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!!

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!

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 .

This was a cute parade. It ran right outside a friend of ours house and we caught it while at his…read morebirthday party. The parade is small, but there's a lot to offer. It's family friendly, the floats are cute and well made and the kids riding in the parade seemed to be having a great time. I snagged a signature cup and every "woot!" garnered a bead. Funny moment when I caught a throw and a guy on the float told me "it lights up, just press the button!". This is a very "homey" parade and you won't see anyone fighting over throws here. I was impressed with the bands that they had and the walking krewes as well. It was a lot of fun and I'd be happy to attend again.

This was such a fun neighborhood parade that lit up the night! It's Mari Gras season, so bring on…read morethe parades. Very family-friendly and many throws to go around. Parades bring the community together and there were many folks out ready to raise their hands up to have a good-ole time. If you have never been before and plan on coming in the future, don't be intimidated. There is plenty of room for ya'! You don't have to wait hours to catch this parade because the route is long enough for you to find a good spot and be able to see it roll through. I loved the creativity of the floats and the enthusiasm of not only the participants in the parade, but those that were spectating! Now, I have more beads to add to my collection! Be sure to check out the Yelp Events page for Mardi Gras events that happen throughout the capital city during the season! yelp.com/events/baton-rouge.

Lights, lights! So many lights! It's a winter wonderland of lights... here in Baton Rouge. This is…read moredefinitely a pretty ideal place to check out during COVID times and more importantly, during the holidays. It will bring smiles to anyone who visits. So yes, it is an outdoor experience and you just get to walk around to enjoy the beautiful scenery that lights up this space (across from Baton Rouge General) only during the holiday season. If you're at the parking lots around the mall, you will see the lights from there, too. What are you waiting for? The holiday season is a short one, so be sure to visit this before the lights come down. I don't know of any other lights spectacular other than the one at the Baton Rouge Zoo like this one. It's easy to park and access this from Picardy. Will be enjoyed by all ages... I promise!

We came Christmas evening and had a mostly good time. Unfortunately some very intoxicated people…read moreruined the evening around 6:30pm. The intoxicated people kept using racial slurs out loud, pushing each other into others, and later were urinating in the parking lot - all while children were walking by. I don't know if this is a regular occurrence or not, but it definitely ruined the evening for many Baton Rouge families wanting to see a beautiful light show on Christmas Day.

My friend found this place online so we went here for a birthday gathering. I had never seen this…read moreplace but passed by so many times. After visiting recently, I had to come share my experience. They just opened November 2024 and the concept is paint and sip but at your leisure. They don't time you and they have a bar. Win win. The drinks were perfection, the staff was great, and it's just really chill vibes. There is a date night package or you can go all out like we did and have the neon paint room and stencil drawing. Highly recommend you do that neon room. It was so fun splatting paint around (which they dress you up for). If you come alone or with a group this place is bound to be a fun time. I don't believe you have to book just walk right on in as well.

So much fun! Awesome service, fun painting, good drinks and overall kind people! It is a fun spot…read morein Prarieville!

What an UNBELIEVABLE experience. This was tough to get to but once you got there you were rolled…read moreback into the world of yesterday. It was an amazing thing to behold. There are very few museums that make you feel like you "were there" but this one did. It made you really consider what these folks went through, their plight, and the amazing things that happened as a result of their being there. The place DRIPS with history. You NEED to check this place out. Well worth the drive down off of I-10. Wonderful and helpful staff for certain!! Don't let the fact that this is on a military base stop you. They are nice, polite, and really great. They will roll the red carpet out for you. If you drive past this without stopping, you will have missed a true gem.

They have done some renovations to this museum since I was last there a few years ago. Very lovely…read moredocent, a treasure trove of information. People diagnosed with leprosy were shunned and pushed here, away from friends and family to create their own community. Even after they were cured, most were allowed to stay, or even come back if they realized that they were shunned again when they went back to their community. There was a sense of pride here. Love. Family.

