one of the largest in the country and features a state-of-the-art facility where football greats have gotten their start.
Oxbow Rum Distillery offers a flavorful experience unlike any other. Every drop of this sugarcane rum is farmed, milled and distilled in Louisiana. You can take a tour to catch the process in action and sample the rum straight from the barrel. After the tour, you can cozy up to the firepit on the patio and sip craft cocktails made from Oxbow’s finest rum.
A trip to Baton Rouge isn’t complete without a trip to Coffee Call, a Baton Rouge breakfast staple. Steaming cups of café au lait are served alongside an order of their fresh, world-famous beignet fingers. This iconic pastry is one don’t want to miss.
Good Eats
Baton Rouge’s cuisine is world-renowned, so come prepared to feast on the local flavors. Jubans Restaurant is a longtime Baton Rouge favorite, serving refined South Louisiana cuisine and known for their hallelujah crab. Cecelia’s Creole Bistro, located downtown, is another delicious option with a Louisiana-centric menu. Cocha is a great farm-to-table option located in downtown Baton Rouge and is known for its international influences.
Everyone knows that Louisiana, and Baton Rouge, specifically, is for seafood lovers, and the options are endless here in Baton Rouge.
For classic seafood options, such as chargrilled oysters or fried shrimp, Phil’s Oyster Bar is a great casual option located downtown. If your clients are lucky enough to be in the city during crawfish season (March to May), head to Sammy’s Grill on Highland for this spicy Louisiana delicacy.
Good Times
Food, music, holidays… you name it, and there’s sure to be a festival for it. Celebrating the culture and way of life is always in season in Baton Rouge, and locals certainly do plenty of it. You can kick off the year with Mardi Gras and parades rolling throughout the Capital City multiple weekends each year to end with the largest of them all, Spanish Town Mardi Gras.
You can also sample some of the best soul food in the city at the Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival, where restaurants and vendors serve up everything from savory smothered chicken to sweet fried Oreos. Visitors can groove to the tunes of local musicians at the Live After Five music series, held every spring and fall or plan to visit in April for the Baton Rouge Blues Festival, a free weekend-long festival held in downtown Baton Rouge.
The celebrations continue into the fall, with Fifolet Festival, Baton Rouge’s yearly Halloween celebration, complete with a parade. The holiday season officially takes off with the Louisiana Lights, an immersive experience through light displays that illuminate the historic Windrush Gardens at Burden Museum & Gardens. Great for families or date night, the month-long event also offers hot chocolate and concessions and fire pits.
Website – Visit Baton Rouge
