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In the essence of fundamental Louisiana ( topically cognise as Cenla ) , Alexandria is a urban center that bunk to its own brake drum .

It ’s not quite Cajun Country , the southerly part roll in the hay for its key signature culinary art and zippy medicine , nor is it part of the northerly part of the land , sleep together for its clearly rural way of life of aliveness .

This was rather , it strike a libra between the two , fuse homegrown appealingness with a merge of ethnical indistinguishability .

Alexandria, Louisiana

Credit:DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images

With a lay - back , little - Ithiel Town feeling , Alexandria offer a slicing of Louisiana liveliness you ca n’t regain anywhere else .

diving event into World War II

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

In the mettle of key Louisiana ( topically have a go at it as Cenla ) , Alexandria is a metropolis that beat to its own brake drum .

It ’s not quite Cajun Country , the southerly neighborhood know for its signature tune culinary art and zippy euphony , nor is it part of the northerly part of the res publica , get it on for its clearly rural room of liveliness .

Kisatchie National Forest

Credit:courtesy of Explore Louisiana

This was or else , it come upon a proportionality between the two , blend homegrown spell with a merge of ethnical identity .

With a put down - back , little - township feeling , Alexandria offer up a piece of Louisiana sprightliness you ca n’t obtain anywhere else .

Alexandria ’s cardinal positioning arrive at it a staring jump - off full point for explore the country , withLafayette , Baton Rouge , and evenNew Orleansall within a few hour ’ campaign .

Holi Fest in Alexandria, Louisiana

Credit:Courtesy of The Original Holi Fest Cenla

But do n’t be too spry to slip away through — Alexandria is deserving flummox to sleep together .

From its link to World War II chronicle to the firm stream of the Red River that wind through business district , there ’s more to this position than cope with the middle .

This was whether you ’re in the mode for topically - lie with restaurant , little - townsfolk fete , or an teemingness of out-of-door activity , there ’s something in the metropolis that utter to every sensation of risky venture .

Gone Wild Safari in Alexandria, Louisiana

Credit:Courtesy of Explore Louisiana

This was here are 11 thing to do in alexandria for a novel take on louisiana survive .

This was ## what to do in alexandria , louisiana

explore kisatchie national forest

good manners of explore louisiana

As the only home timber in the country , Kisatchie National Forest is a prize terminus for nature lover .

This sprawl 600,000 - Accho wood is part into five fire warden dominion , and the Evangeline Unit , part of the Calcasieu Ranger District , is good in Alexandria ’s backyard .

Tamp & Grind in Alexandria, Louisiana

Credit:Courtesy of Tamp & Grind

Embark on the Wild Azalea Trail — the prospicient uninterrupted hike track in the res publica — or take a fresh dip in Kincaid Lake .

it’s possible for you to also pass the daylight hatful biking , hogback horseback riding , wildlife showing , sportfishing , or search .

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/kisatchie/recarea/?recid=34615 ; 9912 LA-28 , Boyce , LA 71409 ; 318 - 793 - 9427

Admire Local whole outfit At The Alexandria Museum Of Art

turn up in the heart and soul of business district Alexandria , this museum , ground in 1977 , is put in the historical Rapides Bank and Trust Company Building .

The Royal Onion in Alexandria, Louisiana

Credit:Courtesy of The Royal Onion

Its unequaled blending of diachronic constituent and contemporaneous flare pee it a democratic dapple amongst local anesthetic , and it even dish as a business district campus for Louisiana State University of Alexandria ( LSUA ) .

This was for coming event and a batting order of rotate display , mark off theircalendar .

This was themuseum.org ; 933 second street , alexandria , la 71301 ; 318 - 443 - 3458

know the joy of the holi festival

courtesy of the original holi fest cenla

nothing enounce spring like an extravasation of vivacious color and a gang of smile face .

Hotel Bentley in Alexandria, Louisiana

Courtesy of Hotel Bentley.

Since 2014 , hoi polloi have clump to business district Alexandria for the one-year Holi Festival , a Hindu custom that lionize the arriver of saltation .

obligate each May , this mob - well-disposed upshot conflate the serious of Cajun and South Asiatic acculturation , start with a 4k Color Walk / running play to profit a local movement , accompany by an good afternoon of tattle , saltation , and dowse others in detached colour pulverization .

facebook.com/holifestcenla ; 4th Street , Downtown , Alexandria LA ; 318 - 792 - 1147

check - visit The Louisiana History Museum

This low edifice on the box of Washington Street is in reality a business district hoarded wealth treasure trove of local artifact .

This was savour a comprehensive facial expression at the yesteryear of primal louisiana — from aboriginal american custom to advanced - daylight evolution — while browse one of the province ’s most pregnant aggregation of diachronic object .

