By Elizabeth Arnold
The city of Monroe is situated along Louisiana's Ouachita River, which was chosen as one of the world's most beautiful rivers by National Geographic. The city celebrates its rich history with an abundance of museums and other cultural attractions. Monroe delights visitors throughout the year with its many festivals and sporting events, and a variety of outdoor concerts.
Masur Museum
Spend an afternoon at the Masur Museum, which is the largest visual arts museum in northeast Louisiana. The museum is on the National Register of Historic Places and offers art exhibits, educational programs, workshops and classes. Admission to the museum is free.
Masur Museum
1400 South Grand
Monroe, Louisiana 71202
Phone: (318) 329-2237
Strauss Theatre Center
Watch a play at the Strauss Theatre Center, which offers a variety of live shows on its main stage, along with dinner theater performances.
Strauss Theatre Center
1300 Lamy Lane
Monroe, Louisiana 71201
Phone: 318-323-6681
Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo
Enjoy the natural surroundings at the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo. The zoo offers boat rides that offer views of animals that can't be seen from the walking paths, and several educational programs. Guests can order "Jungle Meals," which can be enjoyed on the zoo grounds.
Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo
1405 Bernstein Park Road
Monroe, Louisiana 71202
Phone: 318-329-2400
The Northeast Louisiana Children's Museum
Treat your kids to a day at the Northeast Louisiana Children's Museum, which features the "Bubbleworks" exhibit, among many other interactive displays. The "Health Hall" allows children to learn about the human body, while the "Kids' Cafe" gives children the opportunity to experience a variety of restaurant jobs.
The Northeast Louisiana Children's Museum
323 Walnut Street
Monroe, Louisiana 71201
Phone: 318-361-9611
Resources
About the Author:
Elizabeth Arnold, who studied English at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, has written for a wide variety of publications and websites. Her experience includes writing travel features for "Recommend" magazine and packaging and marketing copy for both Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Bros. consumer products. Recently, Arnold was a staff writer for "Special Events" magazine.
