Several hours in Baton Rouge
 

My flight lands at Baton Rouge Airport around 1 pm. My friends will drive up from New Orleans and pick me up around 5 or 5. Any suggestions on what to do for a few hours downtown? I was thinking of the State Capitol. I'll have my suitcase in tow, so hopefully it won't be a problem. Also, is the best and cheapest way to get downtown is by taxi?

Thanks.

The state capitol would be nice. There is also a museum nearby to kill time in, or if you are into military things, visit the USS Kidd, a WWII and Korean War Fletcher class destroyer.

The State Capitol is nice choice. It has a great history, the old fort and museum are within walking distance you can visit there also. The architecture detail here is amazing.

Will very enthusiastically second those recommending the state capitol -- of the 29 such buildings I've seen so far, this is to my taste one of the three best along with those in Albany and Harrisburg. The surrounding grounds are also nice in season.

The nearby state history museum is also a good suggestion, as is the old capitol building not that far away. The latter looks like a castle and has some historic exhibits inside.

I like the Louisiana State Capitol, but I'm not at all sure you'd be allowed in with a suitcase, and I'm not sure where you could check it. Your luggage is going to be a problem.

The only way to get downtown from the airport is a taxi, but I couldn't begin to tell you costs.