New Orleans, often called the “Big Easy,” is famous for its vibrant live music scene, round-the-clock nightlife, street parties, parades, and fiery Southern cuisine along Bourbon Street. However, the real charm of Louisiana lies in its towns, each offering a unique and intriguing experience. From a shopping mecca in the heart of downtown West Monroe to Mardi Gras celebrations in New Roads to the rich Zydeco music scene in Opelousas, these towns have bustling main streets waiting to be discovered.
Natchitoches
Downtown Natchitoches in the autumn on a sunny day. Editorial credit: VioletSkyAdventures / Shutterstock.com
The historic town of Natchitoches is tucked away along the picturesque Cane River. Along Front Street, in downtown Natchitoches, is Kaffie Frederick General Mercantile, Louisiana’s oldest general store, selling everything from home goods to gifts. For something to eat, Mayeaux’s Steak & Seafood offers a delightful experience with premium steaks and seafood in addition to the finest wines. Head to Mama’s Oyster House for a laid-back dining atmosphere and live music. Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant, famous for its signature meat pies, is a short walk away. The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum along Front Street are two incredible museums you will want to check out. For more nearby exploration, take a relaxing riverboat ride on the Cane River Queen. Residents and visitors retreat downtown for annual events like the Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival and the Natchitoches Christmas Festival, offering festive fun during the holiday season.
New Iberia
Evangeline Theater in New Iberia in Louisiana, USA. Editorial credit: Bennekom / Shutterstock.com
Main Street is one of the most bustling areas in New Iberia. It is home to the Bayou Teche Museum, a beautiful attraction with interactive displays highlighting local industries and culture. Another must-visit place to explore is Shadows-on-the-Teche, a historic plantation open year-round for tours. Books Along the Teche, an independent bookstore on Main Street, allows book lovers to discover rare books and more. The Sliman Theatre for the Performing Arts, housed in a beautifully restored Art Deco building, is the perfect place to see a show. Downtown New Iberia has many excellent places to eat and drink, too. Grab a coffee at Church Alley Cafe & Bistro, order delicious burgers at Bambino’s Burgers, have an elegant dinner at Amalfi, enjoy Japanese dishes at Bojangles Sushi, or sip on cocktails while listening to live music at Napoleon’s Bar. New Iberia hosts several community events at Bouligny Plaza, located along Main Street, hosts events, such as the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff, Teche Area Farmers Market, New Iberia Spanish Festival, and Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival.
West Monroe
Trenton Street in West Monroe, Louisiana. Editorial credit: The Southern Gentleman / Shutterstock.com
West Monroe’s downtown, known as Antique Alley, has evolved to offer a unique and exciting shopping experience. The streets of Antique Alley are lined with trendy boutiques and unique stores selling everything from fashionable clothing and leather goods to gourmet spices and teas. After a day of shopping, enjoy a meal at nearby restaurants with beautiful views of the Ouachita River. With its signature Cajun specialties, Trapp’s is a popular dining destination. For a taste of New York-style pizza and craft beers, head to Flying Heart Brewing & Pub. West Monroe’s Main Street is the central hub for major events like the Twin Cities Mardi Gras Kickoff and the Downtown Gallery Crawl, adding to the city’s unique charm.
Covington
Covington, Louisiana, USA, couple strolling on Columbia Street. Editorial credit: Malachi Jacobs / Shutterstock.com
With multiple blocks of stores, galleries, boutiques selling apparel, and the well-known Covington Farmers Markets on Saturdays, there are many things to see and do in downtown Covington. While there, explore the renovated Southern Hotel after stopping by the St. Tammany Art Association to see exciting exhibits and art displays. Museums like the Covington Trailhead Museum and HJ Smith & Sons General Store & Museum are also must-visit attractions downtown. Buster’s Place Restaurant is a great dining option with its extensive menu of fresh seafood and Cajun dishes available for lunch or dinner. The Green Room, a vibrant bar on Boston Street, provides the perfect setting for a fun evening with pool tables, karaoke, live music, and a DJ. Boston Pub is another lively spot to drink and hear jukebox tunes. Enjoy live music at Columbia Street Landing, which hosts free concerts during the spring and fall. It is also the site of the annual Three Rivers Arts Festival.