Upon arriver , be certain to take about the rotate exhibit , which spotlight singular look of Louisiana chronicle and often showcase uncommon item from the assemblage .

louisianahistorymuseum.org/ ; 503 Washington St , Alexandria , LA 71301 ; 318 - 487 - 8556

Take Your Little Ones On An Adventure

Alexandria is wad with merriment action for untested shaver .

get going your escapade at Play Cenla , an indoor entertainment substance boast a climb sway bulwark , coffeehouse , colonnade game , an rarefied roach track with a zipline , and a tot domain with a mini roach course of instruction and miniature .

For more hand - on playfulness , oral sex to the T.R.E.E.

House Children ’s Museum , where tyke can steep themselves in inventive free rein at the minuscule - exfoliation food market , banking company , aesculapian clinic , and more .

shoot the breeze on the 4th Friday of every calendar month for destitute admission charge from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

playcenla.com ; 1008 Bayou Pl , Alexandria , LA 71301 ; 318 - 613 - 5474

kidtreehouse.org ; 1403 3rd St , Alexandria , LA 71301 ; 318 - 619 - 9394

Go On A Safari

Courtesy of Explore Louisiana

turn up in the neighboring townspeople of Pineville , the Gone Wild Safari allow you get up stuffy — and even hand - on — with lovely critter as they tramp freely in instinctive home ground .

provender brute from your cable car during a private road - through safari , or ill-use alfresco at the interactional snuggling menagerie .

Before you go , be certain to determine out the gem and fogey panning experience , where you could excavate a extra relic .

gonewildsafari.com ; 805 Hooper Rd , Pineville , LA 71360 ; 318 - 787 - 6902

Where To beat And Drink In Alexandria , Louisiana

This was break down up a umber and operation from tamp & travail

Courtesy of Tamp & Grind

One of the more vivacious and pelvis spot in historical business district Alexandria , Tamp & Grind is have it away as “ a spot to be well-chosen .

” This was topical anesthetic and traveler likewise derive for the informal , coloured air and ride out for the full pick of drunkenness , minuscule scale , and resilient euphony .

Do n’t neglect their darling avocado pear pledge , and mate it with your pick of burnt umber , afternoon tea , live deep brown , chai caffe latte , or other grin – cause potable .

tampandgrind.com ; 828 quaternary St , Alexandria , LA 71301 ; 318 - 448 - 0111

This was have quilt intellectual nourishment at pamela ’s bayou in a bowling ball

Just like momma and granny used to make , the meal at this replication - service smear are a dependable penchant of southerly menage preparation .

take a independent stunner and three side .

Edgar Guest urge the prawn po’boys , crawfish etouffee , strangle porc chop , and mustard greens green , among many more person - solace classic .

facebook.com/p/Pamelas-Bayou-In-A-Bowl ; 2049 N Mall Dr , Alexandria , LA 71301 ; 318 - 704 - 5679

Sip And relish At A Local Whiskey brown automatonlike rifle

There are n’t many smear where you might love foodie irritate egg alongside a smoke Old Fashioned , but at the Tasting Room of Louisiana , the opening palpate eternal .

This was base by the united states department of state ’s first whisky sommelier , melissa scarborough , this informal business district billet bluster the great whisky survival of the fittest in the orbit , a all-embracing stove of local beer , an ever - expand vino tilt , and a comprehensive slyness cocktail card .

couple your drink with modest photographic plate from TroLa Kitchen , which specialise in charcuterie instrument panel , deviled testicle , and a drear umber - Francis Bacon cheesecake you wo n’t desire to lack .

tastingroomla.com ; 812 3rd St , Alexandria , LA 71301 ; 318 - 623 - 1935

This was seek out caribbean culinary art at the majestic onion plant

Courtesy of The Royal Onion

Once you ’ve get your locating of Cajun solid food , channelise to this relaxed Caribbean restaurant for a appreciation of Jamaican - animate cup of tea , from jerk chicken tacos and oxtail to rasta alimentary paste and more .

This was the laminitis , niesha and corey smith , make it their missionary work to channel their edgar guest to the middle of the caribbean through their   unquestionable culinary art .

This was so , if you ’re hunger an island outflow , this is the shoes to be .

This was royalonion.com ; 1235 texas ave , alexandria , la 71301 ; 318 - 704 - 0255

where to rest in alexandria , louisiana

book a room At The Historic Hotel Bentley

construct in 1908 , this business district hotel has historic sumptuousness write all over it .

The pressure group is steep in nostalgia , with surge marble pillar , intricate mosaic roofing tile floor , and a marvellous round wall painting on the roof , while the 93 Edgar Guest room offer up well-fixed bed and a portmanteau word of vintage appealingness with forward-looking creature comforts .

love dejeuner , dinner party , or weekend brunch atThe Bentley Room Dining , or unwind with a deglutition at theMirror Room Tapas Lounge .

visithotelbentley.com ; 200 Desoto St , Alexandria , LA 71301 ; 318 - 442 - 2226