The 21 best views in Baton Rouge

I truly enjoyed my nature walk and seeing the animals inside the museum. It’s good to know the only animals roaming around are squirrels, birds, lizards and rabbits that I saw in my walk. It was very peaceful

Nice trails, very well maintained and spacious. When you park, walk down the trail that has a sign that says conservation area. You will follow a board walk to the building and that’s where the admission fee can be taken care of. It’s 3 bucks for adults. And they have a few reptiles in there. They also have bird feeders and nest boxes set up near or right across from benches for photographers. I liked that a lot. Great place to take your family for a hike. I prefer more secluded off the beaten path hikes myself, but I’d come back here.

It is a beautiful place to walk and relax with the birds singing and if you are lucky you can see some other animals that live there 😍 you can feed the turtles and they have a visitor center where you can admire some snakes, I loved this place.

I had a great time connecting back to nature here. The scenery was very beautiful and clean. It was peaceful and its always a pleasure to hear the sounds of nature.

We did the $5 tour as a homeschool field trip. Definitely worth the money. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable and the grounds are beautiful

BREC believes they can close a swamp, lol! WRONG! You can't close outside! That's just silly! Closing it would make it then become "inside" simultaneously making it no longer "outside" and the attempt would only prove to be successful erasing the part of outside from existence. But enough of all that, look at my stick bug friend and his spider buddy!

Nice family nature walk through the swamp. Was nice to see the wildlife inside the centre.. got to see a baby alligator and a cotton mouth snake. While walking around the swamp we only got glimpse of rabbits and squirrels. Maybe it was the time of year but we will definitely be back and visit again next time we come to Louisiana

We absolutely loved our visit to Louisiana’s Old State Capitol! The building is an architectural masterpiece—every inch packed with incredible craftsmanship and attention to detail. The stained glass dome is truly over the top in the best way, casting colorful light across the ornate interior. We were blown away by the intricate woodwork throughout the space, and even the engraved door hinges stood out as tiny works of art. Some of our favorite features included the grand spiral staircase, the unique exterior pocket doors, and the thoughtfully curated exhibits. Highlights for us were the Hall of Presidents, the beautifully preserved 1861 hand-stitched Confederate “First National Flag,” and the delicate 1850 embroidery on display. It’s not just a building—it’s an experience that celebrates history, design, and storytelling. A must-see if you're in Baton Rouge!

Beautifully kept up, so much rich history in this building. I loves that you are able to do a self guided tour and take your time with each exhibit. There were two rooms, however, that seemed like they didn't belong there - the one with children's coloring over the walls was just not really fitting, but I understand why it's there - as an activity for kids to do...and the other with random wedding photos on the walls - my understanding is that they are displaying the wedding that have happened there? I honestly wished that it was opened on Sundays because I wanted to go back to the gift shop and purchased something - as they don't sell any of that stuff online.

We had the BEST time here. Our young kids loved all the children’s areas. The exhibits were so well done and the staff was helpful. Great gift shop as well. It is free and a great use of time!

We had the pleasure of attending/participating in a lovely wedding. The staff was exceptionally helpful and accommodating. It would be wonderful if the groomsmen's waiting area could be more comfortable, and if there were restrooms available upstairs, rather than only on the first floor.

This was an awesome site. If you are into architecture at all, you'll love taking a tour through this place. The staircase and the atrium ceiling were stunning. We got there late, so we had to kinda skip through it, but feel we got to take most of it in and enjoy it.

So cool, Very small definitely see why they need a new capital. The wood work inside is gothic but very large.. hard to describe Great that it's free!

Helpful and welcoming staff. Quick and simple meusum with small section of historial information past and present. Beautiful mosaic windows and ceiling. Beautiful architecture.

This museum is very interesting. It features a display of scale model ships, a tribute to soldiers and officers, weapons, and a lot of history. The tour of the museum can be completed in about 45 minutes. Then you can continue your visit on the museum ship, the USS Kidd (DD-661), a Fletcher-class destroyer that was one of the first ships of the United States Navy. The tour inside the ship can take about an hour to an hour and a half, especially if you follow all the signs and take your time to observe the details. It’s an iconic place where you can take great photos, it’s not expensive, and best of all—pets are allowed in both locations.

We enjoyed the USS Kidd Veterans Museum. This is an average sized, two-story museum with lots of displays. We found the Japanese aviator’s flight suit and the remains of the kamikaze plane to be very interesting. There are also a collection of naval uniforms and two fighter jets on display as well as a small gift shop.

Excellent Museum to visit for the whole family. The museum itself has so much to see, but the actual battleship is a sight to behold. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the entire ship from top to bottom. Honestly you could take a few days to just read all of the info all around the ship. Make sure you were pants and sneakers since there will be a lot of walking in tight quarters. The gift shop also has a lot of cool souvenirs that you will enjoy later. Highly recommend this for families.