St. Francisville
Bright red exterior of the Bank of Commerce and Trust Building built in 1909 and now housing an antique store in St. Francisville, Louisiana. Editorial credit: Nina Alizada / Shutterstock.com
The lovely historic downtown St. Francviile has dozens of enjoyable eateries and shops to discover along its bustling main streets. On Commerce Street, dine on Neapolitan pizzas at Big River Pizza Company or French dip po-boys at Magnolia Café. Birdman Coffee & Books, also located on Commerce Street, offers an inviting atmosphere with coffee and baked goods on the menu alongside live music. There is also a restaurant and bar inside the charming St. Francisville Inn. Stroll down Ferdinand Street to get close views of historic churches, homes, and attractions, like the West Feliciana Historical Society Museum. Continue down the street to reach the Backwoods Gallery, District Mercantile, and The Oyster Bar, a beautiful waterfront dining destination. The roads in downtown St. Francisville get lively with annual events like the Tunica Hills Music Festival & Jam, Yellow Leaf Arts Festival, and Christmas in the Country.
New Roads
Sign promoting New Roads, Louisiana, as the “Prettiest City on the Water.” Editorial credit: William A. Morgan / Shutterstock.com
New Roads, known as “Little Carnival Capital,” is a huge mecca for parades and parties on Main Street during Mardi Gras season. Large crowds also retreat downtown for wine, shopping, and live music at the annual Wine Down on the False River event. New Roads offers ample shopping opportunities for those needing retail therapy in the heart of its downtown district. A stop at the New Roads Antique Mall is a must for rare finds and collectibles. The Pointe Mercantile & More is another ideal place to browse handcrafted artisan items and gifts. There are also fabulous places to eat in the area. Morel’s Restaurant offers seafood dishes, Southern hospitality, and beautiful views of the stunning False River. For other dining options, Ma Mama’s Kitchen and Hot Tails Restaurant serve up Louisiana-style fare in a casual atmosphere. Explore the art and cultural scene at the Julien Poydras Museum & Arts Center. Make plans to attend an art show, film screening, or a concert there.
Opelousas
St. Landry Catholic Church With Roses in Foreground in Opelousas, Louisiana.
Downtown Opelousas offers an authentic Louisiana experience deeply influenced by Cajun and Creole traditions. The Le Vieux Village Heritage Park & Museum is a noteworthy destination, as the historic area has early 19th-century houses, shops, and a fascinating museum. The Zydeco Music Exhibit in Le Vieux Village provides information about the origins of Zydeco music in Opelousas. The Creole Heritage Folklife Center, a short drive away, is a landmark that honors Creole heritage. Local eateries offer gumbo, shrimp Creole, jambalaya, and crawfish étouffée. Local eateries offer gumbo, shrimp Creole, jambalaya, and crawfish étouffée. You will also find some establishments known for specialties like boudin stuffed chicken wings or handmade yam country pies.
Breaux Bridge
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, USA, shopping at Monroe’s. Editorial credit: Malachi Jacobs / Shutterstock.com
Nestled among the picturesque banks of the Bayou Teche, Breaux Bridge is a charming town just two hours west of New Orleans. Stroll downtown to find dining establishments like Tante Marie on the corner of Main Street and Bridge Street. You can order everything from build-your-own-breakfast plates and beignets to bold burgers and Cajun dishes. Coffee lovers can also find Irish coffee, lattes, and cappuccinos on the menu. On the weekends, live music fills the room while you dine. Chez Jacqueline has seafood gumbo and crawfish étouffée, while Angelle’s, a few steps down, serves up old-fashioned hamburgers. Buck & Johnny’s, another option, offers eclectic Italian dishes with Cajun flair. Shop for antiques and collectible items every Friday and Saturday at Silver Screen Vintage Market on Main Street. You will also find stylish attire at Bayou Blush Boutique and Once Upon A Wing. The town’s lively side is on display at the annual Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, which takes place on the first weekend of May.
You may have had New Orleans on your travel bucket list for quite some time due to its scenic views, history, and fantastic music. However, after reading about West Monroe, New Roads, Opelousas, and the five other Louisiana towns on this list, you will soon want to visit them to experience each of their bustling main streets and everything they have to offer, including great food at local restaurants.
RUSTON, La. (KNOE) – Louisiana Tech University’s College of Education and Human Sciences announced it has established a new Center for Literacy and Learning designed to expand evidence-based reading support for children and professional development for educators across North Louisiana.
The university’s Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Leadership said the launch of the Center for Literacy and Learning at Louisiana Tech, also known as L3, will provide diagnostic assessments, tutoring and workshop opportunities, combining academic research with hands-on clinical practice.
“As literacy rates and reading achievement continue to present challenges across Louisiana and the nation, the Center for Literacy and Learning is rooted in supporting evidence-based instruction, applied research, and community partnerships,” said Dr. Dustin Whitlock, interim department head of Curriculum, Instruction, and Leadership.
Officials said planning for the center began more than a decade ago as faculty sought to expand literacy services for local schools and the surrounding community, but the effort faced delays due to space and funding challenges.
