Although Madison is about 30 minutes from Monroe, I highly recommend checking out this adorable small town if you have the time. The city center is surrounded by historic houses, small shops, and delicious places to eat, specifically Patisserie on Main or Oconee Coffee Roasters.
As this is the main area for hotel recommendations, some might like to know that this small town was also the filming location for the Vampire Diaries TV show. There are also multiple state parks in the area worth checking out.