Best Places To Walk + Explore in Baton Rouge

North Commerce is in historic Downtown St. Francisville just 35 minutes from Baton Rouge. North Commerce is a new development built over the last two years. They have men’s and women’s clothing stores, a home goods store, an Incredible wood-fired pizza shop, a magical speakeasy, an ice cream shop, and a brewery that is currently under construction. All these businesses are connected by a beautiful green space. They even have a boutique hotel on site if you want the trip to last a little longer. This development is right next to all of the shops, restaurants, and destinations that St. Francisville is already known for. It's a perfect place to explore for a day or two!

An outdoor destination where you won’t find restaurants or shops, but you will find a wonderfully landscaped garden with tons of paths and walkways as well as a museum that speaks to Baton Rouge’s rich history. The gardens are expansive with many places for a picnic or to let your kids run around. Capitol Park is unironically just steps from our state capital building, so if you go during visiting hours you can take a free ride to the top and get an incredible view of the city. Kids love it, but even as an adult, the ride to the top and looking out at the city can be a fun perspective on the place we call home. (or that we’re visiting lol) Add this to the list next time you’re looking for a place to explore in Baton Rouge.

Perkins Rowe has been in Baton Rouge for quite a few years. 15+ would be my guess? With it being older, I think it’s easy to have a “been there, done that” approach, but Perkins Rowe has changed a lot over the years. New businesses open up regularly, whether for shopping or dining and they really do have some great spots to pop-in and look around. If your vibe is walking through Barnes and Nobles, grabbing Caroline’s Cookies, listening to live music in the green space or grabbing a new pair of Tecovas, it’s an awesome place to show up with no plan and just figure out what you want to do. Even if that means wandering in and out of shops with no real goal. If you’re visiting the city, stop by. But if you’ve lived here a long time, don’t sleep on all the new restaurants and shops that have made their appearance in the last year or two.