TexAdventures Take a riverboat cruise on the Belle of Baton Rouge.
cafes. Tours happen rain or shine, so wear comfortable shoes and bring an appetite. 1-800-8383006. Go to batonrougefoodtours.com. You may not be a Kingfisher like the legendary Gov. Huey P. Long, but you can eat like him at the historic Heidelberg Hotel. That’s the spot Governor Long used to wheel and deal in the 1930s. Hungry travelers can taste the hotel’s past in every bite at the Jazz brunch where the staff dress like Roaring 20s flappers. Call 225-3-HILTON. Go to hiltoncapitolcenter.com.
4. Festivals & Events
Baton Rouge’s party-of-the-year is Mardi Gras, with its Krewe of Mystique Parade. The family-friendly events kicks off with huge floats, fancy balls, and plenty of excitement and fun. The parades include everything from beautifully decorated traditional floats, marching bands, costumed canines, lawn mower pushing krewes and dancing! Families are welcome to come early, bring their lawn chairs to get front row seating. Go to downtownbatonrouge.org/playmardigras.asp. Baton Rouge knows how to do the blues right with one of the oldest blues festival in the country. It’s been making music for more than 20 years featuring the top blues musicians and singers, such as Phil Guy, Larry Garner and Grammy winner Ruthie Foster. This is the place to be for great blues music every October. Go to batonrougebluesfestival.org. There’s lots to explore in the Capital Parks Museum.
5. Riverboats & Casinos
When you’re tuckered out from all the sight-seeing, there’s no better place to rest then inside a cozy casino. Located along the river, the Belle of Baton Rouge is a casino and hotel that has three floors of slots and table games all waiting to take your money. Call 225-378-6000. Go to belleofbatonrouge.net. A true gambler never sleeps, and neither does the action at Hollywood Casino. You can find some kind of game to play 24-hours a day. Its 1,080 slot machines and 31 table games will keep you awake, entertained and maybe make 64
MAY 2014 | TEX APPEAL
you rich. Call 225-709-7777. Go to hollywoodbr. com.
Additional sources
Southern Travel NewsRelease http://www.southerntravelnews.com/
NewsRelease.aspx?NewsId=84 Louisiana Travel — Baton Rouge www.louisianatravel.com/cities/baton-rouge Lonely Planet — Baton Rouge http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/the-south/ baton-rouge