Hilton Capitol Center Baton Rouge

The first time I stepped foot inside what is now the Hilton Capitol Center Baton Rouge, I was a little girl. My mom and I were walking in downtown Baton Rouge when a friend of my dad flagged us down and wanted to show us his newest investment, an old run down building. He was so excited. The building used to be the old Heidelberg Hotel which had been abandoned for years. What he discovered when he started renovating was the entrance to an old tunnel. It seems that former Louisiana governor, Huey Long, had built tunnels under the city of Baton Rouge so that he could visit certain places and people without being detected.

Years later, when I heard the building would reopen as a hotel, I giggled like a little girl. I would finally get the chance to check out this historic hotel that is open once again to visitors. 

This year, I joined a local Mardi Gras krewe (Krewe of Artemis) and the annual soiree was held downtown, providing the perfect excuse to have a romantic evening downtown with my husband while we dance the night away. Plus, we would be just steps away from our accommodations and won’t have to worry about having a designated driver.

Valet parking is only $16 overnight (with in/out) and the check in process was fast and easy. The lobby is open and has a romantic historic ambiance that exudes southern elegance. Our room, 432, was clean and passed my inspection test. Don’t look for a closet here, as it is an historic property when closets were an extravagance and taxed. No worries though, as there is a good size armoire for hanging clothes. The bathrooms are also intimate with a shower and no tub, but oh what a shower! And I totally loved the Art Deco furnishings.

The river view rooms have balconies that overlook the pool and the Mississippi River. When we peeped outside, the Mississippi River Bridge was hiding behind the fog, making the evening feel gothic and spooky. It almost felt like it should be Halloween instead of Mardi Gras! We opted to explore the hotel until time for the Saints football game, when we meandered into the Executive Lounge to join the crowd that was already forming. Big kudos to the staff in the Executive Lounge, especially Tracy, who made sure I had Champagne in my glass to celebrate the Saints win. Now That’s attention!

We danced the night away and even snuck into the Apollo ball next door, which was emceed by the one and only Elvira! The night had turned a bit chilly as we walked back to The Hilton Capitol Center and snuggled up in the comfortable bed. It was so nice to enjoy a romantic evening and even better that this historic property is in our own city.

Special thanks to Hilton Capitol Center for hosting our stay. This story is illustrated with pictures taken with my phone and sent through Twitter during the night’s event. Want to know just what goes into preparing for a Mardi Gras parade? Check out TravelingMamas.com and read Those Plastic Beads Aren’t Cheap.