Lake Charles/Baton Rouge/Monroe

[jamibc]

SBC - hello from native Louisianian! Lived most of my years in Ouachita Parish (Monroe, West Monroe) & have lived or visited pretty much all over the rest of the state....

In the Monroe, WM area, be sure you also hit Ray's Pee-gee's for the po-boys & ice cream - it's in the Lakeshore/Swartz area, in the estern part of the city on Hwy 139/Desiard. The WM Coney Island is, IMHO, vastly superior to the ones in Monroe - try it & see what you think. Be sure to try their loaded dog & Cajun fries, but probably want to get it "to go" if you're there during peak times (same w/ PeeGees). Very small!

If you like crawfish (& this is the season), hubby & I thought the Riverside Coney Island was awesome, though some swear by Cormiers (I like theirs, too - it's a seasoning arguement!), but you'll do better to get them to go & maybe plan a little picnic in either Kiroli Park in WM or Forsythe Park in Monroe.

Best wishes & I'm jealous you get to visit my stompin' grounds!

[hdwell]

Old downtown(?) West Monroe near the Louisville St. Bridge and Ouachita river has "antique alley" with lots of cool antique stores. It's a great visit if you are into antiques as I am, and some great restaurants abound in the metro area. Like the last poster said PeGe's and catfish cabin, cypress inn, Mohawk Tavern, the Warehouse (pricey) just to name a few (too many to name here). I live in Shreveport-Bossier but travel often to the other "twin cities" area.