It just so happens that Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year. Dedicate Feb. 14’s Sunday Funday to that special someone with these date ideas.
Dinner and a movie—reinvented Baton Rouge offers several ways to give this classic a spin.
Manship Dinner & a Movie: The Manship Theatre partnered with Capital City Grill to roll out The Film Lounge Series, featuring offbeat movies on a large screen, plush lounge seats, a bar and food service courtesy of the popular nearby eatery. manshiptheatre.org
Movie Tavern: Baton Rouge’s newest luxury movie venue offers viewers a unique film experience. Patrons sit in plush recliners, and food and drink service is available at the push of a button. movietavern.com
Classic and casual: Catch a flick at AMC 16 at the Mall of Louisiana and indulge in one of the mall’s nearby restaurants. Stroll through Perkins Rowe and stop at one of the plaza’s many restaurants before sitting down to a movie at Cinemark Perkins Rowe. AMC 15 on Hatters Avenue is close to several restaurants on O’Neal Lane, such as City Café and Thai Chili. amctheatres.com;cinemark.com
University Lakes (Photo by Tim Mueller)
Get physical Exercise doesn’t have to be daunting. Combine a workout and a date into one trip with these fun ideas.
Skating: Go to Leo’s Rollerland at 1717 Airway Drive or Skate Galaxy at 12828 Jefferson Highway for an afternoon at the roller rink. sk8leos.com;skategalaxy.com
Rock climbing: The Perkins Road Community Park at 7122 Perkins Road boasts an outdoor rock-climbing tower, open 1-6 p.m. every Sunday. Day passes cost just $5 per person. Some indoor climbing gyms nearby are Rok Haus in Lafayette and New Orleans Boulder Lounge. brec.org
Nature trails: Ditch the city vibe and walk the trails at BREC’s Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center. The 103-acre facility features more than a mile of gravel paths and boardwalks amidst the lush cypress-tupelo swamp. brec.org
LSU Lakes: Rent bikes from the LSU University Recreation Complex and ride past stunning homes along the shore, or rent kayaks and paddle around the lakes for a few hours. lsuuniversityrec.com
Fishing:Perkins Road Community Park, Milford Wampold Memorial Park and Flanacher Road Park feature ponds stocked with rainbow trout for recreational fishing. Catch and release as many fish as you like, or keep the individual limit of four and take them home to fry. brec.org
Hot air balloons over the Louisiana skyline. (Photo by Lawles Bourque)
Sunday adventure For those with more adventurous or adrenaline-seeking souls, the Capital Region brims with activities to give your Sunday a little gusto.
Hot air balloon rides: For a romantic but exciting night out, take a ride in a hot air balloon at sunset. Robert Ambeau, director of operations for the Ascension Hot Air Balloon Festival, pilots balloon rides out of Gonzales by appointment. balloonridesbyrobert.com
Drag racing: Have a need for speed? Take the short trip to the State Capitol Raceway in Port Allen to get lessons in drag racing. Anyone with a driver’s license is eligible to race down one of the longest-running drag courses in the country. statecapitolraceway.com
Bounce around: Spend a couple hours at Area 51 Extreme Air Sports, a 10,000-square-foot facility that features nearly 10 heart-pounding activities such as aerial silks, extreme dodgeball, obstacle courses and trampoline grids. area51.us
Learn to shoot: Practice precision at one of the indoor and outdoor shooting ranges in and around Baton Rouge, including Precision Firearms & Indoor Range, Diamond Training Center & Range and Baker Range. precisionfirearm.com; bakerrange.com; diamondtrainingcenter.net
Romantic staycation Take advantage of the Capital Region’s amenities and embark on a one-night getaway within a 50-mile drive.
Downtown Baton Rouge: Head to one of downtown’s romantic restaurants, such as Tsunami, Blend or Stroubes. After dinner and drinks, stroll along the Mississippi River levee then stay the night at a hotel like the historic Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center, Hotel Indigo or the Belle of Baton Rouge.
Houmas House Plantation and Gardens:Take a short drive to Darrow and stay the night at this stunning antebellum estate. Houmas House Plantation and Gardens encompasses The Inn at Houmas House, Latil’s Landing Restaurant, The Carriage House Restaurant and 38 acres of gardens brimming with Louisiana native plants. houmashouse.com
The Myrtles Plantation:For a staycation with a different aura, take a trip to St. Francisville and spend a night at the Myrtles Plantation, said to be one of America’s most haunted homes. But Myrtles Plantation isn’t all scary. The 18th-century antebellum home offers cozy cottages, garden rooms and extravagant suites for bed-and-breakfast stays. The Carriage House Restaurant at The Myrtles Plantation serves lunch, dinner and brunch in a classic plantation setting. myrtlesplantation.com
Louisiana Art & Science Museum’s planetarium (Photo by Tim Mueller)
A wind-down Sunday Sometimes, the best way to spend Sunday involves nothing but lounging around. But that doesn’t mean you have to stay at home in front of the TV. Baton Rouge is full of places to sit, talk and take in the city.
Go for a sunset (or sunrise) walk: Stroll on the shores of the LSU Lakes, sit on the Mississippi River levee or on the steps near the USS Kidd, or visit the LSU Sculpture Garden on the terrace of the Shaw Center.
Do some stargazing: Get a book on constellations, aim your telescope at the stars and see how many you can pick out. Prefer a more professional venue? The planetarium at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum is open 1-4 p.m. on Sundays. lasm.org