Small museum, but packed with memorabilia and a lot of information. First off, since the ship was being dry-docked for repairs, there was a discounted price. Second, all the information in all of the cases and next to the pictures is very informative. One thing I did find confusing was is the pirate exhibit, whose name is the same, Kidd, is that a relative of the ome who had the ship(s) named after him? I understand there is a lineage, given that his wife, after his death wanted the pirate flag flown on the ship. Other than that, it's a cute little place packed with information.

Great stop when traveling through Baton Rouge! The staff was so friendly and super helpful. The museum is perfect for any US Military, naval and maritime history buff. The Large model ships were a huge hit with my kiddos. The destroyer was great and my kids just loved exploring it. Beautiful views of the Mississippi. The grounds were very well kept. Fantastic historical experience.

Really cool! Definitely worth you time and my kids are enjoyed it too. You get to walk through the boat and and go up and down and explore. Sitting on the Mississippi River there are amazing views of the river and some bridges. Lots of history here!

This was such a cool place to visit. After walking through the museum, you can walk through the ship on a self-guided tour. Very neat to see in person and totally worth visiting!

Fantastic zoo!! Traveling from Texas and been to our fair share of zoos. This is amazing, their enclosures for the animals are outstanding. I love all the scenery and the staff was very kind! Highly recommend a visit!

I love how they have certain animals such as peacocks, and armadillos just free roaming, I've never seen that at a zoo. They also have a rare rabbit I've never seen, I was hoping to see a full grown alligator, which is an icon of Louisiana. But that's okay because I feel like the tiger exhibit overshadowed the missing alligator. The way they have it set up, it's the next best thing of being up and close and personal with a tiger.

The zoo was nice and the walkways were pretty clean. The landscaping in the parking lot and around the zoo definitely needs some attention. They had overgrown grass all over the parking lot and attractions. Overall we had a good experience

It was very nice although more animals are needed for viewing. The food was typical of ball park concessions, but it was good. The gift shop was poor, mostly trinkets and junk. No variety of hats, shirts, and coffee cups with actual park animals. As far as the "natural habitat" for the parking lot is concerned, it is terrible... whoever designed it needs to reevaluate their decision. It looks unkempt and ugly.

My 3 year old went wild with excitement running from animal to animal. It was a lot of fun. The animal variety wasn't extraordinary, but not every zoo can budget being the Audubon or San Diego zoo. Definitely a fun outing for children.

We love to go to Zoo's. While visiting Baton Rouge this was on our list. The property is very pretty but the lawn areas definitely in need of better taken of!! They needed mowed pretty bad. Felt sorry for the animals due to this. It has potential for sure and yes worth going.

Great place, great price and the kids has a great time. Wasn't busy at all. Everyone was friendly and a really nice playground just around the corner with a splash pad.

A Cool Break and a Thoughtfully Curated Experience This museum was the perfect size for escaping the heat and humidity for one to two hours while picking up some fascinating history along the way. The layout is intuitive and flows effortlessly from one era, region, and topic to the next. Each exhibit offers just the right amount of information—enough to inform and spark curiosity without overwhelming you with walls of text. The variety of displays ensures there’s something to capture everyone’s interest, from artifacts and multimedia to interactive elements. We were especially drawn to the 1812 eighteen-star flag, the mysterious submarine recovered from Lake Pontchartrain in 1878, the impressive 1877 American Eagle stern carving, Louis Armstrong’s bugle, and the stunning Mardi Gras costume displays. Well worth the price of admission and a great way to spend a couple of hours in Baton Rouge!

The Louisiana State Library Book Festival 2025 was going on that weekend. It's a very nice place to visit on the weekend. I went to the Library and the Museum.

10/10 so informative and never get bored here I visited 4 times, always find something new! We went there during free first sundays.

Excellent facility, parking is easy, well maintained and beautiful structure and grounds. The permanent Louisiana exhibit is really extensive and well done. We actually went to see the Billy Cannon exhibit and it was a superb experience showcasing his historical rise to fame and positive impact for the state. The staff are very helpful and informed. The gift shop is worth a visit as well. Afterwords it is an easy walk to the Capital and Huey Long’s monument. It’s worth a visit.

Wife and I were in Gonzales for a wedding and decided to spend the morning in Baton Rouge. After checking out the different museums on maps, we decided on the Capitol Park museum, and boy, was it a good choice. We had a great time checking out the exhibits and reading about the history and people of Louisiana. Other reviewers say it is only good for an hour but we spent nearly 3 and still had to rush through some of the exhibits upstairs in order to make the wedding on time.

It was nice to see the Louisiana history. Which was on the 1st and 3rd floor. There was no wait, but that's probably because everybody was at the book festival.

Super nice museum. Interactive, well organized, many videos, nice decor, on two floors. Really impressed by the quality of the exhibits but really disappointed with the absence of French, including in sections on Acadie, Cajuns and Creoles. There is even a survey about French context…which was weird because there is none. We are fully bilingual so not an issue but how can you pretend to be inclusive and respectful for the Acadian culture, and Cajuns and Creoles when everything is in English (also in light of the fact that French was banned from school). A few symbolic signs would have helped a lot. But it is a great museum and it was free on the day we visited.

