on location: south ❖ Discovering Baton Rouge Louisiana’s capital city abounds with group-friendly sights By DAVE BODLE The Old State Capitol, an 1847 Gothic Revival masterpiece designed to resemble a medieval castle, accents this view of the Mississippi River. pon first glance it might seem that Baton Rouge is all Louisiana seemed to either love him or despise him. Uabout football and politics. There’s no doubt that many Although football is alive and well in Baton Rouge and of the locals love their Louisiana State University surely there are a few political characters (each state has (LSU) Tigers of the powerful Southeastern Conference. The some), there is so much more to this warm and inviting city. tailgating at Tiger Stadium is legendary. Southern University of The attractions are varied, entertaining and educational, and the Southwestern Athletic Con- since this is Louisiana, you can ference is also a local favorite expect a dining experience. So, and enjoys great fan support. let’s “Geaux Visit Baton Rouge.” The history of Louisiana poli- The place to begin any visit to tics on display in the state capital Louisiana’s capital city is the may be as entertaining as a Sat- Capitol Park Museum. The first urday evening football game. floor gallery, “Grounds for Great- Huey Long’s political career, as ness: Louisiana and the Nation,” governor and later U.S. senator, introduces the visitor to was filled with accomplishments Louisiana’s history. The exhibits All Photos Courtesy of VisitBatonRouge Photos VisitBatonRouge Courtesy Photos of All and criticisms. The good folks of The riverfront’s USS Kidd is a World War II destroyer. shed light on the Louisiana Pur- 30 AugustOctober 2013 2013 LeisureGroupTravel.com The Old Governor’s Mansion housed nine governors from 1930 to 1961. your feet to Louisiana music at five listening stations and discover that Mardi Gras is celebrated not only in New Orleans, but in Baton Rouge and other towns. The Capitol Park Museum is just one of a dozen stops on the Louisiana State Capitol grounds. Be certain to include a visit to the Louisiana State Capitol building. As the tale goes, in 1931 Gov. Huey Long commissioned the building of the tallest state capitol building in the nation. (He was angry at attempts to impeach him in the old capitol building.) Curiously, this very structure was the site of then Sen. Long’s assassination. A bullet hole from the assassination is visible, as is a large splinter lodged in the ceiling of the Senate chamber from a 1970 bombing. Long’s grave, formal gardens, the Louisiana State Library and the former LSU campus, along with a welcome center and other historical attractions, are all part of Capitol Park. A trolley Baton Rouge menus abound with Louisiana specialties like Cajun shrimp. service operates Monday through Fri- day from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with chase in 1805, the Battle of New Orleans, and the impor- stops at each attraction. tance of the Mississippi River, aquaculture and agriculture Close to Capitol Park in downtown Baton Rouge, more to the state’s economic development. Slavery and civil history awaits. The Old Governor’s Mansion, built in 1930 rights are both addressed. The contributions of Louis Arm- by Huey Long, has served as a residence for nine gover- strong and Huey P. Long are found in the “Grounds for nors and their families. Huey’s brother, Earl, might have Greatness” gallery. been the flashiest governor. Known for frolicking with dancer The museum’s second-level gallery, “Experiencing Blaze Starr, he apparently wanted to match his brother’s es- Louisiana: Discovering the Soul of America,” focuses on capades. the state’s culture, taking the visitor on an entertaining road A must stop is Louisiana’s Old State Capitol. Its castle- trip through three distinct regions. The colorful traditions, like Gothic architecture has withstood 160 years of war, fire, including distinctive foods, of Southeast, North and desertion, and a fair share of scandal and gossip. The 12- Southwest Louisiana are part of this imaginary tour. Tap minute film “Ghost of the Castle” is captivating. The Huey LeisureGroupTravel.com October 2013 31 ❖ Obtain Louisiana visitor guides and itineraries and contact group- on location: south friendly suppliers directly at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info Long gallery will beg you to join the debate regarding his as- sassination. Nearby on the banks of the Mississippi, the USS Kidd serves as the cornerstone of the Veterans Memorial & Mu- seum. The WWII Fletcher class destroyer was known as the “Pirate of the Pacific.” The museum features the largest dis- play of model ships in the South. The memorial serves to honor the service of all our veterans. Also located on the river is the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, housed in a historic rail- road depot, where highlights include planetarium sky shows and an