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You probably won't ever see my hometown ranked on any top ten destinations list. You probably have never even heard of it unless you live in the Ark-La-Miss region. But my hometown of Monroe, LA has a lot to offer those who enjoy the simple things in life.

We are actually two cities divided by the Ouachita River, ranked one of the ten most beautiful rivers in the world. Outdoorsmen love our area not only because of the river, but also the many bayous and lakes that offer skiing, fishing, boating, and the possibility of seeing an alligator or two.

Standing on the pier at Cheniere Lake (pronounced Shinny, for you non-Louisianans), looking out at the cypress trees covered in spanish moss, you feel like you have left civilization and are standing in the middle of a beautiful, lively swamp. You can almost envision a wooden shack on piers out in the middle of the lake, and the old Cajun couple whose only transportation is a pirogue. Egrets and pelicans call this their home, occasionally swooping down to catch their prey, or perching on a cypress knee.

During football season, it's virtually impossible to get through one of the city's main thoroughfares. Everyone in town is at our area's largest high school, cheering the Rebels on to another victory. Our West Monroe High School football team has been named national champions five times, and are currently the topic of a special series on ESPN. On game day, trucks of every make and color caravan through town, their monstrous Rebel flags blowing in the breeze. The tailgate parties rival those of most college games. Our stadium is the finest high school stadium in the country, with features comparable to NFL stadiums.

Residents joke that no one cooks in our town. Our restaurants are many, and the cuisine varied. The best choices are The Sports Bar & Grill, where the brave at heart can attempt to eat a one pound hamburger. Those who succeed get their pictures posted on the Wall of Fame, and get a free t-shirt. In the spring, Gabbeaux's deck is overflowing with people peeling crawfish. The restaurant, which sits on the river, looks like a dilapidated shack, but the food is the closest you can get to authentic New Orleans cuisine north of I-10. If soul food is your thing, Big Mama's delivers the best fried chicken, greens, rice and gravy and cornbread in the delta. Even big eaters can rarely finish the daily lunch special.

For selective shoppers, Antique Alley provides a wide venue of antique and novelty shops to entertain

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