Garden District - Baton Rouge, LA

Purchased in 1910 by the Zadok Real Estate Company, this neighborhood was first named Roseland Terrance for its wild Cherokee roses. To move more people out into the country, the company promoted the area by hiding unsightly telephone lines in back alleys, naming streets after flowers and protecting the area from urbanization. The area is made up of 3 historic districts, where 88 percent of original pre-1930s architecture still remains. Culture junkies find is easy to get their fix in and around the Garden District. Housed in a historical railroad depot, the Louisiana Art and Science Museum contains fine art exhibits, a gallery of Ancient Egyptian artifacts and a planetarium. The museum costs $9, and closes on Mondays. Baton Rouge's downtown art scene sits nearby, full of galleries, museums and festivals for fans of classic and modern art. The FestforAll, Houmas House Art Festival and Oak Alley Art Festival offer artists' demonstrations, children's activities and live entertainment in addition to showcasing local artists' work.

Find high-rated dining and drink options within only a few miles of Baton Rouge's Garden District. Start your morning at Highland Coffees, located about a mile north of Louisiana State University. They not only serve a wide selection of coffee and tea, but provide free Wi-Fi, ample seating and a tempting collection of house-made baked goods. If you want to try something new, Highland Coffees lets you sample their blends. This place also roasts its own coffee beans for maximum freshness, and the staff kindly instructs you how to brew the perfect cup if you take decide to take home some beans.

Right next door to Highland Coffees sits another Garden District favorite, Chimes Restaurant, where locals go to munch on Southern and Cajun comfort foods. Try traditional Creole dishes by ordering the crawfish etoufee, with an order of boudin balls for an appetizer. Opt for something unique with the eggs Pontchratrain — fried oysters topped with poached eggs and hollandaise, served on a slice of buttered French bread — or the seafood lasagna, a four-cheese pasta dish with crab, shrimp and crawfish. Those wary about Cajun spice can get a burger, salad or sandwich instead. Chimes also sports an expansive beer menu.

Locals favor The Radio Bar for late-night drinks and bar games. Take a 5-minute jaunt from the Garden District and choose a drink from the wide selection of liquors and beers. The bartenders mix cocktails with care, and waitresses provide service with a good attitude. Since The Radio Bar doesn't serve food, the bar welcomes you to bring your own. Come with friends and enjoy inventive drinks while playing darts, shuffle board, cornhole or ping pong.

The Baton Rouge Central Area Transit System remains the most affordable and convenient way to travel in the Garden District. Adults ride the buses for $1.75, and students with a valid ID ride for only 35 cents.

A number of taxi companies service the area, but travelers favor Tammi's Taxi and Bayou Taxi and Airport Cab and for reliable service. Riders also utilize Uber's smart phone app to have one of their cars come by.

Baton Rouge limits bike lanes, making cyclists stick to the main roads. Fortunately, the Garden District features restaurants, museums and grocery stores within a distance of a mile or so, allowing pedestrians to take a leisurely walk to their destination.

BREC Alaska Street Park give residents the opportunity to spend the day outdoors while staying close to home. The park contains a playground, recreation center, indoor and outdoor basketball courts and a lighted baseball field.

The BREC Perkins Road Community Park tailors to extreme sports fans. The amenities include a rock wall, skate park, BMX raceway and skating and biking trails. Bring your children to the playground, or utilize the tennis courts and walking trails for some exercise. Locals favor this park for the workshops and classes that teach about bike handling and BMX riding. The recreation center hosts Zumba, martial arts and fitness classes. You can also fish for rainbow trout in the park's pond.

Let your dogs run off-leash at Raising Cane's Dog Park, located between the Garden District and LSU. Owners enjoy socializing their pets in this fenced-in area. The park features more dirt than grass, so rainy days can get muddy. Dogs must be inoculated, and rabies tags should be visible.

Cost of living in the Garden District equals Baton Rouge's living costs. Get to the center of town using Baton Rouge CATS at only $1.75 a ride. A one-bedroom apartment rents for about $960, on average. You can find beer specials running as low as $2, but beer usually costs about $5 a pint. Gas prices sit 26 percent lower than the national average.

Baton Rouge holds some of the best clothing, record and antiques stores, all a short drive away from the Garden District. Find all of your record needs at Lagniappe Records. This place buys, sells and trades vinyl in addition to selling turntables, needles, speakers and receivers. This locally owned and operated shop also gives guitar, bass and drum lessons, and hosts film screenings, music shows and art parties. Most people come here not only for the music collection, but the welcoming environment and pleasant staff.

The Honeymoon Bungalow contains a unique array of vintage goods found by the shop owner and brought in daily by dealers. The owner posts photos of new finds on the shop's Facebook page, so you can check online before even driving to the store. Patrons frequent this store for vintage or retro furniture, clothing, household appliances, books, musical instruments and pottery. The Honeymoon Bungalow repairs and repurposes old furniture as well. This shop partners with Project Purr from March to October, socializing rescued kittens in an effort to find them new homes, so watch underfoot should you go during that time.

The Garden District sits close to a number of grocery stores. Locals head to The Spanish Market, a grocery, restaurant and antique store less than 3 miles from the heart of the neighborhood. The Spanish Market features local artwork on display and for sale. For more traditional grocery stores, Calandro's Supermarket and Trader Joe's are a 10-minute drive away.

The Red Stick Farmers Market brings locally grown produce, cheeses and handmade breads and desserts right next to this neighborhood. Farmers and producers manage the entire market, open in downtown every Saturday. The farmers market also hosts events, such as the Baton Rouge Arts Market, where you can find local artwork and handmade goods on the first Saturday of every month, and the Fresh From the Market cooking show, where local chefs perform cooking demonstrations. The East Baton Rouge Master Gardeners set up at the market to give you expert advice on gardening.