We decided to give this a shot since entry was free for veterans. We were pleasantly surprised. We got to watch a planetarium show on mummies and my kids (5&10) were enthralled with the mummy exhibit and my youngest cannot stop talking about how she got to see a “real life mummy”. We also really enjoyed the kids play area and are now on the hunt for a magnetic marble run wall like they had. I had to peel my son away from it when it was time to go.

I had such an incredible time at the art and science museum! 🧪🎨 There was so much to see and learn, I could have spent all day there. 🤩 It's definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. The museum offered so many interactive displays, making it a fun and engaging experience for all ages. Just a heads up, parking is easy to find on the street, but it is metered. Don't forget to pay!

I was surprised by how nice the museum was. The number of ancient Egyptian artifacts was stunning and there is even an actual mummy on display. Furthermore, the movie about Egyptian burial practices was both entertaining and informative. We loved it!

Really cool museum! We brought our 13 month old and one month old and it definitely helped with beating the Louisiana heat! There’s a planetarium that has short movies on the hour. We watched one about space and another about mummies. Both of which were engaging for not only the adults but even our 13 month old was intrigued. Military/Veterans/Fiest responders & family can enjoy for free which is a big plus in my book!

We got to explore this museum on the first Sunday of the month and it was Marvelous. I do recommend to get there early to get free parking and it wouldn't be full. Around 3 in the afternoon it got super full but we finished everything around 2-3 hours and we got to see the planetarium shows. The service was perfect, they welcomed us in and were super patient with our questions and they listened.

We had a great time here with the whole family. My little one LOVED the Sesame Street planetarium show and everyone loved the children’s section. We are looking forward to visiting again when the renovations are done. And I hope the museum will figure out a way to make ticket prices accessible to all!

Was looking to kill a little time and hoping to learn more about the city and it's historical past. The museum is a converted train station right on the river. I asked the staff at the check in desk for their recommendation on the best way to see the museum and any must sees and they basically just shrugged their shoulders and could not have been less interested in my questions. They handed me a map which did not detail what any of the exhibits were aside from the Egypt one, but was literally just a map of the building; not much help at all. I wandered around and enjoyed the exhibits but there didn't really seem to be any rhyme or reason for what was in each room; there was no cohesion. The planetarium offered a show each hour and while I didn't have an opportunity to take a show in, the attendant at the entrance of the planetarium was very informative and enthusiastic! Next time I will definitely partake. Overall, not a bad value for $15, especially if you're looking to kill a little bit of time (like I was 😉).

My wife and I stopped by the LSU campus and had a great time checking out Mike the Tiger. His enclosure is huge and really clean—it’s obvious they take great care of him. Mike was being super playful and active, which made it even more fun to watch. We were there for a while just enjoying the sight of him roaming around. If you're ever on campus, definitely swing by to see Mike. It’s a cool experience, and you can tell he’s well taken care of!

No tickets needed. Saw Mike 3 days on our 7 day stay! He is absolutely beautiful!! If you are in the area definitely go see him! Recommend early in the morning at around 8:30am when it's not so hot on him! We got to watch him swim and walk around alot!

I LOVE visiting Mike!! He is usually sleep but I love visiting him either way. When he is active, He sometimes swims to in his pool or walks around his habitat.

I LOVE Mike! Every time I am in Baton Rouge I visit him everyday. His enclosure is well put together and I love the rock that heats in the winter and cools in the summer. His habitat is always clean and he seems to be a well taken care of tiger!

Found out about Mike when we were planning our recent road trip and made sure to stop by here. We were so happy to meet him and he was very active and entertaining at the time. We wish for his well being and happy campus life. As for parking, we parked at a visitor parking across from the habitat and it was flat rate ($5.35) on the day of our visit. We thought we met Mike VI but we learned that he is Mike VII according to the LSU website.

Mike is amazing. Even if you aren’t an LSU fan, be sure to stop by. Sometimes he hides and other times he’s up for giving a show.

Beautiful location. Scenery was breathtaking. First time at the campus and nothing but shock and awe. Love it

We had such an amazing experience at Tsunami! Harin was our waitress and she was so inviting and attentive. She brought out this beautiful dessert to celebrate our evening. She was very sincere and genuine. The sushi was so fresh and delicious. I will definitely be coming back. Thank you for the wonderful evening. ❤️

We came here just by chance as our hotel was nearby. Well, the food and service was so good that we ended up coming back. And then back again for a third time! Seriously, the sushi is delicious, all the staff are so friendly and helpful, and the cocktails were second to none - we would recommend the haiku! If you’re in Baton Rouge, make sure you swing by here! The views over the river are stunning too.

