Top Restaurants & Things to Do in Alexandria, LA
Looking for things to do in the Alexandria, LA, area? Because we love our community so much, we put together a guide to Alexandria, so you can get to know the city and all our favorites! Whether you are moving to the neighborhood or just visiting, you will come across plenty of amusing attractions, as well as some of the the very best eats the area has to offer. See what kind of fun you can have here!
Get to Know the Alexandria, LA, Neighborhood
Population: 47,012
Median Home Value: $148,900
Median Rent: $831
In the center of Louisiana, Alexandria sits along the Red River between Shreveport and Lafayette. It is the county seat of Rapides Parish. Although in the north end of it, you will find the city still immersed in the region’s Cajun culture, which evident in the cuisine and celebrations.
Alexandria welcome sign and obelisk on Louisiana Highway 28 by Robinaire lic CC BY-SA 4.0
Things to Do in Alexandria, LA
Interested in the arts? Alexandria is home to a number of museums and sites that can spark your creativity as you learn more about the area. The Alexandria Museum of Art acts as the premier art facility for Central Louisiana. Come for programming, special events, or just to see the different exhibits. The Coughlin-Saunders Performing Arts Center is the place to be for concerts, plays, musicals, and other performances. You can see local performers as well as touring artists. For a look at some local history, an afternoon trip to the Louisiana History Museum downtown will give you an excellent overview. Not only will you get to dive deep into Alexandria’s history, but you can also do so with state history among one of the most prominent collections of historical artifacts in Louisiana. There are plenty of things to do around Alexandria, LA!
3 Cant-Miss Cultural Events
Mardi Gras
Obviously, you have to check out Alexandria’s Mardi Gras festivities. Take in the wonder of the parades with more than 20 floats and krewes. Each year, a distinguished individual from either the state or Central Louisiana region is chosen to serve as the Grand Marshall of the Sunday Krewe Parade, and the reigning Miss Teen Louisiana serves as the Grand Marshall for the children’s parade. There are also events and parties throughout the city for all age levels!
Alex River Fête
Alexandria’s spring celebration is called River Fête. The three-day event features the Louisiana Dragon Boat Races, Dinner on the Bricks, and Art Fête. Usually held in late April/early May, the festival is a wonderful opportunity to get outside and take advantage of the nice weather!
Alex WinterFête
Join the residents of Alexandria in their annual winter festival! Walk through dozens of local vendors and listen to music as you take in the joy of the holiday season. Kids can write letters to Santa Claus and even get to meet him! And in the past, there has also been an ice rink for the crowd to enjoy.
Restaurants You Need to Try for Yourself
- Rosie Jo’s – Like we said before, Alexandria is home to many Creole-influenced restaurants. Classic spots like Rosie Jo’s have become staples for crawfish, shrimp, and other local seafood.
- Koal’s Bar-B-Que & Steakhouse – At the proclaimed “Louisiana’s best barbeque restaurant,” you will find all kinds of Southern comfort food. The menu features Texas-style brisket and Kansas City-style ribs—just to name a few.
- Sombreros Mexican Kitchen & Cantina – This extensive menu has something for everyone in your party, and chalupas, tacos, and tamales are only the beginning. Stop in Tuesdays for Family Night or Wednesdays for Fiesta Night!
- Spirits Food & Friends – The “Spirit Way” is going local whenever possible. That means food, beer, and live music options from the Alexandria area.
- Verona’s Italian Restaurant – When you are having a fixing for Italian cuisine, Verona’s has high marks on its food and service.
Settle into the Area with Storage Sense in Alexandria, LA
Now that you have learned about the area, let us help you map out the best course of action for settling into your new space. Besides providing resources to help you explore the city, Storage Sense also offers self storage solutions at our multiple Alexandria, LA, locations. We have temperature-controlled and drive-up storage units from which you can select your rental. Our storage experts are available in our office on Lodi Road during office hours to help you through the rental process and answer any questions you come up with along the way. Stop by for some storage advice, or stay completely contact-free by using our online rental system.
Our contactless storage rentals make it simple to browse and select your storage unit among our different storage options from different facilities. Rent or reserve storage from our Lodi Road location, as well as our annexes on Windermere Boulevard and Twin Bridges Road. Get started with us today. Rent online to start saving space with Storage Sense!
Storage Sense Offers More Storage Units at:
240 Windermere Boulevard, Alexandria, LA
502 Twin Bridges Road, Alexandria, LA
Tim Glasow
About the Author: Tim is an SEO Strategist at Storage Asset Management in York, PA. He is a self-storage industry specialist who has written about everything from storage advice and helpful resources to industry trends. In his free time, Tim enjoys sampling craft beer and exploring the local music scene.
