Author: Cheré Coen

Getting on the water in Monroe and West Monroe

  Nothing screams relief on a hot summer day than water. And in Monroe and West Monroe, there are plenty of options to cool off and refresh. For those who love to be outdoors, rent a canoe or kayak from…

Jefferson Highway

Before his company created Better Homes & Gardens and other memorable magazines, Edwin T. Meredith covered America’s farms. Almost exactly 100 years ago he was reporting on transportation trends, noting the rise of the automobile and the completion of the…

Relive the siege at Port Hudson

  My first battlefield experience was Bull Run in northern Virginia, the first full skirmish of the Civil War and one that would repeat itself years later. Listening to the park ranger talk of flanks and advances while staring at…

Eating Our Way Through Shreveport

  Go ahead, twist our arm! The 318 Restaurant Week, a citywide promotion of local restaurants organized by the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau and its partners, returns March 18 through 23 at more than 50 participating restaurants. Lunch and…

The Hunt For Beignets In Acadiana

  When fellow travel writers come to town, it’s on me to make sure they experience the best of Louisiana. Such was the case when Pamela Wattenbarger of Georgia arrived in Lafayette for Mardi Gras. Acadiana tourism folks planned to…

Louisiana's Best Retirement Cities

Moderate climate, great food, the great outdoors, Mardi Gras — Louisiana has a lot to offer. With seniors about to become the largest demographics in the nation, Louisiana is primed to attract those who want to spend their glory years in…

Farther Flung: Southern Hospitality

Atlanta may be the most-visited but rarely-seen city in America — its international airport calls itself the world’s busiest in terms of passenger traffic. But if you’re like many travelers and only visit Atlanta to change planes, it’s time to…

A Royal Affair

Lake Charles flaunts Carnival royalty at the Mardi Gras Royal Gala

The Krewe of Highland

  Mardi Gras weather can turn on a dime, one reason my mother used to create costumes that could easily be worn as is or slipped over long sleeves and long johns. That was the case in Shreveport last year…

Louisiana Winter Beer Festival

  More than 40 breweries will be on tap at the Louisiana Winter Beer Festival from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 9, in the 1000 block of Ryan Street overlooking the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse and 1911 Historic City…

No Man’s Land

  When the United State purchased Louisiana from France, practically doubling the size of the country, their next-door neighbor had a few issues with the deal. Spain, which owned the territory that’s now Texas, disputed the boundary lines on its…

New Llano Colony

Chalk this under who knew, Louisiana? Labor lawyer and socialist Job Harriman was popular with the voters at the turn of the 20th century, but never enough to get elected. He ran for U.S. vice president with Eugene Debs in…

Cinema on the Bayou

  I used to beg festival organizers to place one in January, something festive to enjoy inside away from the wet, chilly weather. Then came Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival in Lafayette, a multi-day event that showcases numerous independent,…

Chasing Eagles

  Years ago, on a visit to Toledo Bend I spotted a bald eagle’s nest in a remote spot of South Toledo Bend State Park. When January rolled around this year and I was in bad need of a nature…

Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel Celebrates 25th Anniversary

  Like many Louisiana organizations, the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana looked to raise money and started small, opening the Chitimacha Bayouland Bingo. In December 1993, the tribe took things up a notch, transforming the bingo establishment into Cypress Bayou Casino,…

Hangin' in the Hub

Two hours from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, takes you to Jackson, New Orleans and the Coast, which is why it’s known as the Hub City. Shopping, craft breweries and art galleries dot the historic downtown and at the city’s heart lies the…

King Cakes

Twin’s Burgers & Sweet’s boudin king cake consists of a savory dough and boudin marriage, drizzled with Steen’s syrup on top and cracklin’ bits Carnival’s Gateau des Rois may have its beginnings in France but today’s Louisiana king cakes have…

Bienvenue, Papa Noel

While most of the United States anxiously awaits the arrival of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, in Louisiana children look for Papa Noel. To help the French Santa find their stockings hanging by the chimney with care, we light bonfires…

If Our Ancestors Decorated For The Holidays

  I’m a history nerd, so I must admit that part of me balks at the sight of holiday lights and laughing Santa Claus decorating a historic village. But only for a millisecond. As quickly as that idea floats through…

Breakaway largest ship to sail from New Orleans

This past week Norwegian Cruise Line brought its Norwegian Breakaway ship to the New Orleans port and now offers five- to 11-days cruises to the Caribbean. The Breakaway, named Best Cruise Ship for Families by USA Today, is now the…

2018 Louisiana Book Festival

It’s been 15 years since the inauguration of the Louisiana Book Festival and I have attended all but two events and can honestly say I’ve loved every minute. The annual fall festival gathers together dozens and dozens of authors celebrating…

This Time Of Year Is A Grave Affair

  “You should celebrate the end of a love affair as they celebrate death in New Orleans, with songs, laughter, dancing and a lot of wine.” —Francoise Sagan   Death may be a solemn affair in other parts of the…

Spirits of Louisiana

  There’s so much to love about the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge despite that Mark Twain once called it “pathetic." The castle-like structure sits on a hill facing the Mississippi River in the heart of downtown Baton Rouge,…

October in Alexandria

  October is an illuminating, artistic affair in downtown Alexandria. First up, the annual Fall Arts Council of Central Louisiana ArtWalk will be from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, with music, dance, visual artists and more than…

Lifting The Veil

Through the month of October, St. Landry Catholic Church Cemetery bring former residents to life

Rockin’ Ruston

  It’s “Loyal Blue Weekend” in Ruston, three days of football fun with Louisiana Tech, and this weekend the Bulldogs take on the University of Alabama at Birmingham. There will be a Rock the Railroad rally Friday night with live…

Get Lost In A Corn Maze

Fall comes slowly to Louisiana, with temperatures taking their sweet time to drop and trees turning colors closer to Thanksgiving than Halloween. If you’re eager for something that smells and tastes like autumn, besides the pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks,…

Catching Avian Visitors On Their Way South

  Louisiana is one of the last stops on the Mississippi Flyway, a highway of sorts for North American birds heading south for the winter and returning home every spring. Migratory birds are traveling this interstate right now, pausing in…

Game Day in Tiger Stadium

  There’s an old joke that in the South on football Saturdays, cities double in population. Take Baton Rouge, for instance, which counts around 228,000 residents within its city limits. When the LSU football team plays at home in a…

Raising the Bar

  When I was a child growing up in New Orleans my parents included me on an outing where they entertained an out-of-state client at the “Top of the Mart,” a rotating bar at the pinnacle of the World Trade…

SURE BET

Margaritaville Resort and Casino in Bossier Louisiana casinos may amply satisfy those with an adventurous spirit, but one amenity allows guests to leave behing the excitement of the gaming floor. Several casino resorts in the Bayou State offer spas and…

Desert Dreams

Bruno House   Lubbock might be the epitome of this column’s title, being that it’s one of the farthest flung cities in Texas. Flying into the flat, dry West Texas town, looking down on agricultural squares resembling a quilt of…

Nola on a Budget

  Long to go to New Orleans but the budget’s tight? If you don’t mind a little heat (okay, a lot of heat), then August is the perfect time to visit the Crescent City. Hotels are offering great deals, the…

Sail Away

Cruises out of New Orleans offer fun on the high seas and exotic locales

Take Flight

The Bird Lovers Travel Guide to the Pelican State

Historical Charm

Tours, tastings and taking in the sites round out a long, fun weekend in Natchez

Alabama Coasting

Beaches, Gulf seafood, wildlife and history abound in sweet home Alabama

Well Traveled

Three easy Louisiana destinations that put fun at your fingertips

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