Parents come to visit their kids at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and food lovers arrive in search of the perfect crawfish boil. When you finish exploring Monroe’s main streets, hit the road and find unexpected attractions nearby.
Gators—Oh My!
Monroe rises from the flat plains of northern Louisiana, suddenly appearing alongside Interstate 20. It’s surrounded by largely undeveloped swamps and bayous that are protected as national wildlife refuges, and if go kayaking or boating in them, you might just spot an alligator; hint—stay inside the boat! The swamps are broken up into five main regions across the state, with Monroe sitting firmly in the Sportsman’s Paradise sector. As the name implies, the boating areas in this part of the state make for fantastic fishing, with multiple contests held year-round. If you’d rather stay close to the city, take a pontoon boat tour of the Ouachita River, which is located right in downtown Monroe.
Just for Kids
Jungle cruise boats wind their way through the Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo. Kids may not get overly excited about the insect exhibits and displays of local animals, but they might be surprised by the emus, wallabies and cockatiels. If your children are older, they will appreciate the Biedenharn Museum & Gardens, where they can examine Coca-Cola memorabilia and buy a fountain drink for a nickel—that will teach them a bit about inflation economics as well! Budget some time for a round of golf at Mane Street Mini Golf & Games in West Monroe, or let the little ones loose in the Toddler Town play area at the Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum.
Day-Tripping
The infamous gangster duo of Bonnie and Clyde met their demise just 50 miles west of Monroe. You can take Highway 154 to the spot where it happened, just south of Gibsland—the old monument at the site has been joined by a newer wayside marker. On your way back to Monroe, you can take a detour to the highest spot in Louisiana&mdash&a 535-foot-high hill generously named Driskill Mountain. Feel free to sign the guest book at the top, and add the ascent to the list of “peaks” you’ve conquered! Another point of interest just 50 miles from Monroe—to the east this time—is the Poverty Point World Heritage Site, a complex of centuries-old Native American mounds.
Local Flavor
Louisianans are fortunate to be able to dine regularly on some of the best seafood in the world—when you’re in Louisiana, don’t pass up the opportunity to do the same. Cormier’s serves its patrons a Louisiana must-have: boiled crawfish with corn on the cob and potatoes. Crawfish—a.k.a. mudbugs—are in season during January, but other Louisiana delicacies, such as étouffée, gumbo and jambalaya, are available year-round.
You can dine inside or al fresco at the Waterfront Grill, and if you’re not partial to such Southern favorites as boiled shrimp, raw oysters, fried catfish and shrimp po' boys, the restaurant also offers juicy steaks and burgers.
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