This is a fantastic place to visit and learn about the history of the area, where the locals came…read morefrom and how they adapted to surviving and thriving in the environment. There's a walking trail, several artifacts on display and a 35 minute movie that explains the history both good and bad. If you're in the area it's a great way to spend 1-2 hours.

This has been on my list of places I want to visit for quite some time now. I am so glad I made it…read more There is no admission fee. The Acadian Cultural Center is in Lafayette and is run by the National Parks System and has no admission fee to the center and most programs. There is a film, permanent and special exhibits that share the history, customs, language, and contemporary culture of the Acadians who became Louisiana's Cajuns. The video titled "The Cajun Way: Echoes of Acadia" is about 45 minutes in length and is very informative. The whole place is a delight. I recommend it for anyone in the area.

I admit, I've seen an abundance of these recreated villages, all across the US. Growing up, my…read moreparents were fond of them, so they've been a part of most vacations, and many of them tend to blend into one another. Vermilionville, however, stood out as one of the best, and is a memory I'll hang onto for a while. The attendants in period garb were friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to answer our questions. The woman with her spinning wheel even gave us a demonstration. She had taught herself to spin whilst working there and explained the excessive amount of hours it took to finish even one sweater. She also made it possible for me to try the bread pudding I'd been eyeing on the restaurant menu; she warned me they were closing in just 15 minutes so we rushed over and put our order in. Now, I'm not sure if their restaurant has its own yelp page so I'll just review it here. That pudding was the most delicious, most perfect bread pudding I've ever had, and I've tried quite a lot from some of the best places in NOLA. The top was crisply caramelized, and the center was a buttery custard infused with vanilla and cinnamon--an aromatic taste sensation. The server brought me two containers to go (an extra as I'd only asked for one!) and I was so excited to try it, I devoured the first one while wandering between the houses. There were some rather beautiful little homes, furnished with accurate historic decor, and I appreciated that we were able to look at things on our own, at our own pace, free from having to follow a guide. We visited on a day it was set to storm, but we were able to see most of the buildings before the sky opened up on us. We foolishly forgot to bring umbrellas of any kind, so we ended up darting between structures, and eventually taking refuge in the old church while the worst of the rain passed. It was atmospheric and memorable. We found some charming animals in a little barn--a donkey and two sheep and we said hello. There were even mushrooms, and among them we found a single chanterelle, so keep an eye out, fellow mushroom hunters! Lastly, you must leave adequate time to check out the gift shop. They have something for everyone, and much of it made by local artisans! I would recommend Vermilionville to anyone with an appreciation for southern history.

We arrived on a Thursday when they opened at 10am. The historical preservation and restoration work…read moreis wonderful. We talked to people dressed in period clothes. They shared historical details in a fun way, bringing the old houses and artifacts to life. The restaurant is onsite so we ate lunch. The food was absolutely amazing! The etouffee arrived in a cup with great flavor and plenty of crawfish (which I forgot to take a picture of). The etouffee menu item comes with a choice of 2 proteins, we selected shrimp and fish. The picture was after we ate half, so you get plenty of food. Every thing we ordered was perfectly seasoned. The bread pudding with praline sauce was wonderful (also not pictured). We would definitely recommend the restaurant as its own destination! The restaurant hours are 11am-2pm and the historical views are available 10am-4pm. Enjoy!

Definitely a very nice children's museum, with a bunch of really wonderful exhibits for kids of all…read moreages. The staff was super nice as well. Our kids really loved the grocery store and dinosaur play place. Only 4 stars as it's relatively small but still the same price as much larger children's museums in other cities.

This is a rest place for kids! We come here maybe 2-5 times a year only bc it's somewhat far from…read morewhere we live. The kids always have a good time when they're here. They keep the place up great! I have a 7 year old and a 4 year old and it keeps them busy for a good while. Their favorite is everyone's favorite, the bubble factory!

Amazing spot. Friendly employees. The planetarium show was very cute. Everything was well organized…read moreand very informative. Highly recommend to anyone in the area. Even if your just driving by the area. Stop in and stretch your legs.

Enjoyed our visit. Really liked the planetarium show about the accidental astronauts. It…read moreincorporated animation with facts about the moon and the sun. Even our 16 month old seemed to like it. Exhibits were a little advanced for the 2.5 year old, but still still had a great time.

The LSU Museum of Art was a really pleasant surprise…read more I honestly wasn't expecting much going in, but it ended up exceeding my expectations. There's a lot more here than you'd think, with a solid variety of exhibits that make it worth spending some time exploring. It's also very inexpensive, which makes it an easy add to your itinerary. Even better, students get in for free, which is a huge plus. I believe they also offer free admission on certain days (though I'm not exactly sure when), which makes it even more accessible. Overall, a great, low-key museum that's definitely worth checking out - especially if you're already in the area. A hidden gem in Baton Rouge.

Very inexpensive to visit and had lots of interesting artwork in various forms displayed in an…read moreengaging way. Entry is only $5 BUT students and teachers get in for free! Just my luck. The student worker at the desk was very helpful. There is lots to do and see within the Shaw Center and surrounding downtown Baton Rouge. The gift shop below was also wonderful and not too expensive. The displays were well thought out and had lots of sitting areas throughout for observations or breaks. They offer first Sundays of the month for free with some kind of free engaging event to go along.

It was a great stop kids love it but adults would like it too. They got great art and amazing…read moreplanetarium definitely try it out. The first Sundays free each month.

Visited the Louisiana Art & Science Museum and... it was fine…read more There are some interesting elements, but I didn't leave feeling particularly impressed. A lot of the exhibits seem geared more toward kids, so depending on what you're looking for, it may not fully hit the mark. That said, it's still a decent stop if you're in the area - just don't go in expecting a super in-depth or highly engaging museum experience. Overall, not bad, but not something I'd go out of my way for.

Every exhibit brings something fresh from the art community. Every show is very well curated.read more

i love this place! the art exhibits change often and it supports local artists. free to the public!…read morequick little stroll in the art gallery after work was therapeutic--would recommend!

The Capitol Park Museum is definitely worth a visit…read more There are some genuinely interesting exhibits, and it does a good job showcasing Louisiana's history and culture. It's engaging enough to spend a solid amount of time exploring, especially if you're already visiting other museums in the area. That said, certain parts of the museum felt a bit repetitive - almost like carbon copies of exhibits you might see at the Old State Capitol or other nearby museums. If you're doing multiple stops, you might notice some overlap. Still, the admission is very affordable, which makes it an easy and worthwhile stop overall.

Honestly, I had high hopes, but I should have known better. The state of LA has a rich history of…read morebeing part of the Deep South so I'm not sure why I expected anything elevated, learned, recognized, or truthful to be here. The museum is cheap to get into, can be completed in less than 2 hours and is technically geared more towards school age, but since it was our first time in the state capitol I figured it was worth the visit. I actually found myself crying, actual tears, in the middle of a museum for how poorly done the entire portion on slavery was. If ever there was a chance for a state to tell the real story, the real history, this would be it and that isn't what happens here. At EVERY turn there was some watered down version of how slaves "benefited" or "learned skills" and I was horrified. There was an entire section dedicated to slavery and not one school field trip was visiting that section and there were at least 2 buses of kids in the location. Let me be clear though, when I say a section was dedicated to slavery they did not tell the full story or the truth and they didn't even try! The one highlight was learning the history of mardi gras upstairs, but it was very Krewe heavy and I want to believe there's more history to learn there as well.