Southern Plantation Shutters & Turnings

Baton Rouge celebrates nature's wild kingdom at Brec's Baton Rouge Zoo. The Realm of the Tiger is the latest spotlight feature at the zoo, as it dramatically illustrates how the tiger lives in its natural environment as well as how it uses its natural instincts to find food and to remain one of the jungle's most respected residents. Also, see the zoo's latest addition, the baby baboon and enjoy the colors of the dusky shades of sunlight on the very popular Twilight Tour. All that plus the summer zoo camp for kids all go to make Brec's Baton Rouge Zoo the #1 family attraction in the city.

If you're a real nature lover and want to see animals from all over the world but don't have the time or resources to make the trip, the Global Wildlife Center is a total must-see! This is the largest totally free-roaming wildlife preserve of its kind in the world. The 900-acre center is home to over 4,000 exotic, endangered and threatened animals from all over the planet. You can actually feed and touch the animals when you take the guided safari tour. Just reach out and touch a fascinating world of nature.

Louisiana's Old State Capitol has a long and winding history that is nothing short of dramatic. The fortress-like structure stood strong and impressive until it was gutted by fire in the Civil War. After recovering and returning to its original purpose, the building fell into disrepair in the early 1930s following the installation of a newer, less-storied building as the state's capitol. A concerned group of citizens worked hard to rebuild it and the old capitol now houses a wide variety of interactive exhibits that tell the state's sometimes controversial but never uninteresting story. The Old State Capitol is a must-see attraction for history buffs visiting Baton Rouge.

Baton Rouge Blues Week is usually held every May and features some of the best local, regional and national blues musicians who all convene to pay homage to this highly regarded music genre that was born in this part of the world. The blues festival takes place in Repentance Park in downtown Baton Rouge, and its central location makes it easy to enjoy not only the music but convenient access to restaurants and lodging. So getting a case of the blues is actually a really good thing when it's Baton Rouge Blues Week!