Baton Rouge’s Arsenal Park is located in the historic district of the city so it’s possible to divide visiting popular places with a trip to this spot. Let the kids run around while you relax on a bench under shade trees and look out over Capitol Lake. Stroll along well-maintained paths to learn names of trees that are identified with plaques.

A popular pastime is to float on the small lake in a rubber dinghy that can be rented if you don’t already have one. Look over the sides of the inflatable for fish as you drift among flocks of ducks and possibly see a turtle or two. An impressive view of the Capitol building is available from the park.

Visit the Old Arsenal Powder Magazine that gives the park its name. Its history includes being taken over by Louisiana citizens shortly after Abraham Lincoln won the presidency and leading up to the Battle of Baton Rouge in 1862. Graffiti from that time is still legible on inside walls, while outside a rose garden adds to the beauty of this location and is worth seeing even if the building might be closed.

Look for a liberty bell duplicate in the park and also for areas identified as ceremonial Indian mounds that were locations of sacred buildings around A.D. 1000. Weddings often use the grounds for their venue as the park’s beauty serves as a stunning background for photographs.

Find the park in the downtown and Spanish Town areas on the northern end of 5th Street. Parking can be a bit troublesome and it may require some walking to get to it, but the inconvenience should be worth the enjoyment. Arsenal Park is open daily and closes in the evening allowing you to spend part of your day enjoying nature in the Deep South.