Baton Rouge holidays - Gastronomical, colonial and historical

Baton Rouge Overview

In southern Louisiana, at Baton Rouge, experience the flavours of the south, the landscapes of The Mississippi and the history of sugar cane. Out of the plantations and slavery came the blues and the area is steeped in the history of the people who have lived, worked and made their mark here.

Things to do

Visit Houmas House Plantation, also known as “The Sugar Palace,” with 12 acres of gardens. The mansion was owned by sugar cane baron John Burnside, when the Civil War began, Burnside was the largest sugar producer in the country.

Take a 5-minute drive across the Mississippi River Bridge to the West Baton Rouge Museum. See how sugar was produced from “cane to grain” and learn about the history of life on a sugar plantation.

The historic site of Plaquemine Lock brings visitors directly to the Mississippi to see how sugar and goods were transported from sugar plantations to the refineries in the northern states.

Visit Nottoway, the largest plantation home in the south and enjoy lunch or dinner at the Mansion Restaurant. Experience live music with the locals at restaurants and blues bars. Third Street downtown offers great music and nightlife. Enjoy a po’boy for which the area is famous– basically a sandwich roll made from real French bread.