The city is cradled between the beautiful Atchafalaya Basin and the city of New Orleans, with trips to either location taking just over an hour. Mardi Gras, said to be one of the world's biggest parties, is just one of the many celebrations in south Louisiana. With a metropolitan-area population of more than 500,000, Baton Rouge is an important industrial center and the fifth largest port in the U.S. Baton Rouge boasts a zoo, two arboreta, an opera company, a symphony orchestra, a modern civic center, and several large shopping centers. The Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport provides service to all major cities. Summers are hot and humid, but a delightful fall extends from September until late December, and a beautiful spring begins in February.
Winters are very mild and pleasant.