Baton Rouge offers a wide variety of fun things for stressed out college students to do. Students can roller skate, play laser tag, go bowling, or go to a water park to keep cool during the scolding summer and early fall months.
     Dustin Moore, a physics freshman who works at Skate Galaxy, said Skate Galaxy is a great place to have fun on Friday and Saturday nights.
     Skate Galaxy, which is located on Old Jefferson Highway at Pecue Lane, features a rink where skaters can skate to music.
     It also contains an arcade where customers can play the latest racing, action, and shooting games.
    ”The atmosphere is always great,” Moore said.
Moore said the two-story laser tag course attracts many college level students.
    According to Skate Galaxy’s Web site, the course is the largest in the Baton Rouge area.
Moore said laser tag participants pay $5 per person for every 12 minute game.
The entertainment center has no admission charge for customers who only want to play laser tag, he said. Because they are exempt from paying admissions. they must buy two tickets when they enter.
Moore also said once a month Skate Galaxy has a lock-in, in which custumers actually are locked inside the building from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
The Web site also said regular admission for Friday and Saturday nights after 7 p.m. is $7 per person.
Besides great skating and laser tag, Baton Rouge also has great bowling.
    Tristen Johnson, a construction management freshman, said he frequents Don Carters All-Star Lanes.
    Johnson said he enjoys Don Carters because there are more lanes and it offers cheap bowling.
Don Carter’s Marketing Director Kim Bogan said the bowling alley, is located at 9829 Airline Highway, has 64 lanes.
    ”It is inexpensive,” Bogan said. “And anyone can do it.”
    Customers pay $3.25 per game and they can also get free balls, Bogan said.
    She said Don Carter’s has many promotional events targeted at the University’s students.
  On Tuesday nights, college students pay $1.30 for each game they bowl, Bogan said. Wednesday nights are popular because it is quarter night.
Bogan said quarter night allows students to purchase beer for only 25 cents.
A new promotion called “Bowl Your Brains Out” will take place on Mondays from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., she said. ”Students can bowl for as long as they want for only $10 per person.”
Like Skate Galaxy, Don Carter’s also has an arcade that offers the latest games, Bogan said. Also, pool tables are available.
Johnson said he also likes to spend his time at watching movies at United Artists Citiplace Theater.
    “The facilities are cleaner, and it is in a convenient location,” Johnson said. Caleb Dustin, a political science senoir, also said he enjoyed the theater, off of Corporate Boulevard in the Citiplace shopping center, because of the conveninent location.
    Johnson said he likes that the theater, because it is in walking distance to many restaurants such as Jason’s Deli, Macaroni Grill, and Marble Slab Creamery. Another way for students to have fun- and escape the Louisiana heat- is Blue Bayou waterpark and Dixie Landin’ Blue Bayou waterpark and Dixie Landin’ Amusement park, on Interstate 10 at exit 106, offers a fun way to surviving the hot Louisiana days. Blue Bayou and Dixie Landin Special Event Director Annette Villevaso said the two attractions are “two great parks for the price of one.” According to the Blue Bayou Web site, admission for both parks is $27.95 per person. The Web site states said Blue Bayou offers attractions such as th fast “Mad Moccasin”, the wave pool “Hurricane Bay” and the relaxing “Atchafalaya Run”. Villevaso said the most popular ride at Dixie Landin’ is the “Gilbeaus Galaxy” roller coaster. The park also features the “Ragin Cajun”, a giant roller coaster which drops 14 stories.
Also, Dixie Landin’ is host to Fright Nights in October, a Halloween attraction mainly for teens and adults. Bruce Morgan, communications director for Louisiana Office of Tourism, said there are other ways to have fun in Baton Rouge besides the bars, waterparks, and movie theaters. “There are places to have fun.” Morgan said.
Morgan said Alligator Bayou is a great place for students to learn and have fun. He said Alligator Bayou, which is located near Blue Bayou on 35019 Alligator Bayou Road in Praireville, offers students the opportunity enjoy a guided swamp tour and see the natural setting of Louisiana.
He said students have the opportunity to see native swamp animals such as alligators.
Students also can see other animals such as nutria rats and more than one hundred different species of birds, Alligator Bayou Manager Jamie Brassett said.
Occasionally, customers can see deer and nesting bald eagles. Brassett said guided tours, which cost $20 per person, allow tourists to interact with alligators when they go on the tours.
“This is a really good place to come to get a taste of outdoor Louisiana,” Brassett said. “It is a nice place to relax.” Brassett also said customers can add to their experience by renting canoes.
Rental rates for canoes is $10 for the first hour and $5 for every hour after, Brassett said. Canoes must be rented between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Morgan said the Alligator Bayou Bar is a huge attraction for college students.
Brassett said the bar only opens on Sunday nights and customers can pay a $5 dollar cover charge to get in and listen to local bands.
Morgan and Brassett agree that the sunset over Cypress Flats, a flood cypress forest, is beautiful. Brassett said before the end of every tour, tour boats will stop on the levee to let tourists watch the sun set over the cypress forest.
“It is beautiful,” Brassett said. “People always leave happy.”