HotelTonight – Baton Rouge Hotels at Your Fingertips
As the capital city of Louisiana, there's always something happening in Baton Rouge. This vibrant city teems with energy and excitement and is rich in history and culture, and it's certainly one of the most unique cities I've visited in the U.S. Known as the "Red Stick," Baton Rouge is the city to visit if you really want to get to know the eclectic culture of Louisiana. Plus, this fun-loving city certainly knows a thing or two about impressing guests, because you can always find delicious food, great live music and unique culture wherever you go in Baton Rouge. I recently passed through Baton Rouge on a road trip through the South, but I wasn't originally planning on staying in the city. Once I got a taste of the vibrant energy and fascinating culture of the city, though, I knew I had to extend my stay. Fortunately, I always know I can find great deals on last-minute hotels through HotelTonight, so I simply pulled up my HotelTonight app and booked a hotel in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Just like that, I was ready to explore the Red Stick for myself.
Downtown
Located along the banks of the Mississippi River, downtown Baton Rouge is one of the must-visit spots in town. This downtown area is a hip district where locals go for great restaurants, lively nightlife, and fantastic entertainment. It seems like you can find fantastic live music on each block, and there's certainly no shortage of delicious local cuisine. I knew I couldn't visit Louisiana without indulging in some great Creole and Cajun cuisine, and I'm pleased to report I ate plenty of local delicacies while in Baton Rouge, many of which I found in this exciting downtown area.
The University
The college is a big part of Baton Rouge's culture, and locals are diehard supporters of the Louisiana State University sports teams. Football, in particular, is immensely popular in Baton Rouge, and locals attend games at the LSU Tiger Stadium, located on the campus. I don't know how I was lucky enough to be in town for a home game, but I knew I couldn't miss the opportunity to experience the excitement of an LSU football game. I found last-minute tickets and made my way to Tiger Stadium, where I joined in with thousands of Baton Rouge locals and LSU students to root for the Tigers.
Museums
I'll be honest, I didn't expect Baton Rouge to be a hub of the arts and culture, but that was just a naïve assumption on my part. I quickly discovered that Baton Rouge has a very impressive arts and culture scene, and the city is quite proud of it. In fact, some of the best museums I visited during my road trip were in Baton Rouge, such as the LSU Museum of Art, the Louisiana State Museum and the Louisiana Art and Science Museum. One of the most unique museums I visited in Baton Rouge, however, was the LSU Rural Life Museum, which is located on the Burden Plantation and is comprised of 30 historic buildings. I love learning about the history of new cities I visit, and this particular museum gave me a great idea of what life was like in Baton Rouge in the 18thand 19th centuries.
The Swamp
You can't visit Louisiana without passing a swamp at some point. After all, this whole state is filled with swamps and bayous, so I knew I wanted to explore at least one swamp while in Baton Rouge. I chose to visit the Bluebonnet Swamp, a 103-acre nature center that features paths, boardwalk areas and observation areas, which allow you to observe natural life in the swamp. While there, I saw a number of local species, such as otters, deer and turtles. Of course, I was most excited to spot alligators throughout the swamp, as this made it feel like a quintessential Louisiana nature tour.
The Farmers Market
When I travel, I try to see what life is like for locals in their city, so I make it a point to visit local hotspots and experience the city as if I live there. So when I discovered that Baton Rouge has a popular farmers market that locals love, I had to visit. The Red Stick Farmers Market is open every Thursday and Saturday, and it's an open-air market that features local produce and products. This farmers market features tons of fresh seafood (it is Louisiana, after all), but I also found some great local products like homemade jam and honey that I decided to buy and take with me as (delicious) souvenirs.
HotelTonight – Book Your Last-Minute Hotel in Baton Rouge
I couldn't have had a better trip to Baton Rouge if I had planned it – which I didn't. This last-minute Baton Rouge stop proved to be one of the highlights of my entire road trip, and I'm already hoping to return someday in the near future. All of my great memories of Baton Rouge wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for HotelTonight, which made it so easy for me to find a Baton Rouge hotel in the blink of an eye.
