One Great Weekend: What to Do in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Most people who visit Louisiana head straight for New Orleans, but just up the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge you’ll find a city marching to the beat of its own drum. Cajun and creole influences combine with a good dose of southern charm in Baton Rouge and here you’ll find a city that’s uniquely Louisiana. I recently had a chance to visit Baton Rouge in partnership with Louisiana Travel and Travel Mindset, and I found a town with a creative spirit that holds tradition close to its heart. Let’s take a look at what I did during my weekend in Baton Rouge:

Food, and lot’s of it.

Louisiana is a state that takes its food seriously, and Baton Rouge is no exception. From southern classics to creative Cajun fare, Baton Rouge likes to eat. Shortly after touching down in Baton Rouge, I made a beeline to City Pork Brasserie and Bar and was glad I wore my stretchy pants. I started with boudin, a Louisiana classic that’s a mix of ground pork, rice and Cajun spices, served alongside homemade pickles and an addictive remoulade sauce. I also ordered the rabbit and dumplings, a Cajun-meets-Asian fusion of pork gyoza in a rich rabbit broth that I’m still thinking about.

You can’t go to Louisiana and not get oysters, so I got a half dozen of my favorite bivalves chargrilled to perfection at Jolie Pearl at their White Star Market outpost (they also have a bigger location in downtown Baton Rouge). White Star Market is a new gourmet food hall in Mid City Baton Rouge that has something to suit every taste. Walking around I was eyeing the delectable plates of the diners around me. On my next visit I need to try the Mexican street corn at Gov’t Taco (from Food Network Star runner-up Jay Ducote) and the ramen from Chow Yum Phat.

Baton Rouge doesn’t slouch when it comes to breakfast either. I started my first morning at Magpie Cafe with a boursin grit bowl loaded with avocado, bacon and a soft boiled egg (all of the important food groups, am I right?). In need of a really good cappuccino, the next morning I headed to French Truck Coffee, an impossibly cute cafe that expertly roasts their own beans onsite. I paired my cappuccino with toast topped with pimento cheese that would do any southern grandma proud.

Craving something sweet I made my way to Elsie’s Plate and Pie on the recommendation from my friend Jade from Vagabond3 . Elsie’s is the new-school diner that we all want in our neighborhood, but what they really do well is their made-from-scratch pies. I went twice (purely for research, of course) and sampled their s’mores pie and coconut cream pie. You really can’t go wrong with any of them.

Explore Downtown Baton Rouge.

I stayed at the Watermark Hotel in downtown Baton Rouge. This renovated boutique hotel was once the Louisiana Trust & Savings Bank; touches like carved marble staircases, hand painted ceiling murals and a bank vault downstairs give the hotel a stately air. Rooms are modern and comfortable, and my corner suite offered views of the Old State Capitol and the Mississippi River where American river cruise ships come to visit the city.

Baton Rouge’s downtown is compact and walkable. I started my day with an early morning jog along the banks of the Mississippi and watching the sun rise along this iconic waterway was well worth the early wake up.

Typically, government buildings are bland and boring but being in Louisiana this definitely isn’t the case. In fact, Baton Rouge is home to two state capitol buildings and both come with a huge dose of Louisiana character. The Old State Capitol, built in 1852, is a Gothic castle overlooking the Mississippi River. Equal parts Willy Wonka and 19^th Century Paris, the colorful interior makes it hard to believe that this was once a seat of government.

A few blocks away the new State Capitol stands watch over Baton Rouge. At 450 feet high this art deco masterpiece is the tallest state capitol building in the country. The views over the city and the Mississippi River are not to be missed.

Get a taste of rural life

From the plantations of yesterday to the farms of today Louisiana’s heart has always been in the country. If you don’t get a chance to head out to Plantation Country be sure to stop by the LSU Rural Life Museum. Set in the heart of a 450-acre park the Rural Life Museum has an extensive collection of artifacts that tell the story of nineteenth century Louisiana.

Check out the art

The same creative spirit that fuels Baton Rouge’s culinary scene is also host to a thriving arts community. The LSU Museum of Art resides on the 5th floor of the Shaw Center for the Arts and features a diverse collection ranging from historic paintings and crafts to modern sculpture.

You guys know I love me some good street art, and Baton Rouge has some solid players in the street art game. I especially like that the murals I saw had a message behind them that made you think.

The creative spirit that moves throughout Baton Rouge is infectious, and each of these attractions certainly inspired my travels. Be sure to share your favorite #OnlyLouisiana finds from your trip with me — I’m already planning my return!

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