Whether you're visiting family nearby, planning out a road trip, or looking for a relaxing weekend getaway, Baton Rouge is always a fun place to visit. Home to roughly 220,236 people, Red Stick offers a hometown feel with no shortage of attractions. If you're in town for the weekend and looking for things to do in Baton Rouge, make sure to place these free activities atop your list:

Louisiana State University


With more than 30,000 students, Louisiana State University is the state's largest college by far. If you're into college football, check out Tiger Stadium. Located on LSU's flagship campus, Tiger Stadium is the world's eighth-largest stadium by capacity, holding 102,321 screaming fans.

Mike's Habitat


After visiting Tiger Stadium, feel free to take the scenic route and walk around LSU's 2,000-acre campus, which is filled with beautiful Italian Renaissance architecture.

Before leaving, check out Mike's Habitat, the official home of the LSU Tigers' official mascot. Mike the Tiger, a Bengal tiger, enjoys a 15,000-square-foot habitat that any tiger would be jealous to live in.

LSU Hilltop Arboretum


Even if you're not interested in visiting Louisiana State University's campus, you should definitely check out its off-campus botanical wonderland, the LSU Hilltop Arboretum.

Roughly six miles south of LSU's campus, the Hilltop Arboretum fills its 14-acre campus with native shrubs, trees, and wildflowers. You'll love its natural cathedral, which features a dense botanical canopy that's said to be reminiscent of a gazebo. Visitors rave about the arboretum's old wooden bridge that overlooks a 20-foot-deep ravine.

Louisiana State Capitol


Finished in 1932, the Louisiana State Capitol is a 34-story building that houses the Louisiana State Legislature, the Governor's office, and much more.

Make sure to ride the elevator up to the 27th floor's Observation Deck, which offers breathtaking views of the Mississippi River and downtown Baton Rouge.

Highland Road Park Observatory


Just feet past the city limits of southeastern Baton Rouge, the Highland Road Park Observatory has discovered more than three dozen asteroids since its 1997 foundation. In addition to its many telescopes and astronomical exhibits, you can catch fun group events such as the Friday Night Lecture Series or the daily solar viewing.

When you're done gazing into the stars, you might as well spend some time exploring the rest of Highland Road Community Park.

Red Stick Farmers Market


Taking its name from Baton Rouge, which translates to "red stick" in English, the Red Stick Farmers Market is a great place to find farm-fresh produce, home-baked goods, and entertaining cooking demos. Rest assured that Red Stick Farmers Market is a producer-only market, which cuts out middlemen and helps farmers earn their keep.

Magnolia Mound


Originally a 900-acre farming operation, Magnolia Mound is now a nationally recognized historic site and museum. It's home to numerous structures, including the Open-Hearth Kitchen, the Historic House Museum, and the Magnolia Mound Gift Shop.

Magnolia Mound, which happens to be Baton Rouge's single oldest documented building, has been home to several Louisiana historical figures, including former Continental Army captain Armand Allard Duplantier.

About Baton Rouge


Baton Rouge doubles as the Bayou State's second-most populated city and its state capital. Founded in 1699, the city has since grown into being one of the largest economic hubs of the Southeast. The city is just 55 miles east of Lafayette, 85 miles west of New Orleans, and 60 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico.