Our first big stop wasn’t technically on our route, but we are big Duck Dynasty fans and love everything the Robertson family stands for. Asher is especially a mega-fan, so we knew it would be a shame not to stop in West Monroe since we were already heading that direction.

West Monroe is a small, quaint town—and honestly, Duck Commander is the biggest thing there! It’s funny because the building sits right off the main road and looks exactly like it does on the show. The kids were praying we’d bump into a family member, and—spoiler alert—keep reading to see who we ran into that day!

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Duck Commander Museum

The Duck Commander museum was not only affordable but also so well done. It was in-depth, with rooms covering Phil and Kay’s early life, their parents, artifacts from the family, and so many details from the show.

One of the highlights was the duck call room where everyone got to make their own duck calls while Jase gave instructions on a TV screen. The kids whipped theirs together in record time—and when I say they blew them, I mean blew them. If we’d been outside, I’m convinced every duck in Louisiana would have flown straight to us!

There was also a room dedicated to Phil’s movie The Blind, which shares his testimony. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it. It’s an incredible story about how God brought Phil from a very dark place to a surrendered life. Watching it again through the lens of the museum was both inspiring and faith-growing.

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The Gift Shop (and a Surprise Sighting!)

The gift shop was full of everything you could imagine—Duck Dynasty gear, Sadie Robertson merchandise, and even a sweet tea station where, if you buy a Si cup, you can drink sweet tea “just like Si.”

Now, the coolest part of our visit: while we were browsing, Lil Will (Willie and Korie’s adopted son) and his wife Abby came out and started filming a TikTok right in front of us. It was such a fun surprise! I debated whether to play it cool or totally geek out… in the end, I went for the “quick creeper” photo moment, because how often do you get that chance? 😅

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Dinner at Trapp’s

That evening, we ate at a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant on the river called Trapp’s, and it was delicious. Crawfish was a must-order appetizer (when in Louisiana, right?). I loved it so much I doubled down and ordered stuffed ravioli with crawfish étouffée for my meal. Absolute chef’s kiss!

The kids, of course, stuck to their usual chicken fingers and fries. (Anyone else’s kids have the same “go-to” menu everywhere? If you have tips on how to get them to branch out, I’m all ears!)

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Final Thoughts

If you’re a Duck Dynasty fan, West Monroe is absolutely worth a stop. I’d recommend about two hours for the Duck Commander museum, then spend the rest of the day walking along the river, browsing antique shops, and definitely eating at Trapp’s. The outside may not look like much, but the food will leave you speechless.

This was such a fun first big stop on our cross-country adventure, and it set the tone for the rest of our journey!