Day-Trip Itinerary: Things to Do in Baton Rouge

Louisiana’s Capital city, Baton Rouge, is bustling with creative eateries, historic attractions, shopping and more. And if you’re looking for a quiet outdoor getaway, you won’t have to go far. Baton Rouge offers plenty of opportunities to get some fresh air, paddle on the water and visit Louisiana’s wildlife up close. It’s the best of both worlds! Check out these suggestions for a full day of fun in Baton Rouge.

Baton Rouge Breakfast Restaurants

Louie’s Café

Louie’s Café is a 24-hour diner near LSU, serving up signature omelets like the Seafood Louie, biscuits and gravy, customizable hash browns and more. The ‘50s-style atmosphere transports you to another time while you enjoy classic dishes sure to fuel you up for a day of adventure.

Coffee Call

Get a taste of New Orleans in the Capital City at Coffee Call, featuring cafe au lait, chicory coffee and their take on New Orleans' iconic beignets. Coffee Call has been slinging the hot, sugary pastries since 1976 — so you know it’s a hit!

Olive or Twist

Olive or Twist is a self-proclaimed "modern Louisiana kitchen," serving some of the best brunch items every weekend. From the Boudin Burrito and Napoleon Avenue Shrimp & Grits to the Eggs Boudreaux and Chicken and Waffles Acadian, Olive or Twist puts Louisiana spins on entrees from all over the world. Got a sweet tooth? Try the Bananas Foster French Toast.

Morning Activities & Attractions in Baton Rouge

Louisiana Art & Science Museum

The Louisiana Art & Science Museum has rotating and permanent exhibits for every interest, including ancient Egypt and the solar system. A highlight is the OmniGlobe: using the kiosk touchscreen, visitors can explore over 200 images and animations related to the atmosphere, ocean science and more. Stop by the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium, which houses a 60-foot domed theater that presents digital movies and sky shows.

USS KIDD Veterans Museum

The USS KIDD Veterans Museum, also known as the “Pirate of the Pacific,” is a fun and educational experience for the whole family. The KIDD is the only Fletcher-class destroyer restored to her 1945 WWII configuration and open to the public for tours. Visit the museum to see the aircraft that soared through the skies of Southeast Asia during two eras of conflict, examine the dented helmet of an infantryman who stormed the beaches of Normandy, and so much more.

Note: The USS KIDD is temporarily away for drydock repairs, but the museum remains open. Patrons are invited to visit the museum's website for virtual tours of the battleship.  

Red Stick Farmers Market

Red Stick Farmers Market is an open-air, producer-only market that ensures all produce sold at the market is grown locally by each farmer. Browse through a wide variety of locally grown products, including fresh fruits and vegetables.

Baton Rouge Lunch Restaurants

MJ’s Café

MJ’s Café offers fresh farm-to-table, plant-based salads, sandwiches and specials even a staunch carnivore will enjoy. Must-tries are the popcorn tofu, vegan tostadas with black beans and the Louisianan sandwich made with grilled shrimp. Pair it with one of their soups, all made in-house daily.

Curbside Burgers

Curbside Burgers is a casual spot with simply delicious burgers stuffed between buttery brioche buns. Upgrade your meal with a side of GC2 Tots smothered in pepper-jack fondue, bacon and green onions or truffle-parmesan fries. They’ve got all the classic burger toppings, plus a few extras like their popular pork belly preserves, which they also sell in jars. Dine outside on the patio and listen to live music for peak enjoyment.

Cecelia Creole Bistro

Cecelia Creole Bistro serves up longtime Louisiana favorites influenced by cuisines from around the world. Recommended dishes include pork belly and andouille egg rolls, Caribbean jerk fried chicken served over red beans and rice, and white chocolate and blueberry bread pudding. 

Afternoon Activities & Attractions in Baton Rouge

Capitol Park Museum

The Capitol Park Museum showcases aspects of Louisiana history, industry and culture and is chock-full of artifacts, including a 48-foot shrimp trawler and a display on the 1953 Baton Rouge bus boycott. Learn about the state’s music and musicians — see Pete Fountain's clarinet, Buddy Guy’s polka-dot Stratocaster guitar and Clifton Chenier’s Grammy award — and hear the distinctive sounds of Cajun, zydeco and jazz.

BREC's Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center

BREC's Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center is home to an exhibit building that has won awards for its use of natural wood tones and light effects to create an open-air atmosphere. Live animals are on display, and touch tables let visitors feel snakeskin, animal pelts and skulls, and more. Outside, take a stroll along more than a mile of gravel paths and boardwalks that link habitats such as the cypress-tupelo swamp, beech-magnolia and hardwood forests.

Baton Rouge Dinner Restaurants

BLDG 5

Nestled beneath the Perkins Road Overpass, BLDG 5 is a rustic spot with an outdoor dining area and rooftop bar. Salads, sandwiches, and small plates are on the menu, but the stars of the show are the dinner boards, such as the Little Italy Board with porchetta, salamis, cheeses, and more. The Harvest Board features a spread of garden veggies, like roasted brussels sprouts, sauteed squash and grilled naan.

The Chimes Restaurant & Tap Room

The Chimes has been a staple in Baton Rouge for years. This family-friendly spot is right off LSU’s campus and serves up Southern delicacies such as crabmeat-stuffed mushrooms, chicken-and-sausage gumbo, and seafood platters a-plenty. Grab a beer from their extensive selection on tap, enjoy the comfort food and watch the game on one of their flat-screen TVs.

Doe’s Eat Place

If you’ve got a hankering for steak, Doe’s Eat Place is the place to go. Their filets, porterhouses, T-bones and ribeyes are aged a minimum of 21 days and hand-cut daily. Don’t leave without trying their world-famous hot tamales; they've even been featured on Alton Brown's Feasting on Asphalt and in Southern Living magazine.

Boru Ramen & Sweet Society

Boru Ramen is an authentic ramen spot inside the Electric Depot, serving hand-crafted noodles, stocks and sauces made exclusively in-house. Executive chef Patrick Wong has trained not only in Tokyo kitchens, but also in Manhattan under world-renowned ramen chef Keizo Shimamoto. A large viewing window lets guests watch the chefs display their mastery of Japanese cuisine.

After dinner, stop by Sweet Society next door for sweet Japanese taiyaki — ice cream served in a fish-shaped waffle cone. You can also grab a refreshing drink like their Thai tea.