Twin cities mean double the fun when visiting Monroe-West Monroe, Louisiana. The Ouachita River joins the two cities, but they’re a single destination packed with entertainment, food, shopping, and outdoor ventures. The cities make up a dynamic North Central Louisiana stop on I-20 that you’ll want to add to your next road trip itinerary.
History, entertainment, and natural beauty collide in Monroe and West Monroe. Carve any adventure you can imagine into your vacation itinerary because you can find it all. It’s the birthplace of Delta Airlines, home to the Robertsons, the family who founded the Duck Commander brand and the first bottler of Coca-Cola lived in Monroe.
Rich local culture has spanned generations and made Monroe-West Monroe the eclectic destination it is today. Whether shopping is your ideal vacation day or getting lost in the Bayou Desiard, you can find the unexpected in Monroe-West Monroe.
Coolest Places To Stay In Monroe-West Monroe, Louisiana
- Best Historic Hotel: The Hamilton House Inn is a two-story historic building in Downtown West Monroe. Experience Southern charm with the conveniences of home and a warm complimentary breakfast each morning.
- Best Bed & Breakfast: The Logtown Estate Bed & Breakfast is in a beautiful home on the Ouachita River. It was built in 1847, and a couple purchased the house to renovate it with modern luxuries while keeping the history. The house can be rented for weddings, or guests can stay in the Bed & Breakfast.
- Best Monroe Vacation Home For Families: This charming Monroe VRBO vacation rental is perfect for families that want a little more space. It’s equipped with a full kitchen and two bedrooms. This vacation rental is within walking distance of shopping and dining.
- Best Budget-Friendly Option: Monroe has plenty of options if you’re looking for a chain hotel. The Hampton Inn & Suites is a great budget choice with amazing reviews. It’s a great option to take advantage of Hilton Honors points.
1. Black Bayou National Wildlife Refuge
Explore the waterways and trails of the Black Bayou National Wildlife Refuge, which is the perfect spot for a single hike or an entire day trip. The bottomland hardwood forests in the refuge are an integral component of the Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem. Fishing, hunting, birding, and boating (non-motorized) are free things to do in the refuge. It’s a primary habitat for migratory birds and is well-known for bird watching, but keep your eyes open for alligators, the Louisiana black bear, and bald eagles.
2. Antique Alley in West Monroe’s Historic District
The 100-300 Blocks of Trenton Street in West Monroe are lined with shopping, but the most famous are the antiques. Find treasures and browse the selections in the antique shops, which have such a reputation that the area was dubbed “Antique Alley.” Explore boutiques, vintage stores, and more in Antique Alley. Discover the perfect gifts, treats, and trinkets that are your favorite souvenirs.
3. Duck Commander The Tour
The Robertsons are America’s favorite bearded family and have a reputation for funny family antics and smart business practices that were made famous on A&E’s hit show Duck Dynasty. From a love of duck hunting, Phil Robertson built the foundation for a multi-million dollar and internationally known brand, Duck Commander. Duck Commander The Tour is a self-guided tour of 10,000 square feet of galleries that feature the family’s memorabilia. Enjoy a sensory experience on a duck hunt with the Duckmen of Louisiana. It’s undoubtedly a peek into the family’s life and how they shaped the Monroe-West Monroe community.
4. Two Warriors Meadery
The only meadery in Louisiana is in West Monroe. Two Warriors Meadery is veteran-owned and uses locally sourced ingredients (including honey, of course) to produce Mead. From Bayou Blues Berry to Lemon Zinger, the meadery is always brewing up seasonal flavors for guests to indulge in. They even have a 12th-century mead recipe called Oden’s Love. Stop by the tasting room to pick your favorite and take a few souvenir bottles home.
5. Go on a “Heron Hunt”
Explore by foot or car and look for 100 hand-painted heron statues throughout Monroe-West Monroe. These statues were designed by local artists and placed at businesses throughout town. Herons on the Bayou started as a community art project to add aesthetics to the landscape. The heron represents the natural beauty of NorthEast Louisiana. Visitors can participate in a “heron hunt” to try and find them all! Use the heron location guide to find them all.
6. Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum
The Northeast Louisana Children’s Museum is filled with floor-to-ceiling fun for kids, and it will keep them entertained for hours. The museum’s four permanent exhibits allow kids to explore with hands-on imagination play, where they can pretend to be a chef, the president, or a doctor. Kids will love to make-believe in the firehouse exhibit, a replica with a sliding pole, and toddlers will adore all the fun in Toddlertown.
From mid-November to Christmas, the museum transforms into Santa’s Christmas Village with ice skating, holiday crafts, storytime with Mrs. Claus, the Peppermint Post Office, and visits with Santa. Check the event calendar for traveling exhibits.
7. Biedenharn Museum & Gardens
Coca-Cola’s history is all over the South, but the bottling beginnings started with Monroe resident Joseph Biedenharn. Coca-Cola memorabilia, including a delivery truck, signs, posters, bottles, and Coke machines, can be found at the Coke Museum inside the Biedenharn Museum & Gardens. Then, tour Joseph Biedenharn’s home and the ELSong Gardens located behind his home. The garden is more than an acre of terraces, fountains, formal plantings, and statues.
One of the most unique ways to experience the museum is to book a Taste of Louisana Tour (available only to group tours). It includes a guided group tour of the museum exhibits and a sampling lunch of famous Louisana dishes: Crawfish Pie, Classic Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, and Bread Pudding with a Whiskey Sauce.
8. Chennault Aviation & Military Museum
The Selman Field Navigation School in Monroe trained over 15,000 navigators and was the nation’s single complete navigation school of the Army-Air Corps. Today, the Chennault Aviation & Military Museum is housed in one of the last remaining classrooms of the Selman Field Navigation School. Learn about the history of the Navigation School, how Delta Airlines got its start, and about Louisiana native General Claire Chennault, leader of the Flying Tigers, through exhibits and memorabilia. Military heroes are honored throughout the museum, and kids will love the outdoor display of historic aircraft and vehicles.
9. Spend A Day At A Winery
Monroe-West Monroe is home to two wineries: Landry Vineyards and Thirsty Farmer Winery. Landry Vineyards is a new winery with vineyards, a beautiful tasting room, cottages, and camper sites. It offers 24 different wines, including Dry Whites and Reds, Semi-Sweet Whites and Reds, and Port wines. Check into one of their cottages or bring the RV to make it a weekend getaway.
Great wine and live music are staples at the Thirsty Farmer. Technically, the vineyard is just outside the Monroe-West Monroe area, but it’s worth visiting. They focus on fruit-forward wines, bold reds, and hard cider. Every Saturday, enjoy live music, good food, wine, and cider.
10. Mardi Gras in Monroe-West Monroe
Monroe-West Monroe is home to two Mardi Gras Krewes, Krewe de Riviere and Krewe of Janus. Each one has its own dedicated Mardi Gras celebration weekend. When visiting the Mardi Gras area, get ready for beads, music, and tons of fun. Watch parades and admire the floats, participate in pet parades, vote in costume contests, nosh on food, and sign up for a road race. Both weekends are filled with plenty of Mardi Gras fun. Most of the celebrations are family-friendly, too.
Monroe-West Monroe Annual Festivals Worth Traveling For
- January/February: Mardi Gras with Krewe de Riviere and Krewe of Janus. Catch beads, watch parades, and enjoy classic Mardi Gras fun with a family-friendly twist.
- April: Ouachita RiverFest is a celebration in Downtown West Monroe featuring live music, art vendors, a fishing tournament on the Ouachita River, and a rubber duck drop.
- May: The Red, White and Blue Airshow showcases unique planes in both daytime and nighttime shows.
- October: The NELA Celtic Festival features live music, activities for all ages, and artisan vendors. There’s even a beer garden.
- November/December: Parades, fireworks, dancing lights, and live entertainment make up the fun at the Christmas on the River event. It’s a month-long celebration of the most wonderful time of the year, making November and December two of the best months to visit Monroe-West Monroe.
