• By TRACY SIMONEAUX
• 2theadvocate.com Staff
• Published: Dec 30, 2005

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The radical changes in Baton Rouge's landscape over the past decade mean that residents and visitors to our city now enjoy better roadways, parking, landscaping and access to more state-of-the art attractions than ever before.

For your visit, I've compiled a list of the 25 things you should do before leaving Baton Rouge.

1. Shop
Main Street Market
Fifth Street at Main [Map]
225-336-9532
Mon. to Fri., 7-5 p.m. and Sat., 7-2 p.m.
Admission is free
- Inside the Main Street Market is an eclectic assortment of Louisiana-made art, crafts and gifts, baked goods and produce. On certain days, there are special events like cooking demonstrations. Saturdays is the Red Stick Farmer's Market, featuring a wide variety of local produce, fresh herbs, flowers, color and music.
Find more places to shop

2. Listen to live music
"Live At Five"
3rd Street [Map]
5-8 p.m. in spring and fall
Admission is free
- This outdoor concert series is held in the spring and fall for 6 weeks. The event features a varity of bands from Cajun to blues and pop music. (There are no concerts this month, check back later for a schedule)
Find more live music at Baton Rouge nightclubs

3. Eat Louisiana cuisine
Enough said... Ca c'est bon!
Find places to eat in Baton Rouge

4. See a castle
Old State Capitol
100 North Blvd. [Map]
225-342-0500; www.sec.state.la.us/museums
Tues. to Sat.,10-4 p.m. and Sun., 12-4 p.m.
Admission is $4
- Louisiana's own castle on the river features fantastic stained-glass dome with more than 3,000 azure, amber and ruby panels. The interactive displays, special events and historic exhibits make it worth the trip.

5. See where Sen. Huey Long was shot
Louisiana State Capitol
State Capitol Drive [Map]
225-342-7317; www.crt.state.la.us/crt/tourism
Daily, 8-4:30 p.m.
- Completed in 1932, this 34-story building, the tallest state capitol in the United States, features magnificent marble and bronze work inside and a 27th floor observation deck. In 1935, the building was the site of Huey P. Long's assassination.

6. Tour an old arsenal museum
The Old Arsenal Museum
Capitol Lake Road [Map]
Tues. to Sat., 9-4 p.m.
Admission is $1
- Formerly a powder magazine dating back to the 1800s, it is also located amid the formal gardens of the State Capitol complex. The arsenal was of military importance for early settlers because it is located on the Mississippi River, and later as a main defensive position of the southwestern United States.

7. Visit a governor's mansion
Louisiana Governor's Mansion
1001 Capitol Access Road [Map]
225-342-5855; gov.state.la.us/mansion.asp
Tours by appointment
- Built in 1963 in modified Greek revival style as a replica of one of the state's plantations, the mansion functions as our governor's home away from home.

Old Governor's Mansion
502 North Blvd. [Map]
225-387-2464; www.oldgovernorsmansion.org
Tues. to Frid., 10-4 p.m.
Admission is $5
- Built in 1930 by Gov. Huey P. Long as "Louisiana's White House," the Georgian-style mansion features original crystal chandeliers and hand-printed French wallpaper.

8. Sleep on a battleship
U.S.S. Kidd Veterans Memorial
305 S. River Road [Map]
225-342-1942; www.usskidd.com
Daily, 9-5 p.m.
Admission is $7
Call for overnight reservations
- The Kidd is the only World War II, Fletcher Class destroyer in the U.S. that has been meticulously restored to its V-J Day configuration. Also not to be missed is the Adjacent Veterans Museum, Louisiana's Vietnam War Memorial, the "Old Ironsides" exhibit, the U.S. Navy WAVES exhibit and the Veterans Memorial Plaza.

9. Watch barges float down the Mississippi
Baton Rouge levee along the Mississippi
Admission is free
- Sit and relax on one of many benches or the concrete steps that overlook the Mississippi River downtown. The area is also lighting for the evenings.