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University leaders said momentum increased after faculty partnered with the Louisiana Department of Education and literacy experts nationwide to create a professional learning course for Louisiana K-3 educators. The course, “The Science and Art of Teaching Reading,” focuses on structured literacy practices aligned with Science of Reading research. Louisiana Tech said funding connected to the course and the state education department helped make the center possible.
Megan Hunt, a teacher at A.E. Phillips Laboratory School, was selected to lead the center. Whitlock said Hunt brings a strong background in foundational literacy instruction and is working toward becoming a certified UFLI coach.
“Mrs. Hunt’s skill and expertise allow her to support both students and educators through high-quality literacy instruction and professional learning,” Whitlock said.
Hunt said the center is aimed at building long-term support for literacy instruction through collaboration with districts, families and community partners.
“Literacy affects all aspects of life and is ultimately how people access opportunity and how communities grow stronger,” Hunt said. “When children become proficient readers, it represents more than just academic progress; it changes the trajectory of their lives.”
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Local school leaders also praised the partnership. Michelle Thrower, K-2 facilitator for Lincoln Parish Schools, said professional development and resources connected to Louisiana Tech have supported literacy growth in the district.
“Our collaboration with Louisiana Tech has been a cornerstone of our success in elevating literacy proficiency across Lincoln Parish Schools,” Thrower said, citing DIBELS growth tied to the UFLI Foundations curriculum in K-2.
Louisiana Tech said the center will operate through three main components:
The Literacy Clinic
The Literacy Institute
The Literacy Resource Center.
The center is expected to provide individualized assessments, targeted intervention services, literacy workshops and educator professional development.
Officials said the components will be developed in phases over the next few years.
For more information, Louisiana Tech said the public can contact Dr. Dustin Whitlock at whitlock@latech.edu.
The U.S. Department of Energy announced Tuesday that Louisiana was one of the few states chosen for a $134 million rare earth element initiative in a move that would give the U.S. more independence from China, Reuters reports.
ElementUSA has been awarded about $67 million for a rare earth refining facility projected to cost $850 million in St. John the Baptist Parish to ramp up its production of core material for military vehicles, naval ships and aircrafts.
Louisiana’s rare earth element initiatives are aimed at relocating the critical American minerals supply chain for electric vehicles, renewable energy and national defense. The minerals include bauxite residue, which is a waste product from aluminium production. The plant is expected to produce roughly 150-1,000 metric tons of rare earths annually.
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Oklahoma was also chosen to receive grant money for a refining facility in Tulsa.
A Department of Homeland Security watchdog report revealed that staff members at an ICE detention center in Louisiana used a prohibited chokehold to “gain control” of a person being held there and stabbed another in the hand with a pen when an officer could not close the door to a housing unit.
The newly released findings about Winn Correctional Center in central Louisiana follow the DHS inspector general’s review of video of the use-of-force incidents as part of an unannounced facility inspection. The report, which was published on the DHS website, also noted that the officer who stabbed the detainee with a pen was disciplined.
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Staff members failed to maintain safe and sanitary conditions, the report says, noting leaking vents and ceilings with insulation falling through. Staff members used napkins and Styrofoam containers to collect the water from the leaks, according to the report.
Scrutiny of conditions inside ICE detention centers that house more than 60,000 detainees has been growing.
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Earlier Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended his agency’s detention standards on Capitol Hill amid complaints about ICE’s Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. That center has been the site of frequent protests.
Rep. Tim Kennedy, D-N.Y., accused Mullin of leaving detainees without food or medical care.
Mullin rejected the claims. “You can say all you want, but don’t accuse me of something that’s not accurate,” he said.
The inspector general made nine recommendations, ranging from environmental health and safety standards to proper handling of use-of-force incidents and maintaining food service standards.
ICE is working to address all of the issues, including by providing additional staff training, a spokesperson for the agency said.
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“These minor infractions included failing to provide detainees exercise equipment, record keeping errors and leaking vents. Another infraction included providing a shared computer for legal research that would allow other detainees to see other detainees’ case information,” the spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for DHS said the report shows that the facility complies with detention standards.
“ICE has higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons that hold actual U.S. citizens,” the spokesperson said.
Winn Correctional is one of the largest ICE detention centers in the country, housing more than 1,500 men. It opened in 1990, and ICE took it over from the state in 2019.
The report was produced after an unannounced inspection by the DHS inspector general, whose office recently got an infusion of $20 million and plans to boost its inspections from four to six per year to potentially as many as 40 to 60.
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ICE lists 70% of the 1,500 detainees at Winn as having “No ICE threat level,” meaning they do not have violent criminal histories.
Winn is an hour north of Alexandria, which is one of four hubs for ICE deportation flights around the country.
