Local attractions feature adventure, fun for kids, adults

• By GEORGE MORRIS
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Dec 30, 2005

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• %20Looking%20for%20a%20good%20time?%20Baton%20Rouge%20has%20a%20number%20of%20places%20that%20offer%20fun%20for%20all%20ages.%20Here%20are%20some%20of%20the%20more%20popular%20ones.

  %20BREC's%20Baton%20Rouge%20Zoo%20bills%20itself%20as%20the%20city's%20No.%201%20attraction,%20and%20it%20includes%20more%20than%201,800%20animals.%20Its%20newest%20exhibit%20is%20the%20Otter%20Pond,%20which%20features%20a%20replicated%20fishing%20cabin%20with%20u" target="_new"> Digg

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BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo bills itself as the city's No. 1 attraction, and it includes more than 1,800 animals. Its newest exhibit is the Otter Pond, which features a replicated fishing cabin with underwater viewing of the otters. Other exhibits include L'aquarium de Louisiane, which displays the fish, reptiles and amphibians of Louisiana; Parrot Paradise, where rare and colorful tropical birds abound; and the KidsZoo, complete with a playground and hands-on animal encounters with farm animals.

The Cypress Bayou Railroad tours the natural wetlands perimeter of the zoo grounds, and the White Tiger Tram offers a narrated tour of the zoo.

Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends during daylight savings time. Closed New Years, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas. Admission is $5 for adults and teens, $4 for senior citizens, $2 for ages 2-12 and free for those under 2. Group rates are available.

Call (225) 775-3877, or visit www.brzoo.org or www.brec.org.

Another popular outdoor attraction is the Blue Bayou Water Park/Dixie Landin' complex just north of Interstate 10 at the Highland Road exit. Blue Bayou has water slides like the Mad Moccasin (coiled twin snakes) and the Awesome Twosome, a two-person ride through a curving tube, and Conja, which the park bills as the world's largest in-line water slide. It is 95 feet tall and has 1,500 feet of 7-foot-wide flume down which four persons can ride.

Next door, Dixie Landin' has 26 rides, including the 14-story-tall Ragin Cajun roller coaster.

Admission to both parks costs $29.95 plus tax for those 48 inches or taller, $23.95 plus tax for senior citizens or those under 48 inches and free for those under 35 inches. Discounted prices ($26.75 plus tax for 48 inches or over, $20.50 for under 48 inches) are available for those purchasing tickets online at http://www.bluebayou.com. Parking is $5 per vehicle. A season pass to both parks costs $54.95 per person. For more information, call (225) 753-3333.

Another kid-friendly local attraction is Celebration Station, an entertainment center with 54 holes of miniature golf, two go-kart tracks, nine batting cages and an arcade. It is located at 1011 Gwendale Ave., near the intersection of Interstate 12 and Airline Highway. For more information, call (225) 924-7888.

Other area recreational opportunities include:

If you like racing, Baton Rouge Raceway on Charlton Road in Baker has a quarter-mile oval dirt track with gift shop, food service and restroom facilities. Call (225) 774-4524 or visit www.batonrougeraceway.com for a schedule. State Capitol Dragway, 11436 U.S. 190, Erwinville, is a quarter-mile drag strip that has been host to top-level professional events and holds races on Friday nights. For more information, call (225) 627-4574 or visit www.statecapitoldragway.com. No Problem Raceway Park, 6470 La 996 in Belle Rose has drag and road racing for cars, motorcycles and four-wheelers. Call (985) 369-3692 or visit www.noproblemraceway.com.

Bowling can be found at Circle Bowling Lanes, 8878 Florida Blvd., (225) 925-5471; Don Carter's All-Star Lanes, 9829 Airline Hwy., (225) 924-0124; and Metro Bowling Lanes, 4388 Airline Hwy., (225) 356-1366.

Ice skating is available from fall through spring at Leo's Iceland, 1717 N. Airway Drive. It is home to local skating and recreational ice hockey play. Call (225) 926-5448.