Things To Do In West Monroe, Louisiana

Pecanland Mall. Located on the site of a former pecan grove, Pecanland Mall is home to almost 100 shops, a 10-screen movie theater, and several different restaurants. Pecan Land Commons, located adjacent to the mall is also home to several large retailers, including Dillards, Sears, Belk, and JCPenney. www.pecanlandmall.com

Antique Alley. Located in West Monroe’s historic Cotton Port District, Antique Alley features shops selling everything from antique jewelry and furniture to clothing and more, all housed in several historic buildings. Www.antique-alley.org

Chennault Aviation Military Museum. The Chennault Aviation Military Museum was created in 1986 to preserve military history and honor the service of our military men and women. The museum features a wide range of artifacts, memorabilia vintage aircraft and military vehicles, and gift shop. Free admission. Www.ammla.net.  [Top]

Ouachita River. First explored in 1803 by Hunter and Dunbar, the Ouachita River was originally home to several Indian tribes and became a major highway for steamboats during the early 1800s and 1900s. Today, the waterway is often called one of the world's most beautiful rivers and offers a serene setting for boating, fishing and bird watching. Www.ouachitariver.org

Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo. This interesting zoo offers more than 500 animal species in interesting displays, fun boat rides, up-close giraffe feedings, Percheron horse rides, a picnic area, and a gift shop. www.monroezoo.org

Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum. This hands-on kids museum encourages exploration and learning through fun exhibits like a kids’ café, the bubble works, a health hall, and Stuffee the doll.  www.nelcm.org .  [Top]

Monroe Motor Speedway/Dale Earnhardt Memorial Speedway. Enjoy a day or evening of exciting raceway action at this newly opened speedway. With seating for 4,000 spectators, the Monroe Motor Speedway offers thrilling racing in several different divisions, including ASA late models, IMCA sport mods, INEX ledgends, bombers, compacts, karting, and figure 8. www.monroemotorspeedway.com

Poverty Point State Historic Site. This interesting park is home to ancient earthworks that were created between 1650 and 700 B.C. by indigenous peoples, who carried dirt in baskets to create a 400-acre monument that is still here to inspire visitors thousands of years later. The park also features a museum, guided tours and a variety of special events. www.nps.gov/popo.

Biedenharn Gardens and Museum. This botanical garden was built in 1913 as a private home for Joseph Augustus Biedenharn, the first bottler of Coca-Cola. The park features fabulous gardens, a historic home, a Bible and Coca Cola Bottling museum, and views of the Ouachita River. www.bmuseum.org.  [Top]

Chennault Park Golf Course. The stunning Chennault Park Golf Course offers an 18-hole, regulation length golf course in with a championship layout and 3 sets of tee boxes, offering a challenging experience for golfers of all skill levels. www.ci.monroe.la.us/golf.php

Coca-Cola Consolidated. Founded in 1902 by J. B. Harrison, Coca-Cola Consolidated was one of the first Coca-Cola bottlers in the world, offering delivery service from the back of a horse and buggy. Today, the company is the second largest bottler in the US, and services more than 18 million people in 11 states. www.cokeconsolidated.com

Greater Ouachita River Port. Located on the Ouachita River in West Monroe, the Greater Ouachita Port is a dock facility and container storage area that includes two side loaders, a KCS rail spur, a container storage yard, and a crane used to load and unload large containers for export and import. www.ouachitaterminals.com.  [Top]

University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM). Established in 1931, ULM is a public university in Monroe, Louisiana and offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate academic programs, including the only doctoral pharmacy degree in the state. www.ulm.edu

Louisiana Tech University. Louisiana Tech is a public college that was originally formed in 1894 as the Industrial Institute and College of Louisiana. Today, Louisiana Tech is best known for its engineering programs and athletics, and offers a full range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 10,600 students each year. www.latech.edu

Grambling State University. Grambling State University is a Historically Black College and offers students a high-quality education through 68 unique degree programs in five colleges, two professional schools, and a graduate school. Grambling’s nursing, computer science and teacher education programs are known as some of the best in the state, and the college is also home to the popular Tiger Marching Band, touted as the top collegiate show band in the world. Www.gram.edu.  [Top]