Monroe-West Monroe, Louisiana: Culture, Dining and the Great Outdoors

If you like antiques, you will love Antique Alley in the historic Cottonport district of West Monroe. Charming storefronts of silver, books, furniture and jewelry await you. There are also children’s stores here and a fabulous spice and tea shop. Most of these diverse shops are open Tuesday through Saturday and are located on Trenton Street, making for a perfectly walkable outing.

Did you know that for the first eight years, Coca-Cola was only available in a soda fountain bar? That is until 1894, when a German immigrant named Joseph Biedenharn became the first bottler of the beverage. The Biedenharn Museum & Gardens, housed in Joseph's former home built in 1914, honors the great inventor and businessman. Stroll the gardens, tour the onsite Coca-Cola museum or peruse a collection of rare and historic Bibles like an original Bible leaf, hand-printed by another famous German – Gutenberg.

If you love World War II history, you’ll enjoy the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum in the Selman Field Army Air Corps Navigation School, where 15,000 navigators were trained during World War II. Located near the Monroe Regional Airport, the museum is named after Louisiana native General Claire Lee Chennault, who headed up the famous Flying Tigers squadron. The museum features an incredible collection of artifacts which detail his family’s story and the personal stories of other Army men – not just the historical facts of the battles.

The Masur Museum of Art is truly a treasure in Northeast Louisiana. The largest visual arts museum in the area, it is also on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of the exhibits are on a rotating basis, so there is always something new to see.

If you’re in the area with your children, the Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum has to be on your list. Kids can pretend to be a pediatrician or a dentist (there is a huge mouth to crawl into!), or they can check out a model of an inner ear.

At Restaurant Cotton, you can have inventive artisanal drinks and Southern favorites with a twist. And the food? Absolutely delicious. For wine, visit the beautiful Landry Vineyards, just 10 minutes outside of Monroe. There are gorgeous outdoor vineyards that you can appreciate up close during a tour or just admire from the tasting room. There are also outdoor concerts during the spring and summer on their large lawn area where families and friends gather to enjoy the weather and music. Make sure you try a delicious glass of their popular Blanc du Bois.

If you’re looking to round out your vacation with a little time in the bayou, Monroe and West Monroe offer that too. Kids will love the Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge with its beautiful interpretive center, and adults will love taking a stroll on the tranquil boardwalk. You can also rent canoes and fish here. This beautiful natural area is just a stone’s throw from Monroe, but feels so wonderfully remote.

The Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo is a small zoo, but it delivers big on unique animals. See monkeys, a hippo, snakes and so much more. Take the river cruise for a chance to see the animals from a different vantage point and speak with an informative tour guide.

If you can’t decide what you want to do for your next vacation – shop or dine, explore nature or museums – come to Monroe and West Monroe where you don’t have to choose and can do it all.