It's true that most vacationers will tend to head to some place exotic -- perhaps some place with an ocean view is at the top of the list. However, for Duck Dynasty fans, West Monroe, Louisiana, makes for the vacation spot of the entire year! The TV reality show follows Willie Robertson together with his family, during their multimillion-dollar business exploits in and around the city of West Monroe. If you've not watched the show, then you haven't seen anything yet!
Along with neighboring Monroe City, West Monroe makes up half of the Twin Cities of Louisiana. Life in West Monroe is pleasant and you'll see all four seasons here since the city averages a high of 94 in July and August, while dropping down to an average of 33 degrees in July. Aside from the beautiful weather, there's plenty in West Monroe to keep you happy, from easy access to highways to outdoor spaces and great restaurants.
Moving to West Monroe
How Much Will it Cost?
The cost of living in West Monroe is a lot less than that of the Louisiana average and makes for a real deal in comparison to the national average.
When to Begin Looking
You should allow at least six weeks to relocate to a rented place in West Monroe. The demand for housing may not be sky high, but rental opportunities do come and go at a fair pace. As we've already mentioned, the weather gets hot in July and August so you'd do best to avoid moving in then. If the cold doesn't bother you, winter shouldn't be too bad.
What You Need
It's advisable to have the typical renter's arsenal immediately at your disposal when you're out on the search for a rental place. Prospective tenants ought to be able to provide references, proof of current employment and income, together with the aforementioned deposit, so as to be in the best position to seal the deal with landlords.
Neighborhoods in West Monroe
There is a reasonable choice of rentals available in West Monroe, so it's mainly a matter of searching to find something that appeals to you the most. Nevertheless, as mentioned, don't be tempted to hang about for long when you do find a place. Rather, it's a wise precaution to pay-up on the required deposit as a way of securing your find.
Ashford Drive: Ashford Drive offers an array of 1 bedroom apartments with easy access to Interstate 20. There's a single school in the vicinity, in addition to nine restaurants and a bank. WalkScore for the area is 45 / 100.
Glenwood Drive: the one bedroom apartments in West Monroe provide quick and easy access to Interstate 20, various restaurants, and a couple of grocery stores including a Walmart. WalkScore for Glenwood Drive is 65 / 100.
Wellington Place: offering an excellent assortment of condos for rent as well as house rentals, Wellington Place provides easy access to Interstate 20 and has three schools located close by.
S Riverfront St: located in West Monroe's historic district, S Riverfront St affords lovely views over the Ouachita River. There are three schools situated very close by, and Interstate 20 is easily accessed from the area.
Life in West Monroe
Getting Around
The main road entry point to West Monroe is served by Interstate 20, which travels from west of Greenwood on the Texas state line over to the east, to Vicksburg over the Mississippi River in the west. The nearest train station to West Monroe is in Monroe. For regional flights, Monroe Regional Airport located on Operations Road, Monroe, is 5.6 miles from central West Monroe. The closest international airport to the city is not exactly a stone's throw away. You'll have to travel to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, which is 274 miles away before you can continue forth with the subsequent part of your journey.
Keeping Busy
Fans of the hit TV reality show, Duck Dynasty will know exactly what they wish to do in West Monroe. But other than that, how do the city's residents keep themselves busy? Kiroli Park over on Kiroli Road provides 150 acres-worth of natural beauty. Within the park you can enjoy all sorts of activities, including fishing, tennis, uniquely landscaped gardens in addition to a plant conservatory, picnic areas, a dog park where pooches can meet for a bit of social chit-chat (bark-bark?) and a drink, hiking trails, elevated walkways, and an observation tower from which to enjoy views of your beautiful surroundings. Restoration Park on Downing Pines Road, is said to be exclusive in that it "creates" a variety of recreational activities while addressing environmental concerns. The park was once an ugly strip mine, but in time, the mine has been transformed through the natural progression of environmental factors into a wetland area, which serves to encourage all sorts of wildlife flock to the vicinity. The park is also an excellent resource for dog walkers and for those who have a more romantic inclination with respect to their agenda.
West Monroe's restaurants are plentiful and popular. Johnny's Pizza House Restaurant on Warren Drive, is undoubtedly a pizzeria favorite within the entire Ouachita Parish. The restaurant also does a noon-time buffet on weekdays, so if you really want to fill-up on the finer things in life, this is the time to visit! The Great American Grill Restaurant, which is also referred to as the Hilton Garden Inn Restaurant (because it is the restaurant in the Hilton Garden Inn), over on Mane Street, serves up American fare. The mac and cheese and tenderloin steaks are said to be out of this world! Eskamoe's Frozen Custard Restaurant on McMillan Road, may possess a rather peculiar name, but the food being served there is anything but peculiar - custard and ice cream - the most staple of sweets you could probably think of. There is however a problem upon entering this establishment - once you start eating, you will not wish to stop!
