After wrapping up our ghostly adventures in St. Francisville, we had already booked a stay just outside Baton Rouge. Despite the locals’ insistence to skip it, we couldn’t completely ignore the glowing reviews from friends back home. So off we went to give Baton Rouge a fair shot.

Tiger Bayou RV Park

was an absolute gem. While it didn’t boast a ton of amenities beyond the full hookups, the friendly people and serene atmosphere made it a winner. In fact, it was so peaceful that we extended our stay by an extra day just to soak in the calm vibes.

As for Baton Rouge itself…

we tried to stick to our usual formula: explore the historic downtown, take in the sights, and find a brewery or two.

• Historic Downtown: Let’s just say it’s definitely built for the nighttime crowd. During the day, it felt desolate—like a post-apocalyptic movie set that hadn’t been swept in years. We wandered the pier, which was surprisingly beautiful but eerily empty, with storm clouds threatening to unleash their fury.
  • We checked out the floating casino, which would’ve been a highlight, but it was closed due to hurricane-related flooding. Totally understandable, but still a bummer.
  • The downtown strip itself was dirty and mostly shut down—open for lunch or late-night crowds only. Not the most inviting atmosphere for a daytime stroll.
  • We passed the old legislature building (haunted, apparently!), but we skipped going inside because of the Chis.
• LSU Campus: Now, this was a bit of a highlight! Wandering through the sprawling LSU property gave us a peek into college life, Southern style. The really old fraternity and sorority houses were fascinating—something we don’t have in Canada—so at least we got to check a cultural curiosity off our list.
• The Brewery Scene: Determined to salvage the day, we found a dog-friendly brewery that seemed promising. The setup was cute, with overhead doors opening to the parking lot, plenty of games for patrons, and a clear view of the distillery equipment (is that what it’s called?). Unfortunately, the vibe wasn’t quite as warm as the decor.
  • One other dog barked aggressively at us the entire time we were there, making it hard to relax.
  • Attempts at conversation with other patrons didn’t get far—most people just ignored us. Not exactly the friendly brewery energy we’d hoped for.
  • We decided one drink was enough and didn’t stick around for a second round.

The Verdict?

We’ve got to hand it to the locals—Baton Rouge was a bit of a letdown. While there were some redeeming moments, it felt like the city was either asleep or gearing up for after-dark activities we weren’t sticking around to see. The LSU campus and its quirky, old-school frat and sorority houses saved it from being a total bust.

Score one for the local guides and zero for our hometown friends who hyped it up. At least Tiger Bayou RV Park delivered the peace we needed to regroup and plan our next adventure.