Northern Louisiana, Duck Commander & Black Bayou Lake

This area including Monroe and West Monroe are known as “Sportsman’s Paradise”. There are pine forests, many lakes, rivers, bayous, rolling hills, a wealth of Southern food and country music. These are prime spots for fishing and hunting. According to the Lou!s!ana Official Inspiration Guide, “this region is called Sportsman’s Paradise for a reason. In north Louisiana, you can embark on the kind of backwoods hunting adventure that made West Monroe-based television program Duck Dynasty the most-watched reality show in history.”
Duck Commander Warehouse, 117 Kings Lane in West Monroe. The sign at the entrance and the 18 Wheeler promoting the Robersons.

As a reminder of your trip, inside the store are many Duck Commander items, from their famous duck calls to Miss Kay’s cookbooks.

Around the corner and down the street discover Willie’s Duck Diner. The stars of Duck Dynasty have a truly southern, downhome menu. It features everything from gumbo with duck Andouille sausage to Miss Kay’s mac and cheese.

For a bit more refinement, shop at Duck & Dressing, 411 DeSiard Street in Monroe. Owned by Korie and Rebecca Roberson they showcase women’s clothing, accessories, home décor and more.

Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge

This is a beautiful 1600 acre cypress-studded lake, with a nature trail, pier, wildlife observation deck, visitor/education center, arboretum, boat ramp and fishing and hunting opportunities.

If you are ever in Northern Louisiana, close to Monroe-West Monroe, take the time to experience some of this area’s “Sportsman’s Paradise”.

Journey & Adventure–Week 3 Monroe & West Monroe, LA

It is said that an old Caddo Chief who lived near the Sabine river had twin sons. One son had dark hair and dark skin and other had blond hair and light skin. When the sons grew to manhood and were ready to become leaders of their own tribes, the father sent one brother three days eastward toward the rising sun. The other brother was sent three days westward toward the setting sun. 
The twin who settled toward the setting sun was the blond-haired brother, Nacogdoches. Natchitoches, the dark-haired brother settled toward the rising sun in Louisiana. The two brothers remained friendly and the road between the two communities was well traveled. This road became a trade route and the eastern end of the El Camino Real or Old San Antonio Road. (1)


Two giant names of American business are deeply ingrained in the history of Monroe, and its neighbor across the Ouachita River, West Monroe: Delta Airlines got its start here in 1926 as a crop dusting service, and Coca-Cola opened its first bottling plant here. (2)

Historic Downtown West Monroe - Antique Alley

There are several blocks of eclectic shops on Trenton Street. There are many antique, boutiques, clothing and souvenir shops My favorite shop was The Spice & Tea Exchange. With its small store front at 112 Trenton Street, just opening the door the scent is wonderful There are so many herbs and spices lining the shelves along the walls. The mix their own spice blends in house. www.spiceandtea.com.

Interesting sights

  

(1)   Explore Nacogdoches
(2) http://www.louisianatravel.com/cities/monroe-west-monroe

Historic Nacogdoches, a Sign and an Odd Building

The Adolphus Sterne House

Nicholas Adolphus Sterne and his wife Eva Catherine Rosine Ruff both immigrated from Germany. He built this house c. 1830 and here they had  seven children. He was active in the events of the Fredonia Rebellion in 1826 and the Texas Revolution from 1832 to 1836. He served as a primary judge, postmaster and in several of the congresses of the Texas Republic.  Parties, political gatherings and study sessions in this house included notables such as Sam Houston, Thomas J. Rusk and David Crockett. The house was conveyed to the City of Nacogdoches during the 1950’s.

The Hayden Edwards Inn

The original structure is thought to have been built about 1838. Not long after making his way to Nacogdoches Mr.Adolphus Sterne became involved in the Fredonia Rebellion, smuggling guns and ammunition in the bottom of coffee barrels to Hayden Edwards and the Fredonians. After the Texas Revolution Edwards served in the first Congress of the Republic of Texas and in the first and eighth Texas legislature after Texas was annexed into the United States.

Durst – Taylor Home

This structure is an excellent example of the simple story and half hall and parlor with engaged porch and shed rooms. This type of building was prevalent across the south from the 1820’s through the 1880’s. It was the the original home site of Anders De-Acosta, one of the original settlers of Nacogdoches. In 1870 Charles Taylor’s son Lawrence purchased the house. Charles Taylor was one of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Lawrence Taylor and his wife Harriet Durst Irions lived in the house until their deaths. It stayed in the family until 1989, when it was sold to McKinney Historical Foundation.

The Roland Jones House

Mr. and Mrs. Roland Jones engaged noted architect Diedrich Anton Wilhelm Rulfs to design and build this prime example of Victorian architecture.

Milam Lodge No.2, A.F.&A.M.

The Milam Lodge founded in 1837 by John Henry Holland operated in rented and donated facilities. In the 1920’s they erected the present lodge hall.

Memorial to the Space Shuttle Columbia Crew.

Between the Masonic Lodge and the driveway to the Commercial Bank and a beautiful brick and marble memorial to the crew who perished on the Space Shuttle Columbia. While you will not find this monument listed in any visitor information, Nacogdoches was the recipient of over 1,200 pieces of shuttle debris.

An old sign

And an odd building…

The silo is on top of the building housing a Mexican Restaurant.