This museum has the greatest collection of Louisiana artifacts and relics that I've ever seen. The…read moreowner, Lt. Wayne Norwood, a retired law enforcement officer, can tell you the background of nearly every piece in the entire museum. If you want to walk into a virtual time capsule of Louisiana history, give this place a shot. 10 out of 10.

Louisiana's Treasures Museum is a home brew outfit run by Mr. Wayne Norwood and his wife. Wayne has…read morebeen involved in local law enforcement for many years, and has taken a personal interest in local history, so he has set out countless times into the swamps to retrieve artifacts from Louisiana's Past, including an impressive collection of artifacts from the local towns that were wiped out in the 1915 hurricane. He also has a lot of knowledge and experience with alligators and other local wildlife, and has a great number of stories and experiences to share. In the museum there is also a memorial dedicated to local law enforcement officers who gave their lives in order to uphold the law, with a fascinating record of each individual who passed away while on duty and the circumstances surrounding his/her death. If you are passing through I suggest you take a tour to meet Wayne and learn a little about the local flavor.

Abita Mystery House / UCM Museum…read more 22275 LA-36, Abita Springs, LA 70420 Not food this time. Found something strange out in Abita Springs, and I'm still trying to process it. Nostalgic, weird, and oddly captivating all at once. Louisiana always hides its secrets in plain sight. #tonylameats #abitamysteryhouse #explorelouisiana #abitasprings #louisiana

This was such a fun stop on our recent travels through Abita! I loved all of the surprises and…read morememory inspiring items in the museum! We really enjoyed the crank piano and the 32 foot alligator! Fun stuff! Got a tshirt and some magnets and a mystery bag. The curator was also so helpful and nice. Will be back next time I'm there with another friend.

The LSU Rural Life Center and Burden Museum and Gardens are a hidden gem in Baton Rouge. They are…read morelocated right by I-10 on Essen, so they are easy to find. It's a very large property, and serves many purposes and hosts many events. It's a great resource that our city is very lucky to have. There are gardens and research facilities here associated with LSU, there are historical buildings and artifacts from Louisiana, then there are forests and wetlands, these are linked by roads and hiking trails. There's lots to see, and there are various events to participate in. One of these events is the new Louisiana Lights Festival which is a holiday-themed light show. It's impressive already and it's just getting started. Each year will bring more to this event! Another great event is the fall festival with its corn mazes, petting zoos, hay rides, and other fall fun activities. There are different events throughout the year, one need only check the website to be informed. There's really something for everyone here, from agriculture, horticulture, children's playgrounds, hiking, history, or just a place to have a picnic, this facility is there to meet the needs of the community. It's something that our residents and visitors should be aware of and utilize!

Amazing! A beautiful nature oasis. From mossy oaks to sunflowers, there is so much to look at here!…read more Located right off the interstate or on Essen Lane, the Burden Gardens is Baton Rouge's hidden gem. Besides just looking at nature or going on a nature walk for free, there are several events that take place here regularly. Junior League has a kid-friendly event under the outdoor the gazebo each month, there is the Louisiana Lights event in December, and a corn maze in Oct. This place is huge! There is a meeting place, which is easily accessible when you pull in. There are also places to stop and sit and go to the restroom. A great place to explore!!

We had a great time here! The play areas and restrooms were…read morenice and clean. Staff was friendly. Great place to beat the heat with your kids!

It's summer in south Louisiana (a.k.a. one zillion freaking degrees) and the kids are bored,…read morefighting, and making you question why you ever thought having children was a good idea. Just kidding. Sort of. What to do? There's the aquarium in New Orleans which is wonderfully dark and cool. But if you're in the mood for something different the Louisiana Children's Discovery Center in Hammond is perfect. It's small but just the right size for kids to run around and have a blast while mom and dad get to relax and not hear "I'm boredddddd" for a few hours. Highlights include a bubble station (this is my personal favorite) where you can blow bubbles of all sizes and stand on a little circle and actually put yourself in a bubble...sounds weird but is way cool. A rock climbing wall, a stage complete with dress up items and a curtain (watch out for my little girl who thinks she is the director of every play) an ambulance with a patient and sirens!, a cow that you can milk (water comes out) and a construction zone. They also do birthday parties here and although we haven't had one here I can imagine they are quite fun. Admittance is reasonable and it's a great way to spend an afternoon.

I am attending a bridal shower there in Nov so I haven't visited yet ! Heard good things about it …read more A beautiful venue for any occasion. Michelle made sure our venue was ready ! Very inviting and personable. Experience was awesome! Thanks again for your hospitality

Really cool museum! I liked the history on the steamboats. There's also this really cool model…read morewhich shows early life in Louisana.

I honestly didn't know this place existed until about a month ago…read more It's a free to visit unless you want to go to the Windrush Gardens which cost $3 to get in. There is also a museum called the Rural Life Museum that also charges a small admission fee. This is a nice small piece of Heaven in the middle of Baton Rouge. The sunflower field was a magical place to visit. There are many walking trails. You can even rent out s building for weddings and parties. I will definitely be revisiting this beautiful place again! It's a great place to have a family or romantic picnic. They were also having a orchid sale which was interesting to look at .

