Come to the Capital City and explore the great outdoors that us locals call home. With locations and stops that can only be found in Baton Rouge, we invite you to come on over and stay for a while! Take in the bright Louisiana sunshine as you adventure outdoors to these unique spaces. You may be calling the Red Stick your new humble abode before your trip is up!
These fourteen extraordinarily beautiful acres showcase an extensive collection of Louisiana native trees and shrubs. You are invited to cross the old footbridge overlooking a twenty-foot-deep ravine and wander into the tranquil “cathedral”, where tree canopies form a green protective room. Discover the bamboo grove where you can sit and listen to the wind in the trees. In the meadow, tall grasses, and colorful autumn wildflowers shimmer in the bright Louisiana sunlight.
Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center
This 103-acre facility dedicated to conservation, education, recreation, and tourism houses an award-winning, 9,500-square foot building filled with live animal exhibits; photographic presentations of the site’s flora and fauna; natural artifact and mineral displays; and a sizeable, vintage waterfowl decoy carving collection. It also features a mile of gravel paths and boardwalks that link various habitats such as the cypress-tupelo swamps beech-magnolia, and hardwood forests.
With over a mile and a half of walking trails, BREC's Botanical Gardens is the perfect place to observe the nature in the city. Located within Independence Park, you can stroll through the Rose Garden, Crape Myrtle Garden, Sensory Garden, Camellia Garden, Butterfly Garden, Louisiana Iris Garden, and Daylily Garden.
Escape the hustle and bustle of city life and relax and unwind at the Louisiana State University Lakes—or as we locals like to call them, the LSU Lakes. Rent a bike to ride along the various trails or casually take a walk along the paths. You'll instantly feel the magic of being in a quaint Southern town and automatically feel at ease surrounded by the trees.
Founded by Spanish Canary Island settlers in 1805 this is Baton Rouge’s oldest neighborhood and home to the Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade; Baton Rouge's largest Mardi Gras celebration. This historic community is just walking distance from downtown Baton Rouge and has some of the most architectural satisfying buildings you'll ever set eyes on. Let the people, historic homes, and moss-covered trees greet you. We promise you will feel like they are inviting you to stay!
