Start from 27 curated places around Alexandria, LA, then choose the recommendations that fit your guests.
Restaurants & cafés
The Diamond Grill
A former jewelry store in downtown Alexandria with soaring two-story ceilings and a mezzanine bar that has become the city's go-to for a proper night out. The menu runs from crab cakes and wedge salads to well-cut steaks and a lobster quesadilla that locals order as a reliable splurge.
Wildwood Pizza
Alexandria's first wood-fired pizza oven arrived at this corner spot in the Garden District neighborhood, and the locally sourced toppings and hand-stretched dough have made it one of the most talked-about tables in Cenla. The covered sidewalk seating fills up with families and couples who linger well past their last slice.
Trails & outdoors
Kincaid Reservoir Shoreline Trail
An 11.9-mile out-and-back trail winding along the wooded shore of a 2,600-acre reservoir inside Kisatchie National Forest, roughly 18 kilometers west of Alexandria along Highway 28. Long-leaf pine forest alternates with lake views, and resident bald eagles are spotted regularly along the far sections.
Red River Levee Trail
A paved and gravel path running along the top of the Red River levee through downtown Alexandria, giving walkers and joggers unobstructed views across the river to Pineville and a breezy corridor through the heart of the city. The trail connects the downtown arts district to River Front Park and serves as the backbone of Alexandria's walkable riverfront.
Things to do
Alexandria Zoological Park
One of the oldest continuously operating zoos in the South, this 500-animal collection has been welcoming Cenla families since the early 20th century and still draws visitors for its jaguar habitat, otters with underwater viewing windows, and the Louisiana Habitat Exhibit that puts the local ecosystem front and center. The train ride through the grounds is a reliable crowd-pleaser.
Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center
A 615-seat proscenium theater in the downtown cultural arts district operated by the Arts Council of Central Louisiana, hosting the Rapides Symphony Orchestra, the Lagniappe Theatre Company, visiting dance companies, and the occasional national touring act. The acoustic design and comfortable seating make it a legitimate regional venue rather than an afterthought.
Landmarks & sights
Alexandria Museum of Art
Housed in a grand late-19th-century Rapides Bank building on downtown's main strip, this museum cycles through five to seven thoughtful exhibitions per year ranging from Louisiana artists to national touring shows. The volunteer docents know the collection well and are happy to walk you through anything that catches your eye.
Kent Plantation House
The oldest standing structure in Central Louisiana, built before the Louisiana Purchase, this working-history site walks you through the plantation's full story including the enslaved community whose labor shaped it. The outbuildings, kitchen, and blacksmith shop give a rare complete picture of early-19th-century Rapides Parish life.