MUST DO! When you…read morefind yourself in New Orleans for the Christmas holidays, this is what you do... head north to St. James Parish on Christmas Eve! Bonfires and Fireworks along the Mississippi River... oh yeah, Let the Good Times roll baby! Pro Tip: * Read other reviews and their tips, that's what I did! * Get there early, park on Main St. I parked free around the post office around 5pm... then walked to the levee just a few blocks away. Take a little walk around the neighborhood to get familiar with your surroundings and check out the parties, then walk up on the levee to figure out where you want to hang out for the rest of the night. * 7pm is time set to light the fire. Some fires actually were lit before 7pm so be sure to be settled just before 7. Some wait awhile to make a grandstand show so expect to be there till at least 8 or later. On December 24th all along the Mississippi River, you will see bonfires to help light the way for Papa Noel. Another story is that the bonfires were built to light the way for the families attending midnight service at church on Christmas Eve. Hey, why not both right?! Bonfires can be found all up and down the river with the highest concentration is in St. James Parish, in and around Gramercy, Lutcher and Paulina. The best viewing for us was walking the levees before the fires were lit and being right in the middle of the action and anticipation. We found behind one of the big teepees, a huge pryro set up... so that was our cue to stick around that area. Yep, that ended up being the center of the show! Lots of people try just driving their car along the bank River Road which I don't recommend as you will just be sitting in traffic for hours and you won't really get the feel of the event. Most of the families that have houses along the levees host a party... and I mean, it's a party all around there! Many bonfires are built in the traditional "Teepee" style while others are built is different shapes and sizes. There are typically over 120 bonfire permits issued to families and groups that spend days building these wooden forms to be put ablaze. This event was on my bucket list for about 20 years... We finally made it December 2018!

The Bonfires on the Levee is an AWESOME annual event hat happens Christmas Eve in St. James Parish…read more Several local families and stranger alike get together and try to outdo each other every year and build the biggest baddest longest burning bonfire. I have been in Gramercy when I have gone for this event but I know it extends for miles. Coca Cola and the city of Gramery usually do some ridiculously spectacular bonfire and Zapps is always out there steady giving out free chips. The families spend an insane amount of time and money building these bonfires and they have to meet certain specifications and codes. They also get creative and some put firecrackers and sparklers in the them and make them special. The big thing is to have the tallest one but they are literally lined up for miles. They all get lit at the same time and it is really a sight. The story that I have heard is that the bonfires were used to light the way for Papa Noel and show him where the Mississippi River ends. A friend of mine's family has done this for years and every time I have gone, its been a super good time. Thousand of people gather out there and basically party by the bonfires. Lots of friends and family from that area mostly go but there are plenty of others as well. Pro Tip: bring a chair and whatever it is that you would like to partake in beverage wise and make sure you make friends with a family so you have a place to use the bathroom, they frown upon peeing on the bonfires. Dress casual, pack light, and wear comfy shoes because theres lots of walking.

Soooo, I got hit by a beaded medallion, on my forehead that hurt like heck! But that's not going to…read morestop me from giving this parade 5-stars. Our group got there in the knick of time as it rolled around by the Capitol building. It was a night parade on a drizzly Friday night, but parade-goers still made their way to get their parade on and raise their hands for those throws. We got a lot of great stuff, from from headbands to stuffed animals. My daughter loved catching all sorts of stuff. So, yes, this is a family-friendly parade. It wasn't a rowdy crowd at all and all seemed to be on their best behavior that evening. The route is round-trip, beginning and ending at the River Center. I truly love how Baton Rouge is up-and-coming with many cool parades now, too. If you want to enjoy Mardi Gras festivities without going to New Orleans, you can definitely enjoy this parade two weekends before. There were a bunch of throws, so be sure to bring your bag to catch and store your throws. I am a big fan of these lower-key parades... tons of fun!

The parade runs through downtown so it is near a lot of bars. The floats weren't extravagant but…read morethey were pretty. The ladies in the parade were nice and threw a fair amount of stuff and the marching bands were good. One upside was that the parade was short in comparison to a lot of the New Orleans parades and it wasn't several parades back to back which was a pleasant change of pace. I'd definitely go again.