The paths that the students and volunteers create and maintain. You can hear the highway from some…read moreof the turns, yet you are tucked away in luscious gardens and walking paths. The Rural Life Museum is housed on the premises, and while the trails are free, the Windrush garden has a fee, and worth it for a day of just mindless nature absorbing. GEAUX Tigers! Keep your living lab alive for all to enjoy!

This shop was very interesting and informative. We stayed for close to an hour just ot look at…read moreeverything and read descriptions since we aren't knowledgeable about Voodoo. While the shop was less busy, the women working there were very open to answering questions and giving further details on items in the shop and Voodoo. We were lucky when we arrived that there were only 3 other customers inside, but 15 minutes in there were about 30 of us walking through the store so it can get a bit snug.

This shop is recommended by NOLA famous High Priest Robi Gilmore as authentic. They have tons of…read moreherbs and ingredients to practice vodou (which is the actual way to spell and say it if you're talking Haitian Creole, like voh-doo). They have alters and figurines. Candles and protective charms. There are educational explanations pinned up around the shop for many of the items on display so you can learn about the practice while perusing. They also have voodoo dolls, which Robi has mentioned are NOT an authentic part of the religion. While the shop has a lot of interesting inventory, it was super crowded in here and very touristy, so you really couldn't enjoy the wares or talk to the employees (who I'm told are knowledgeable and interesting, but alas I'll never know for myself). That's the main reason for four stars instead of five.

The Capitol Park Museum is definitely worth a visit…read more There are some genuinely interesting exhibits, and it does a good job showcasing Louisiana's history and culture. It's engaging enough to spend a solid amount of time exploring, especially if you're already visiting other museums in the area. That said, certain parts of the museum felt a bit repetitive - almost like carbon copies of exhibits you might see at the Old State Capitol or other nearby museums. If you're doing multiple stops, you might notice some overlap. Still, the admission is very affordable, which makes it an easy and worthwhile stop overall.

Honestly, I had high hopes, but I should have known better. The state of LA has a rich history of…read morebeing part of the Deep South so I'm not sure why I expected anything elevated, learned, recognized, or truthful to be here. The museum is cheap to get into, can be completed in less than 2 hours and is technically geared more towards school age, but since it was our first time in the state capitol I figured it was worth the visit. I actually found myself crying, actual tears, in the middle of a museum for how poorly done the entire portion on slavery was. If ever there was a chance for a state to tell the real story, the real history, this would be it and that isn't what happens here. At EVERY turn there was some watered down version of how slaves "benefited" or "learned skills" and I was horrified. There was an entire section dedicated to slavery and not one school field trip was visiting that section and there were at least 2 buses of kids in the location. Let me be clear though, when I say a section was dedicated to slavery they did not tell the full story or the truth and they didn't even try! The one highlight was learning the history of mardi gras upstairs, but it was very Krewe heavy and I want to believe there's more history to learn there as well.

The Buckner Mansion is an incredible place to see if you're visiting New Orleans. I really enjoyed…read moreseeing it in person since it was featured in American Horror Story Season 3. The mansion looks amazing and is definitely worth stopping by.

It is a private resident and famous for its filmed scenes of the third season of American Horror…read moreStory. It is beautiful and you will see a lot people stop by and take pictures.

I learned so much on this tour--especially about the different brands. I had no idea that several…read morebrands I've tried before are actually connected to Sazerac Company, which was a really interesting surprise. One of the highlights for me was a modern twist on the classic Sazerac--an elderberry and amaro version that was complex, unique, and unexpected. I also tried a coffee-inspired Sazerac that was incredibly smooth, with rich espresso notes that balanced perfectly with the bold flavors of the original. It was so good it honestly made me forget about Patrón XO Cafe. Each floor includes a tasting sample along with a recipe card, which was such a nice touch and makes it easy to recreate the drinks at home. The space is very well set up, with elevators and bathrooms on every floor, and you can even see parts of the distillery during the experience. Overall, it's an engaging, well-organized tour that's both informative and fun. Definitely worth it if you're interested in cocktails or want to learn more about spirits.

We came here on a whim because it was raining heavily and outdoor plans were limited. Since it was…read morewithin walking distance, we decided to check it out and I'm so glad we did. In hindsight, this absolutely deserved a spot on our itinerary. It's a unique combination of a liquor shop, museum, and immersive experience, where they walk you through the history of some of the iconic drinks that originated in New Orleans. The entire experience from the visuals to the storytelling to the tastings comes together beautifully. I was genuinely amazed that something this well done is offered for free. After the tour, we wanted to pick up a few bottles, but unfortunately they were out of what we were looking for. We even came back the next day, but it was still out of stock, which was a bit of a letdown. The staff was incredibly friendly and took the time to answer all our questions. Overall, this is a must-do experience if you're in the area.