My daughter is a new sushi lover so I took her on a Tuesday around 3pm. We were seated at a small table for 2 with a beautiful river view. We started with the Shishito and Shrimp. This was pretty good but I needed a better dipping sauce. It was happy hour so certain rolls were discounted. I was disappointed to learn that they didn’t have or were out of the fried rice. We decided to go with the Big Easy rolls and the Shrimp Tempura rolls. They took a little while to come but we enjoyed the view while waiting. My daughter was disappointed that the Big Easy were only 4 rolls. Nevertheless, they were good. I also enjoyed the Shrimp Tempura rolls. Our server was friendly. Overall, we enjoyed our visit and will probably return in the night time for the wonderful views. There is also rooftop outdoor seating. I’d definitely come back for that in cooler weather.

Restaurant is on the top floor of the Shaw Center for Arts. Beautiful views of the Mississippi River and environs and great place to see the sunset. It also means, however, that 1) the restaurant is hard to find if you don't know it's there (didn't see any signs on the ground floor and had to ask the security guard), 2) too much sun and heat to sit outside by the railing to enjoy the view, at least when we were there in July. Staff was accommodating and attentive. We didn't have a reservation and one of their servers agreed to take care of us for dinner at the bar. We were kind of in a back corner but they sat us. Recommend reservations if you want to go there. Food was OK. Interesting combos and flavors. Good portion size. Vegan options. They were out of a couple items we wanted to order.

My boyfriend and I went Tsunami for our anniversary. Our server, Ethan was fantastic! He check on us throughout our dining experience. When there was a delay for the apple martini, he was very polite and apologize. I appreciate his excellent service. We came during Happy Hour, but it took a while to get our sushi. We were patient though. In the photos are Raging Cajun, Dynamite Roll, Lava Roll, Shrimp tempura, Sweet Heat Philly, Big tuna, and Gyoza Umami. For dessert was the Ube cheesecake and the ice cream mochi. My favorite sushi is probably the Lava Roll. I love the flavors- crunchy shrimp, the salmon, the sauces. Very good! The Ube Cheesecake is an interesting dessert. I can taste the sweet potato, but I felt that it was missing something. There's no graham cracker crust. I think it would've elevated the dessert more with a crust. The ice cream mochi taste amazing! I would love to eat more of it. Overall, Tsunami has been a pleasant food experience.

The rooftop terrace at this place is beautiful, great views of the river, bridge and nice buildings in the area. Food was delicious and they had a good variety of both traditional and creative drinks.

A smashing A+, and always is, from the service to the sushi to the sake. Everything about our dinner was magical. First of all it was a first date, second of all it had just rained and stopped. I go usually right before sunset to enjoy the rooftop delight while waiting for my order, and take pictures. The service was excellent, could not complain at all. We ordered two rolls at a time and went from traditional rolls to specialty rolls had appetizers and everything about the reservation we had was amazing. We got there earlier than our reservation and they accommodated. Amazing, just amazing.

Such a fun, chill experience for the family. So much history and culture explained. I would give it 5 stars but many of the structures were locked; I’d have loved to have been able to go in them and look around!

20/10. 100% recommend. And please at least you need 2 to 3 hrs if you want to see all the amazing things they have. Basically, it's a small fee to get there. But worthed

This is an amazing museum with the best collection of architecture and artifacts from Louisiana that I’ve ever seen. We used the pre-recorded walking tour, which was excellent and we learned a lot of history of the area and what life was like for people over the centuries. The section on both slavery and slaveowners in the museum was thoughtful, respectful and honest, clearly representing what it was like to live in this area at the time. The museum’s commitment to preserving the past is commendable and a great example to others. I was very impressed and would recommend this to anyone interested in the history of Louisiana.

It makes you appreciate what we have and the everyday items we use. A great museum with a fantastic collection. The buildings are just from another era altogether. Definitely worth a visit.

Always a nice facility to visit. Nice little museum in the front to wonder through with lots of Louisiana historic artifacts. Numerous events here throughout the year.

Great museum. There is so much history and artifacts to explore. I highly recommended visiting this museum.

Great place to visit. Plan on 2 to 3 hours depending on how much time you take to view everything and information you want to absorb. 4 stars 🌟 because some of the structures did not have much information about the structure. Also it would have been nice if there were labels as to what items and artifacts were and used for that they used inside of the dwellings and around the dwellings. They have a variety of plows , tools, housewares etc that it would have been nice for a label and what each item was used for. Also would have been nice to see these items restored and preserved so the rust doesnt further deteriorate the items. The gift shop is nice and has quite a selection of items. Overall I could see myself wanting to visit again as I found it very interesting and enjoyable.

Lovely museum it was quiet and it was not busy on a Friday afternoon. The Warhol exhibit was exceptional. Their regular collection was diverse and impressive as well. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommended.

Super cute and affordable. Brought my kids, they blew through it. Would have loved to have stayed longer. The lady at the desk was super sweet

Had to get my art fix. It's a beautiful museum that offers special events and theater. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable.

Beautifully maintained collection of art with descriptive texts located at the 5th floor. It is free for the LSU affiliated people and $5.50 for others to enter. Currently covers a collection of silverware and ceramics, portraits, and contemporary arts, among others. Great place to spend your weekends exploring.

