Things to Do in Baton Rouge

Treat yourself to a vacation filled with brass bands, plates of spicy shrimp, indulgent spa treatments, lush gardens, and winning jackpots in Louisiana’s capital city, Baton Rouge. Bring your appetite for fun and food, embark on an outdoor adventure in one of the award-winning parks, and step into stunning sights like the Louisiana’s Old Governor’s Mansion and the castle-like Old State Capitol. Read on to discover just a few of the top things you can do in Baton Rouge.

Become a Baton Rouge Foodie

Louisiana is the place to go for Cajun and Creole cuisine, and this capital city has been voted “Best Foodie City” for good reason. Hallelujah crab, po’boys, barbeque, gumbo and fried alligator – it’s all on the menu here. Start your day with fresh beignets and small-batch roasted coffee, move on to boudin and crawfish étouffée, and top it off with a craft cocktail or bread pudding. Of course, there’s far more here than traditional Louisiana fare, as many other of Baton Rouge’s restaurants serve everything from American and Asian food to French, Greek, and Italian eats. With so much great food to eat, you’ll want to bring your appetite to Baton Rouge.

Immerse Yourself in History

Discover Baton Rouge’s hidden treasures when you immerse yourself in its rich history. Baton Rouge houses a number of interactive museums – Baton Rouge African American Museum, Capitol Park Museum, LSU Rural Life Museum, and USS KIDD Veterans Museum, just to name a few – each housing a piece of Baton Rouge’s 300+ year history.

Try Your Luck at the Casino

Whether you’re a Blackjack expert or a slot machine player, you can win big at any of Baton Rouge’s four casinos. Play the day away at Belle of Baton Rouge Casino & Hotel and Hollywood Casino, both of which offer hundreds of slot machines and countless tables of poker, craps, and a multitude of other games on old-fashioned river boats. For more gaming, L'Auberge Casino & Hotel is the place to be. It’s here that you’ll find 30,000 square feet of more than 1,500 slot machines and 51 table games, as well as a rooftop pool.

Explore the Great Outdoors

Louisiana is known as the Sportsman’s Paradise, and Baton Rouge is no exception. With a nationally-acclaiming, award-winning park system, BREC, Baton Rouge has it all. Explore over a mile of gravel paths and boardwalks link a cypress tupelo swamp, beech magnolia and hardwood forests at Bluebonnet Swamp Nature or rent a kayak or paddleboard to sail through the LSU or City Park Lakes – a relaxing way to enjoy nature right in the heart of the city. For those looking for more trails and adventure, explore Blackwater Conservation Area or Frenchtown Road Conservation Area, located right outside the city.