Kayaking at Cheniere Lake, Monroe Louisiana

Things to Do

Things To Do in Monroe, LA

Monroe and West Monroe have more going on than most people realize. Museums, parks, kayak trails along the Ouachita River, live music, bowling, trampoline parks, escape rooms, and a zoo. Whether you're planning a family day out, a date night, or just looking for free things to do this weekend, start here.

15 Best Things to Do in Monroe, LA

From cypress swamps and WWII history to axe throwing and free riverside parks. Something for every trip.

1

Ouachita Paddling Trails

Outdoor Free Family

Six new kayak trails and three launch sites opened at Cheniere Lake in Ouachita Parish. You can be on the water in under 30 minutes from downtown Monroe, no experience needed. Our editor paddled the whole thing on opening day and ended up staying twice as long as planned.

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2

Chennault Aviation and Military Museum

History Family

Most visitors don't know that Delta Air Lines traces its roots to Monroe, and to General Claire Lee Chennault, the WWII commander behind the legendary Flying Tigers squadron. This museum is built inside a restored WWII navigation school and is one of the most underrated stops in Louisiana. Free admission.

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3

Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Outdoor Free Wildlife

A 5,300-acre cypress swamp north of town with alligators, herons, and a walking bridge over the water, and most locals have never been. Go at sunrise. The morning mist over the lake is the kind of thing you photograph and can't believe it's 20 minutes from your hotel. Free admission.

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4

Biedenharn Museum and Gardens

History Gardens Family

Joseph Biedenharn bottled the first Coca-Cola here in 1894. Today the property is three experiences in one: a Coca-Cola museum with the original bottling equipment and soda counter, the restored Victorian home of the Biedenharn family, and formal English gardens along the Ouachita River. One of the most overlooked stops in Louisiana.

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5

Duck Commander

Iconic Family

The most visited attraction in Monroe by a wide margin. The Robertson family's brand turned West Monroe into a destination on its own. Whether you watched Duck Dynasty or not, the warehouse store and museum on Kings Lane draws visitors from across the country every week.

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6

Southern Escape Room

Activity Date Night Groups

Southern Escape Room is a women-owned local business on Louisville Avenue with multiple themed rooms that change regularly. Works for date nights, birthday groups, and work outings. Book ahead on weekends since rooms fill up fast.

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7

Masur Museum of Art

Art Free Culture

Free admission and rotating exhibitions. The Masur sits inside a 1903 Tudor Revival mansion on South Grand Street and most people drive past without stopping. The permanent collection and visiting shows punch well above what you'd expect from a city this size.

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8

Savage Axe and More

Activity Date Night Groups

Axe throwing, a DJ, karaoke, and a bar all under one roof on Tower Drive. Everyone ends up having more fun than they planned. Works for birthday parties, corporate groups, or a date night that isn't dinner and a movie.

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9

Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo

Family Outdoor

More than 200 animal species across 27 acres, plus 1,000 plant species throughout the gardens. A city zoo, not a safari park, but for families with young kids it's a solid half-day out. The bird and reptile houses are the standouts.

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10

Kiroli Park

Outdoor Free Family

The most popular park in the area. Kiroli is in West Monroe with walking trails, a duck pond, playground, and picnic areas. Free to enter. Locals bring their kids here on weekends, and it's a natural stop to combine with Duck Commander nearby.

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11

African American Museum

History Culture

Inside Chennault Park, this museum covers the history of African American life in Northeast Louisiana. It's a quieter stop than the aviation museum across the park, but it tells a side of Monroe's story that most visitors miss entirely. Worth combining into the same Chennault Park visit.

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12

Northeast Louisiana Children's Museum

Family Kids Indoor

On Walnut Street in downtown Monroe, this is the go-to for kids under 10. Interactive exhibits and play areas that keep younger children busy for a couple of hours. Covered and air-conditioned, which matters in a Louisiana summer.

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13

Forsythe Park

Outdoor Free Family

Monroe's main riverfront park on Sycamore Street, right along the Ouachita. Free entry, a boat ramp, tennis courts, playground, and a walking path along the water. Locals run here in the morning and families show up with coolers on Saturday afternoons.

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14

Strauss Theatre Center

Arts Culture Evening

Monroe's main live theater venue on Lamy Lane. Strauss runs a full season of repertory productions with drama, comedy, and musicals. If you're in town for more than a day, checking what's showing is worth it. Local performing arts that draws real audiences year-round.