Beautiful museum! The staff were super friendly, and the exhibits were awesome. The location is lovely as well with lots of parking options nearby. Would definitely return for future exhibits!

I knew that I would be visiting Baton Rouge so what I did is I went on groupon and searched things to do in Baton Rouge. I was able to find the Groupon for LSU museum. I really didn't know what to expect but they met my expectations. My daughter and I literally really enjoyed it. The price was so affordable that I paid. It was around $5 for the both of us. There was a lot of nice artwork in the museum and the people there were really nice and friendly they even have a gift shop attached. I loved how my daughter and I got to bond during that visit to LSU museum today. #Makingmemoriestogether💕💕💕🥰

Looks really great! The photos by Children are thought provoking. Nice downtown location. A group of children on a field trip were fascinated by the quirky schedule of the water sprouts.

Been wanting to visit this place for a long time finally had the opportunity and mane was I….. disappointed. Besides the water ordered an old fashion mediocre must is say no identity at all. Started with the boudin balls as an appetizer ( well orderd an appetizer which came out with the rest of our order . Bummer! Wife ordered the chicken sandwich with the side of grits. The first bite of chicken sandwich she says it had no flavor . I ordered the sausage biscuit with (honey butter!) and a side of potatoes. Wife did not like the potatoes she mentioned they are dry! Hmm I thought they were pretty good myself had a lil smoky flavor to them . As you can see my biscuit was super dry. I called the waiter over to ask about the SMOKED honey butter , oh I’m sorry we are out of the smoked honey butter ! So here’s a flew slices of lard. Omg a completer horrible experience. Oh almost forgot the boudin balls are amazing came out piping hot a ten in my book ! And the grits were are delicious . The boudin balls and the grits saved the day . Phewww. Complete bummer did we order the wrong things or what. Please explain the long lines.

Mid City Beer Garden 3808 Government St, Baton Rouge, LA 70806 I am honestly surprised that I never knew Baton Rouge had a beer garden! If you are looking for splendid drinks, yummy food, and one hell of a good time in a laid-back environment, then look no further! @midcitybeergarden_br has it! I plan to come here more often now. Items ordered: 1. TOMATO BASIL SOUP WITH FOCACCIA TOAST cup $5.99 bowl $10.99. A delicious blend of tomatoes, basil, and a kick of jalapeno for a bit of spice. (Added bacon for extra) 2. CLASSIC BURGER $13.99. 8 oz seasoned ground beef patty. Dressed with lettuce, tomato, and mayo. Served with fries. Ask your server about adding cheddar, bacon, beer onion. 3. PRETZEL TWIST $7.99 soft, buttery, salty, served with house-made beer queso and coarse ground mustard seeds. 4. Chef Special Lemon-Berry cheesecake. 5. Jucifer IPA - New England 6. Espresso Martini #tonylameats #batonrougela #midcitybeergarden #beergarden #bar #barfood #foodislife #foodie #foodismedicine

Amazing food! Drinks are service are always phenomenal! I try to visit here everytime we come to visit our son!

The only thing I don't like are the dogs. Other than that, the food, drinks and ambiance are a 10. The shrimp tacos stole my heart.

The bartenders were incredible and very knowledgeable. The music carried the vibe of the earthly environment perfectly and made me feel like I was living in a garden paradise. Truly a place like no other in the greater Baton Rouge area and I have been praising this establishment’s atmosphere for years. The only issue I had was the lack of food options that are suitable for a clientele base that takes their health into account. The drinks, environment, service, and location are awesome but I wish the culinary options included a more plant based audience without forcing us to eat hummus (like EVERY other place) or a leafy green salad (YAWN). Less fried, more grilled, please! Overall amazing experience except the food options.

I came in alone and sat down quietly before anyone else at the bar. Two ladies were working behind the bar and both awkwardly ignored me and only acknowledged the men who entered in DIRECTLY behind me. It was the strangest thing because it was intentional- they deliberately avoided eye contact. I was left seated alone with no acknowledgment. I expected at least a “hi, one moment” or something decent considering I came in alone at 10:50 a.m. The place opens at 10:30. Instead, they ignored me and addressed the guests who came in and sat down after me. Customer service is terrible, so i hope the food is worth it. will not be coming back and will not be recommending this place to anyone. most awkward solo birthday brunch with the weirdest people i have ever experienced.

One of my daughter's favorite local spots. After our visit, I can see why. Really cute garden oasis, complied with great service, food, and drinks. We only planned to stop in for a drink but ended up ordering food as well. If you're a beer fan, they have a large selection of beers with helpful guides to pick your favorite. Would definitely go back and try some other menu items and cocktails!

It's a great building. There are 49 stairs coming into the building representing the 50 states. The inside doors were all engraved with carvings of the history. This is where former governor Huey Long was shot. There are still bullet holes in the walls. The state senate and legislators meet. On the 27th floor, you are able to see a 360 view of the area. Another must see stop.

