How to Visit Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Baton Rouge is the capitol of Louisiana and home to Louisiana State University and its famous Tigers football team. When Baton Rouge was discovered by French explorers in 1699, they found poles smeared in animal blood to designate the separate hunting grounds of the Houmas and Bayougoulas Indians. The area on these shallow bluffs therefore appeared on French maps as Baton Rouge in French or Red Stick in English. Find out what the visitor can do in Baton Rouge.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Transportation
• Comfortable shoes
• Map

Visiting Baton Rouge, Louisiana

1. Find Blue Bayou Water Park at 18142 Perkins Road. It has over 20 water activities like a seven story twisting slide and the Ragin' Cajun, a twin eight story speed slide.

2. Tour the The Center for Political and Governmental History at the Old State Capitol which features several interactive state-of-the-art exhibits and a multi-media presentation telling of the history of the area. Find it at 100 North Boulevard in Baton Rouge.

3. Visit Laurens Henry Cohn, Sr. Memorial Plant Arboretum showcasing over 120 species of native trees and shrubs on 16 acres.

4. See an early house constructed from moss and mud by John Joyce of Fort Mobile on an Indian mound at 2161 Nicholson Drive.

5. Visit Indian mounds at the corner of Field House & Dalrymple Drives. These mounds, dating from 3,300 to 2,500 B.C., are believed to have served socio-religious purposes.

6. Check out Port Hudson State Commemorative Area at 236 Highway 61. This 650-acre area is part of a Civil War battlefield and site of the longest siege in Amarican military history. See viewing towers, Civil War guns, trenches and hiking trails.

Tips & Warnings

• It's best to visit Baton Rouge in the spring or fall. The weather is too hot for a comfortable summer visit.