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15

Surge Entertainment by Drew Brees

Family Indoor Kids

NFL quarterback Drew Brees put his name on this large indoor entertainment center on Mane Street in West Monroe. Laser tag, bowling, arcade games, mini golf, and food all in one place. The go-to for families when the Louisiana heat makes outdoor plans impossible.

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4th of July fireworks guide for Monroe and West Monroe, Louisiana, 2026

Guide

4th of July in Monroe, LA: Your 2026 Guide

Every parade, fireworks show, and free event happening across Monroe and West Monroe for America's 250th.
Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo entrance sign in Monroe Louisiana with zebra statues and tropical plants

Guide

Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo in Monroe, LA

The splash pad alone is worth the $10 admission. We spent five hours here on a Wednesday in July and could have stayed until closing.
Interior of Southern Escape Room Monroe Louisiana showing themed puzzle room atmosphere

Field Notes

Southern Escape Room Monroe LA: All Five Rooms, Prices & What to Expect

Southern Escape Room sits on Louisville Avenue a few blocks from downtown Monroe. We went on a weekday to find out what's inside before you book.
Inside Surge Entertainment West Monroe Louisiana showing bowling lanes with neon lighting and large screens

Guide

Surge Entertainment West Monroe: Prices, What's Inside & Is It Worth It

Drew Brees co-owns a family entertainment center on Mane Street in West Monroe with bowling, laser tag, a ninja course, and a full restaurant. We went to check the prices and see what is actually inside.
Art Alley in downtown Monroe during The Good Daze Block Party on July 4th 2026. Colorful ground mural, vendor tents, food truck, and historic buildings under a blue sky.

Field Notes

How Monroe & West Monroe Celebrated the 4th of July

Five events across two cities. A morning race, a children's parade, floats throwing beads, live music in Art Alley, and a double rainbow that showed up right before the fireworks.
Allosaurus fragilis skull cast on display at ULM Museum of Natural History in Monroe Louisiana

Field Notes

There Is a Free Natural History Museum on the ULM Campus. I Finally Went.

The ULM Museum of Natural History has been on University Avenue for years. I had never walked through the door. Then Mystery Monday happened and I finally had an excuse.
Outdoor aircraft display at Chennault Aviation and Military Museum in Monroe, Louisiana

Guide

Chennault Aviation and Military Museum, Monroe LA

Free admission. The building looks modest from the outside, and that is the first thing you need to know.
Wooden boardwalk extending over Black Bayou Lake in Monroe, Louisiana, surrounded by cypress trees

Guide

Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Monroe LA

A 5,300-acre federal wildlife refuge sitting inside Monroe city limits. Free to enter. Open daily. Most Monroe residents have never been.
Dimly lit interior of Parish Restaurant in Monroe, Louisiana, with fire pit and cocktail bar

Guide

Date Night in Monroe, LA: 6 Restaurants Worth the Reservation

Monroe has a short list of places that take dinner seriously, and most of them require advance planning. Here is the current list, with what each one is actually good at.
Restoration Park in West Monroe, Louisiana, green open space with walking trails

Guide

8 Free Things To Do in Monroe, LA

Monroe has more genuinely free things to do than most people expect. Not free-with-a-suggested-donation, not free-for-members-only. Just free. Here are eight worth your time.
Annual Business Expo 2026 floor at West Monroe Sports and Events Center, hundreds of attendees and 100+ local business booths

Field Notes

What Really Happens at Monroe's Business Expo

Free admission. 100+ local businesses. Live music and food samples from Newk's. The West Monroe-West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce fills the Sports Center every June, and this year someone walked out with a $500 gift card.
1936 Pierce Arrow motor car inside Vintage Vehicles showroom in West Monroe, Louisiana

Made in Monroe

The 1936 Pierce Arrow Motor Car Hiding in West Monroe, Louisiana

Charles Rand has been collecting antique automobiles since 1994. His private showroom in West Monroe holds 17 vehicles, including one of the rarest American cars ever built.
Lady Chops leading a Broadway percussion session at Sterlington Memorial Branch library in Monroe, Louisiana

Field Notes

Lady Chops Brought Her Drums to Monroe. The Kids Did Not Want to Leave.

She drives across Louisiana with a full drum setup and teaches kids Broadway musical percussion. She was at Sterlington Library last Thursday. We were there.
View from inside a kayak on Cheniere Lake, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana. Cypress trees with Spanish moss on both sides.

Field Notes

Ouachita Paddling Trails Phase II Opens at Cheniere Lake. We Were There.

Six new trails and three new launch sites just came online in Ouachita Parish. I went to cover the ribbon cutting. I did not plan on getting in a kayak.

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