If I was to say I enjoyed the Louisiana State Capitol and Baton Rouge I would be lying. That is a massive understatement. This towering building lies in a garden just next to downtown Baton Rouge with good parking and bus connections. There’s even a secret second lift to levels 24-30 with a viewing platform off level 27 with breathtaking views of downtown Baton Rouge, sugar mills, the airport, Lousiana State University, and much more. If I could go back to Baton Rouge I’d visit here again.

I have been to all 50 states and all 50 state capitals. This would be towards the middle or higher end of the bottom. 30 stories tall, which is cool. Observation deck on the top, which is cool it just does not feel like a state capital building. It’s an office building. Not a lot of character. Not a lot of beauty. The grounds of the Building are very nice.

The Louisiana State Capitol marks our 12th statehouse visit, and so far, it ranks as one of our favorites. While the exterior didn’t exactly wow me—though that’s probably just personal preference, since I’m not a huge fan of the high-rise style Capitol buildings—we found plenty to appreciate once we stepped inside. One of our favorite exterior features was the grand staircase leading up to the entrance, with each step engraved with the name of a U.S. state in the order it joined the Union. It’s a small but very cool detail that connects the Capitol to the broader story of the country. Another standout feature on the grounds is the gravesite of Huey P. Long. He’s actually buried upright, facing the Capitol building—a bold and fascinating tribute. I won’t spoil the details here, because it’s much better to learn more about his story for yourself, either by doing a little reading or, even better, taking the official tour. Inside, the Capitol is absolutely stunning. The artwork, architecture, and numerous monuments and memorials throughout really help bring both the building and Louisiana’s complex history to life. If you can, definitely take the guided tour—ours was led by one of the best guides we’ve had on this whole Capitol bucket list quest. Whether you go the self-guided route or join the tour, this is a statehouse worth visiting. And don’t forget to take in the views from the observation deck at the top—they’re not to be missed!

To say we enjoyed our visit to the Louisiana State Capitol is an understatement. This is one awesome building. The tallest of all the state capitols. The inside is impressive to see the House and Senate chambers. Then for FREE, you can take the elevator to the 28th floor observation deck. The view from there is remarkable. You can see for miles and miles. This marks my 24th in my quest to visit all 50.

Amazing exterior and friendly visitor center. The first floor stood out, but the rest of the building didn’t quite live up to the start. The historic elevator ride to the top was the highlight.

This beautiful national monument is free of charge to also o the observation deck, is free . The car parking is too, which is truly nice. You need to take two lifts, one up to 24th and 24th to 27th. There is also a souvenir shop, visitors log book, and beautiful view of 36 degree view. It's fascinating and stunning observatory view of Louisiana.

Interesting museum from the Plantation Era. It is conveniently located, though the entrance is a little tricky to see from Nicholson Drive. The property is attractive and the buildings well maintained. We had a couple of staff members cover the tour, and both were excellent. The main house is relatively modestly sized. The decor is from the period, but not necessarily from this family. They did a good job of covering the perspective of the enslaved people.

This is one of the best plantations in Baton Rouge as it’s big trees, and spacious houses are a true historical landmark in the city of Baton Rouge. I came here for free on the first Sunday of the month, most of the time they have tours that cost money but it’s an overall good experience. If you like history and big houses this is the place for you.

My boyfriend and I had a fantastic experience! The tour guide was amazing and gave us so much detail while still making it enjoyable and fun! It was not busy so we got a personal one on one with our tour guide! The gift shop was also great! I’ve been going to college here for 5 years and never even knew this place excited! It’s definitely worth checking out by yourself or with friends and family! ** Please note that there is a difference between self guided and tour guided!! You can’t enter the home without a tour guide! We chose to go with a tour guide. **

Really good tour!! If you love history like we do, you will love this place.

I did the self guided tour for the kids & I. It was five dollars per person, you got a map that had markers that showed where everything on the grounds were located. The lady in the gift shop was very welcoming & also gave me some suggestions on other things to do since I told her I wasn't from around here. It's always interesting to me to see our history & to drop a little unknown knowledge on the kids. If you're in the area stop by no reservations needed. Guided tours are every 45 minutes, I believe that's what was stated.

We visited Magnolia Mound Plantation on a weekend in June, 2023. We decided to take a guided took, because we feel you get so much more out of it. Although we had to wait a bit since they only do the tours on the hour. So we walked around a bit before an took some pictures. Then we gathered with others to take the tour or the house and kitchen. It lasted an hour and was informative. We were able to get an insight into life back then. The tour told us and showed us things we would have missed if we went it alone. We could ask questions and such. I felt it was a good time spent. I would recommend visiting, but definitely take the guided tour. The visitors center has a nice gift shop with actual decent items. The have rest rooms and a model display of the plantation back in the day. The price ran between $9-12 per adult. So it wasn't overly expensive either. And they give you a nice little fan with the map of the plantation on it. So you can stay cool and have a map all in one item. Then take it with you for use later. Such a deal:)

The place has a great atmosphere. It's a pity that you can't enter the house without a guide. We declined it because our English proficiency is weak. The entrance fee is symbolic, but there aren't many exhibits. The main highlight is the owners' house, which has restricted access

Glad the place is preserved and open to the public. (Free admission) interesting history and memorabilia. We went back twice and did the scavenger hunt.

