Monroe Main Street

With more than a dozen eclectic mural installations throughout the downtown area, Monroe’s Main Street reflects the people who call it home.

Swing by the Downtown RiverMarket first. Live music and farmers markets line the boardwalk, which is also the perfect spot to catch a Southern sunset. Don't miss the nearby Downtown Gallery Crawl, a bi-monthly arts-and-culture showcase.

The area has plenty more to explore, too. The Northeast Louisiana Children's Museum offers larger-than-life exhibits that invite children to imagine nursing, fishing and the culinary arts. Cap off the day with dinner at restaurants like Restaurant Cotton — known for its riverfront views— or Parish Restaurant, the brainchild of "Chopped!" champion Cory Bahr.

Love an ice-cold Coca-Cola? See the Biedenharn Museum & Gardens, which preserves the drink's storied history — it was first bottled here in 1899. Or discover the area's the affinity for Irish heritage at Enoch's Irish Pub & Cafe and the Northeast Louisiana Celtic Festival.

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