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You Are the Visionary Skies
You are creative, and your ideas are limitless. People love your sense of wonder and imagination. For you, “Outside the Lines” means that new ideas are endless. Like Joseph A. Biedenharn, the first bottler of Coca-Cola, and General Claire Chennault, the leader of the Flying Tigers, you can see a future that is even brighter than today. When it comes to solutions, you think outside the box. So do we. Here’s a personalized Monroe-West Monroe itinerary for you!
Plan your trip to Monroe-West Monroe with this personalized itinerary!
DAY 1
Biedenharn Museum & Gardens
Start your trip off a tour of the Biedenharn Museum & Gardens. Stroll through the beautiful ELSong Gardens behind the home with over an acre of terraces, fountains, formal plantings and statues, interlaced amid French iron grillwork, tailored boxwood walkways, and year-round blooms all enshrined by an English-style brick wall.
Parish Restaurant & Bar
Enjoy a delicious dinner locally sourced and crafted by renowned chef Cory Bahr at Parish Restaurant & Bar. Finish your meal with Cookies & Milk or Coconut Panna Cotta.
Planter's Gastropub
Wind down for the night at Planter's Gastropub! Enjoy a specialist craft cocktail and the beautiful view of the Ouachita River.
DAY 2
Caster & Chicory
Begin your day in Downtown West Monroe at Caster & Chicory. Grab a Bananas Foster Café au lait and some cinnamon and sugar covered beignets with the chocolate dipping sauce!
Antique Alley
After you’ve caffeinated, head to Antique Alley for some unique shopping. Make sure to stop by Rialto, Ouachita Trading Company, and Max Porter Provisions for a variety of options!
Waterfront Grill
It's time for lunch! Head to Waterfront Grill and grab a seat on their deck. Resting on the quiet banks of Bayou DeSiard, this restaurant was featured in Southern Living magazine and is known for its grilled entrees and rustic charm. Try the Catfish DeSiard or the Shrimp Rahkee.
Chennault Aviation & Military Museum of Louisiana
After lunch, head over to the Chennault Aviation & Military Museum of Louisiana to experience a living history of the area. Occupying one of the last standing buildings from the WWII Selman Army Airfield Navigation School, this totally renovated facility is filled with more exhibits and artifacts than one would ever believe. The aviation portion highlights three historic chapters in the nation's and Monroe's history: the Navigation School (largest in the country at the time) that trained over 15,000 navigators during WWII; the birth of Delta Airlines from a regional crop dusting service; and Louisiana native General Claire Chennault, leader of the Flying Tigers.
Atomic Vintage
It's time to explore and shop some more. Atomic Vintage offers retro furniture and funky vintage items. While you're there, grab one of their local T-shirts to commemorate your visit!
Art Alley
Grab your camera and be ready to be inspired as you stroll down Art Alley. Take in the murals and browse the galleries filled with amazing artwork by local artists.
Flying Heart Brewing & Pub
You have had a busy day, so it's time to relax and enjoy a cold brew. Flying Heart Brewing & Pub serves six beers served year-round and a rotating variety of seasonal brews that are sure to please any palate. They're known for unique craft pizzas made with fresh ingredients on thin, NY-style dough. They also have rotating monthly pizzas, so you can look forward to a new recipe every few weeks. You can find a variety of other foods, like big, German pretzels, chicken wings, and crawfish rub.
DAY 3
Cotton
Begin your day with brunch at Cotton. Situated in the heart of downtown Monroe, on the scenic Ouachita River, they take pride in serving up Southern Delta comfort food with an upscale twist.
Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge
After your brunch experience, head out to Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge. This majestic 4,500-acre expanse of lake, swamp, bottomland hardwoods, mixed pine, and hardwood uplands is a wildlife habitat with all manner of plant species and everything from small alligators and turtles to coyote, deer and a wide variety of fowl. Delight in the beauty of herons, egrets, orioles, and red-winged blackbirds from the wildlife pier or bird blind. Walk on a nature trail that meanders through a forested wetland. Marvel at the quiet beauty of the 1,600-acre lake from the quiet of your rented canoe with stately cypress and tupelo trees towering overhead.
Daily Press
Finish your trip at Daily Press, a unique coffee shop offering espresso and milk shakes to go! Grab one of their fresh salads or pressed po'boys, and treat yourself with some frozen yogurt.
Look for events here!
Make sure to keep an eye out for the Downtown Art Crawl and events held at the Strauss Theatre Center and the Monroe Symphony Orchestra while you're discovering Monroe-West Monroe!