Loved the history, architecture and landscape. Visit time approximately 1.5 ho self tour

Another really amazing free point of interest. Tons of history from louisianas past governance. The staff was super friendly and awesome as well.

Amazing experience for me. Learn about Baton Rouge and Louisiana history. Pretty and well-preserved place.

The staff is very nice. The secret staircase is not a secret 😊

Another Louisiana's treasure. What a lovely mansion, a lot of history in these walls. Very easy to comprehend and walk through. The staff is friendly. I regret not taking the lady tour guided, don't make the same mistake. Free!

Very good job of hitting all the historic points of the Old Governor's Mansion. It's a shame that Governor Huey went to prison for knocking down the old one that was originally on this site. The admission is free and you just walk up to the front door and walk right in like you were invited by the governor! The staff will even take you on a short tour not sure if that's every day as we went on a really bad weather day so not many people dropped by. We'll worth the stop though!

A beautiful gallery. Was there for their free first Wednesdays. They also do a good few events throughout the month! Wonderful community space!

No wait, no fees. There are about three decent spaces for art exhibits. Well worth the time to take a visit. The area around is pretty green and quiet for a walk as well.

A wonderful gem in City Park. City Park really has something for everyone and the art gallery is a fantastic space. Great for events and a central location in town.

This contemporary gallery continues to be a place where I enjoy spending my time. The artwork and events are always amazing. The Surreal Salon event was fantastic and the costumes were creative and unforgettable!

I recently became a member of this must-see gallery in Baton Rouge. Wonderful artists are highlighted each month and tge staff is very friendly.

Love this place. My family loves art and this place is a gem! I esp love that you can actually meet the artists that created the beautiful pieces. And its free to view the art.

Gorgeous venue for weddings and photos. The staff was wonderful and completely on top of everything. This is perfect venue for couples wanting something different from traditional wedding venues.

This was an amazing place to experience the latter part of my 2 princess’s that Graduated college on the same day. We took pictures of my eldest daughter who graduated Southeastern, and my second eldest daughter who graduated from ULL can we say very very proud father I am…

Cool spot. The USS Kidd is located here and a neat back drop for the park. There is a nice path to walk along the water, neat art and a great fountain. There is small grass areas to play catch and lounge. It's pretty unique how they have a staircase that goes right down into the water all along the waterfront. My family really enjoyed area.

Park has been here a while. Still miss the fountains from my childhood especially during Christmas. I guess less maintenance is key.

We enjoyed an after dinner stroll to the river just as the sun was sinking through the hazy horizon. My only knock on the park is that the flag etiquette is disgraceful. Too many great men and women sacrificed everything to display such atrocities as tattered flags and pispoor attempts at half mast. Do better Baton Rouge...

Nice yet small park area close to the 'downtown' part of Baton Rouge. Often has some organised music during the weekends.

Clean, quiet on most weekends. Restaurants, museums, and historical sites all within walking distance.

This park is mostly giant concrete steps that lead down to the Mississippi River. I used it for exercise, running stairs and such. I mostly see folks walking or sitting on the steps sometimes having a picnic or just holding hands and gazing out into the water.

Timings:6 AM to 8 PM. Bathroom facilities are available for free. Parking facilities are available for free. This park is nearly 4 miles and it’s suitable for jogger’s,runners ,cyclists and walkers. Here you will see people walking with their pet animals and fishing. Plenty of open space to play with pet animals . There are two lakes and also there is a bridge at the park and had several padlocks/combination locks with couples. There is small outdoor gym station near parking area . This track is beautiful with beautiful trees,lakes ,birds ,Ducks and turtles and here there are benches around the track where you can relax for some time. Here people can enjoy kayaking ,sunset paddle etc.,

Appreciative of the effort taking this location under restoration, however would be imperative to notify the public of said initiative . Looking forward to restoration. In the meantime will have to find else Where to enjoy for now.

The park is small, but the walk around LSU lake is wonderful - so 5 stars. Under construction as of August 2025 so parking in the lot is cut in half. Seems like people from the apartments across the street park here, as the lot is always pretty full. I was there 715am on a Saturday and there were only 3 open spots in the whole lot. Nice place for a run as well - level roads and a few paths. As the state finishes up dredging the lake this should be auch nicer place with 2x the parking.

This is a nice park to hang out and enjoy nature. It is close to LSU so there can be urban noise. There are Canadian geese, ducks, coots, and squirrels. People also come here for photo shoots. Benches and picnic tables are available with ample parking.

The lake is tore up!! Used to be a beautiful spot to walk and decompress. I'll be glad when the construction is finished.

Good view. Good to spend time with your loved ones. I hope I got there a little bit early, 'cos it was so dark and spooky. We returned so quickly, since there was some sound in the bushes. But seriously the lake view with darkness and the lights from afar was awesome.