ancient Egypt gallery. For a glimpse into French Creole life before the Civil War, visit Magnolia Mound Plantation, near downtown. The house reflects the period with furniture and accessories mostly built by Louisiana craftsmen. The open-hearth, outdoor kitchen fea- tures vintage utensils from reflector ovens to waffle irons. Mag- nolia Mound offers regularly scheduled cooking seminars. An event shelter ideal for workshops and catered meals is located on the grounds. The LSU Rural Life Museum provides insight into 19th century agriculture. It includes cabins, slave quarters, a store, Tailgating is a time-honored tradition with Louisiana State football fans. tools and a lovely quilt collection. Take time to stroll through Mardi Gras Bash Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014 Shreveport-Bossier, LA The 8th Annual Mardi Gras Bash is the ultimate party in a climate- controlled tent on the most exclusive spot on the parade route. The event starts at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 22, and is hosted by the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau. Group tours that book for the Mardi Gras Bash enjoy authentic Louisiana cuisine, dancing to Cajun tunes, seeing outrageous Mardi Gras personalities and, of course, catching some beads at the parade. Reserve your group’s spot today Tickets are just $35 per person. Ticket deadline is Feb. 12, 2014. To book your group, contact Erica Howard, group tour sales manager, at [email protected] or call T he Party Starts Here (800) 551-8682 ext. 104. 32 October 2013 LeisureGroupTravel.com Savor the difference on your next Group Tour… Come to Iberia Parish to experience food like never before, famous attractions, sizzling events, eclectic lodging and people who never meet a stranger. Too HOT to pass up! Too SWEET to skip! • TABASCO Factory and Country Store • Shadows-on-the-Teche Plantation Home • Jungle Gardens of Avery Island • Jeanerette Sugar Museum • KONRIKO Company Store and • Bayou Teche Museum Conrad Rice Mill • Antique Rose Ville Tea Room and Gardens • Jefferson Island • James Lee Burke’s “Iberia Trail” Rip Van Winkle Gardens • New Iberia Historic Main Street • Cajun and Creole Cuisine • Boutiques, specialty stores and galleries ĉĉĉġĊąĂġăĈąĂđ !.%.2!(ċ+) New Iberia đ Avery Island đ Jefferson Island đ Jeanerette đ Loreauville đ Delcambre Houmas House Plantation & Gardens Countless stories live within the walls and grounds of our plantations which have held watch over the mighty Mississippi for centuries. Plan your history-making adventure today and have your own stories to tell. /NolaPlantations 866.204.7782 VisitNOPC.com on location: south ❖ tranquil Windrush Gardens, a semi-formal garden that duplicates the natural Louisiana landscape. The mu- seum is a great setting for either a box lunch or evening meal. A nice complement to the gardens is Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center. On 1.3 miles of walking trails, visitors get a close-up look at a cypress swamp and mag- nolia-beech forest. A large nature center tells the story of the swamp. Baton Rouge’s dining scene is exactly what you’d ex- Architectural grandeur awaits at Oak Alley and the Old State Capitol. pect in Louisiana. Fresh fish and shellfish from the Gulf are blended with local ingredients producing proven re- gional recipes. You may see local chefs doing their shop- ping Saturday mornings at the Red Stick Farmer’s Market in downtown Baton Rouge. With Baton Rouge’s history of Spanish, French, British, American, Cajun and Creole, it’s no wonder that the community is considered a melting pot of flavors. It’s only fitting that the Louisiana Culinary Institute would choose the city for its facility. In addition to training aspir- ing chefs in culinary and pastry arts, the school opens its doors to scheduled demonstrations and hands-on cook- ing classes. Nearby attractions make Baton Rouge ideal for hub & spoke tours. In Vacherie and Darrow, respectively, are Laura Plantation, where Creoles lived for more than 200 years, and Houmas House, considered the crown jewel of Louisiana’s River Road. Nottoway Plantation and Oak Alley Plantation are also just a short drive. Some groups may find a visit to the Louisiana State Penitentiary Museum at Angola of interest. Yes, that Angola which in the 1960s had a reputation as the “Bloodiest Prison in the South.” The museum tells the story from the peni- tentiary’s earliest days to its present as a model facility. Between Baton Rouge and New Or- leans on the banks of the Mississippi River is the National Hansen’s Disease Museum. An abandoned plantation became the Louisiana Leper Home in 1894, one of two in the U.S. Operated by physi- cians from the National Public Health Services and Daughters of Charity, the facility officially closed in 1999. The sightseeing possibilities in Baton Rouge and be- yond are endless, making this part of Louisiana a prime spot for group tours.