Eastside Baptist Church

If absorbing nature sounds like a great idea to you, then you can take it all in at BREC's Cohn Memorial Arboretum. The facility is used for the preservation and study of plants from other areas, but having them all together only adds to Baton Rouge's beauty. In addition to the enticing foliage, there are fruit orchards, a butterfly garden, paved walkways and a bamboo collection that inhabit this outdoor environment. Choose between self-guided or guided tours. If you prefer the guided tour, the number of participants is limited to 14 and arrangements must be made ahead of time. Admission to the area is free, but no picnics or pets are allowed.

If discovering talent before everybody else does is your thing, then you should make a habit of regularly checking out what's happening at the Claude L. Shaver Theatre and Dramatic Arts Building. The majority of the actors, actresses and crew are LSU students, and they bring together their talents on several productions throughout the year. The comfortably intimate entertainment venue holds 445 people, so make sure you get your tickets early for the next scheduled performance.

Make a big splash at Baton Rouge's Blue Bayou Water Park. The kids will love the fast-paced action as they can experience the gravity-defying rush of Azuka, the world's largest tornado slide. There are more dizzying rides and attractions like water racers, sled slides and the biggest in-line water slide you've ever seen. The park is also equipped with a fully-stocked concession stand and shaded area to relax and wade around in the children's area. To paraphrase the song, you and your family will never be blue at Blue Bayou.