Very nice park, great place for families to have a picnic, and beautiful scenery right on LSU lake. I enjoy coming here for sunsets. Picnic tables with covering, or out in the open with a grill, are provided. There are also bathroom facilities. Walking/running trail around lake just about 4.5 mi. My family and I have also brought bread crumbs to feed ducks as well. There is much open space to play frisbee or soccer, and there is also adequate tree coverage for hotter days too.

Only giving it 4 stars because it was lacking a gift shop & I really am a sucker for souvenirs - I've been to a lot of natural history museums and this one was definitely the smallest but had an interesting collection nonetheless - took us about 30 minutes to go thru everything - no fee for entrance (at least there was no one at the front & we had the whole place to ourselves!) & all on the first floor

Lovely museum that is free to the public. Be careful where you park, you may get ticketed if you park on the wrong spot or lot. Lots of taxidermied animals, insects and information on the history of the local area. I would recommend for anyone in the area.

A great museum to learn about animals of all kinds. The whole family found it educational and interesting.

Took my great neice and nephew here for an outing after the end of their school year. They loved it. My dad took us when we were kids, continuing a long family tradition. Did you know that the LSU Museum of Natural Science has for research the largest collection of neo-tropical songbirds in the WORLD. Football gets so much attention. What about science and academic accomplishments? Let's celebrate the true meaning of LSU!!

Free Museum of Science with a large variety of taxidermied animals and information about local wildlife.

Wonderfully made exhibits with loads of great information. The museum was clean and well kept with lots of attention to details. The Mike The Tiger exhibit was also very cool and definitely worth the time to see it. It's not a very big museum, but for what it is, it's a great place to spend some time.

Fantastic displays of birds, reptiles and insects. A lot to see in such an intimate space. Mike the Tiger is also on display

Cool little landmark in Baton Rouge. Worth coming to do a photo shoot with friends and be goofy. Parking was not hard to find. I would recommend 10-15 minutes for seeing this!

The view is amazing. Everything is so clean and enjoyable to view

A neat sculpture to take some photos of/with. Situated in a nice place to take a rest and enjoy the view. There's a couple of other things to see/do within walking distance of the sculpture, such as Louisiana's Old State Capitol and the Louisiana Art & Science Museum. The only minus is metered parking during the day.

Nice spot for photos,don’t forget to visit this place

Beautiful sculpture that looks different from every angle since it's reflecting in all directions.

Situated on the river, not very shaded. Easy to get to. Neat sculpture celebrating the city.

It's right on the road, not very nice ,When the tracfic going by...

Tour and guide were awesome. I highly recommend to anyone visiting Baton Rogue to take this tour and discover the long history and past events of this river city. So much information was had on this tour that we now want to come back and spend more time here. We greatly appreciate the time and attention our guide Susan did on this tour.

We took the Haunted adventures tour and had a great time. We were given ghost hunting equipment and allowed to explore using the equipment. Then, later we were able to listen to our recordings and see what we found. In addition to the ghost hunting being super fun, we were also given a full history of the buildings and areas we toured. It was so interesting to hear the stories and history of the city. Mrs. Susan was our guide and she was amazing. She is extremely knowledgeable about the cities history and answered questions and explained things in a fun and interesting way. Whether you live near Baton Rouge like we do or are visiting, this tour is a fun way to learn about the city and maybe even see some ghostly activity.

We did the food tour and got stuffed with amazing food, wonderful people and authentic places. The real secret ingredient making this tour an absolute must do is Susan. She knows all the good - and I mean GOODDEE - places to eat. Po'boys from Jed's Local, muffelata from Cannatella, Cajun bbq Jambalaya, smoked gouda mac and boudin egg roll from Hannah Q and beignets from Coffee Call. All places had kind service. Susan entertained us with fun facts and music from local artists, made photos, had so much interesting stories to tell about the foods, the restaurants and the history of Baton Rouge and even gave us additional info and addresses for the cities we are planning to go to next. On top she had one of the restaurants treat us to a little surprise for my friend's birthday! We wish we could take her during our entire US trip. Highly recommended!

Susan is a fabulous hostess! We wish we found her and Red Stick Adventures sooner on our trip. Susan picked us up at our hotel, took us to our swamp tour, and due to some highly irregular Baton Rouge traffic, gave us an impromptu, fun, and informative tour of downtown. She is very knowledgeable about the history in Louisiana and it was like driving around town with a friend. We definitely recommend Red Stick Adventures if you’re looking for something to do.

We did the food tour as our Christmas work party. It was a great time filled with fun! Susan was informative and lively. It made for a wonderful Christmas get together. Also, the choices of food were delicious!

Thoroughly enjoyed the food tour. Susan was very knowledgeable and accommodating for our group. Even though we're native to baton rouge we still learned a lot and visited plenty of new restaurants.

Susan took us on a great tour of Baton Rouge. We loved hearing the history. Highly recommend!!

HORRIBLE SERVICE. I Got evected for complaining about terrible food.

Nice place... especially when WE won !

A beautiful part of the city.