Otherwise known as ‘The Red Stick’, Baton Rouge is a city that offers plenty of opportunities for family-friendly sunshine. Whether you want to shelter from the heat, with indoor entertainment or enjoy the open-air at a waterpark or absorbing some more natural surroundings, Baton Rouge has it all.

Here we have 5 suggestions for family-based activities in Baton Rouge that are sure to persuade you to organize a trip sometime soon. The one thing to bear in mind that is that it can get very hot in the Deep South and so you’ll want to balance out your day so that you make the most of the weather without overdoing it and spoiling your time in this amazing city.

1. When it’s not too hot, there’s entertainment for all the family at the Bluebonnet Swamp and Nature Center. This is a vast 103-acre estate that’s all about education, recreation, conservation and tourism. No matter what you’re age, there’s so much to learn about the flora and fauna indigenous to the area and you’ll get the chance to see some beautiful mineral displays and one of the largest collections of antique decoy carvings of waterfowl. Admission is really cheap considering the array of activities to stimulate, educate and entertain the whole family and there are plenty of scheduled events of interest throughout the year too!

2. Across most of Baton Rouge you’ll find loads of green spaces and public recreational facilities, thanks to BREC, an agency dedicated to connecting people to the abundance of nature in the state of Louisiana. As a result there are more than 180 family-friendly parks offering a wide range of unique facilities including a cutting-edge observatory, swathes of conservation areas and protected land, a rock-climbing wall, BMX track, 30,000ft skate park and velodrome. If you want to take the family dog with you on your trip, there are five dog parks and plenty of walking trails to enjoy with them.

3. Plantation Visits. Almost synonymous with the Red Stick is its abundance of plantations and many of them are open to visitors. This makes for fascinating education on an important part of American history that is sure to appeal to visitors of all ages. Two particularly good plantations to visit, with family-friendly facilities and a warm Southern welcome are Houma’s House and Magnolia Mound. Whatever the season, there’s always something of interest to see if you’re lucky enough to visit a plantation and Baton Rouge is one of the best places for families to enjoy this experience.

4. If the weather’s too hot to handle, there are a few activities involving water where you all can cool down, while having fun at the same time. If you’re downtown Baton Rouge, you’ll find some highly entertaining interactive fountains located just in front of the Shaw Center for the Arts, which always go down well with kids of all ages – including adults. Some of the BREC parks mentioned above have splash pads for younger children to enjoy and if you want to up the ante, then the Blue Bayou Water Park is not to be missed. Here you’ll find over 20 attractions that include the largest upside down water slide in the world. The Blue Bayou is also a venue for frequent music concerts and has a great schedule of events throughout the year.

5. If you want to enjoy some respite from the sun in a shaded environment that will still entertain the kids, there are plenty of local library activities to take them along to. The library system in Baton Rouge is extremely active and most of them offer free activities and events children of all ages. Some libraries run competitions and quiz events and offer prizes too, making this a fun and educational opportunities for visiting families in Baton Rouge. With so much to see and do, it’s worth finding a good family-friendly hotel that’s in amongst the action to use as a base, such as the Marriott. With all the attractions within an easy distance of the hotel, you’ll be able to get the most from your trip to Baton Rouge.