Looking for a vacation destination with a wide variety of things to see and do? Then Shreveport, Louisiana should be on your travel radar! With its sister city Bossier City just across the Red River, Shreveport has much to offer the traveler. Shreveport attractions include festivals, sporting events, historical sites and sounds, art galleries, museums, performing arts, entertainment, and legendary local cuisine.

As a travel blogger, I explore famous and historic sites and share stories and tips. In this post, I share highlights of my hometown and some personal favorites. Take it from a long-time local, Shreveport visitors discover that there’s plenty to do and great places to eat. It’s the city you didn’t know you should visit! Here’s why!!

Explore Incredible Free Museums

One of the gems of our city is the significant collection of paintings, sculptures, and the rare books of the R.W. Norton Art Gallery. My

favorites are sculptures by Auguste Rodin and Frederic Remington and the beautiful, white marble sculpture, Fragelina. This free museum and art gallery was opened in 1966 and continues to expand its offerings, including the lovely botanical gardens and grounds featuring 40 acres of azaleas (blooming in April!), sculptures, and beautiful walkways. Pack your picnic lunch and blanket and enjoy an afternoon at the gardens of Norton!

The Louisiana State Exhibit Building is located at the Louisiana Fairgrounds. It features 23 incredible dioramas showing glimpses of Louisiana agriculture and industries from the 1930’s and 1940’s. The

museum also displays Louisiana art, natural resources and wildlife exhibits, Civil War objects, and many Native American artifacts, including a 30-foot bald cypress log boat from A.D. 1035 that was excavated near Shreveport.

 

(Note: I do miss Charlie-Bob, the alligator that lived in the museum fountain for decades.)

The Shreveport Waterworks Museum is a unique display of a preserved steam-powered municipal water works plant. Learn about water purification and see the entire physical plant (pumps, filters, and other machinery) after more than 100 years of service.

At the same location, the Railroad Museum displays railroad artifacts from north Louisiana and shows the use of steam in transportation.

See vintage aircraft at the Barksdale Global Power Museum and learn about Barksdale Air Force Base and the 2nd Bomb Wing.

Enjoy Shreveport’s Historic Venues

The Strand Theatre is a historic downtown theatre that is the official state theatre of Louisiana. This majestic building was completed in 1925 as a

2,500 seat opera house. Restored in the 1980’s, it boasts a 14-foot chandelier and ornate features throughout. The Strand hosts touring

Broadway shows, concerts, and local performances and is a grand treasure of the city. I enjoy the show AND the Strand!

One historic Shreveport attraction is the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium a concert venue that was home to the legendary Louisiana Hayride radio broadcast on KWKH. It was on a live broadcast on the Municipal stage in 1954 that 19-year old Elvis Presley’s

career was launched and where he performed every Saturday night in 1955. Yes, “Elvis has left the building”-was THIS building! This grand hall hosted many big names in music history, and after renovations is once

again a major venue for music, performances, and community events. No surprise there’s a statue of Elvis Presley in front of the building, and the street name is Elvis Presley Blvd.

Come See Why We Love Festivals!

There are some great festivals held in Shreveport, many located downtown at Festival Plaza. The Red River Revel Arts Festival is an 8-day event in October celebrating artistry and community and includes over 100 artist booths, live music on 4 stages, food booths benefiting local organizations,

and fun areas for kids. Mudbug Madness is all about crawfish (don’t EVEN say crayfish!). Memorial Day weekend gets fired up with great music, family fun, and a 5K race as the mudbugs simmer in spices. Another fun event every spring is Holiday in Dixie. Locals and Shreveport visitors enjoy a 10-day event with live music, food booths, a parade, carnival rides, a treasure hunt, and the Barksdale Air Force air show. Let the Good Times Roll is a week-long celebration of African American culture held in June. Enjoy soul, hip-hop, R&B, and gospel music, and family fun, food, and art booths. And if you like parades, Shreveport goes BIG when it comes to Mardi Gras parades. Throw me something, mister! It’s crazy but there are over 50 festivals each year, so you’ll want to get in on the fun.

And if you like festivals, you’ll also enjoy the fair. In the fall, the Louisiana State Fair comes to Shreveport to the Louisiana Fairgrounds. It includes a large carnival midway, livestock show, rodeo event, exhibit buildings, competitive events, and free concerts. And the best concessions!

Discover These Favorite Shreveport Attractions!

A new arrival on the local scene is the Shreveport Aquarium on the riverfront. You’ll enjoy a walk through the tunnel with sharks swimming

above you. If you’ve always wanted to pet jellyfish, this is the place! Even though it’s new, families are already making return visits to this fun aquarium. SALT, the on-site restaurant, is available with optional riverfront patio dining.

Shreveport is home to both the national headquarters of the American Rose Society and the gardens of the of the national American Rose Center. This 118-acre beautifully landscaped tract features more than 20,000 rosebushes. The gardens are in bloom from spring to fall, and the center transforms to Christmas in Roseland in November and December.

Explore the world of science at Sci-Port Discovery Center on the riverfront of downtown Shreveport. Kids of all ages enjoy hands-on exhibits and explore math, science, and technology through the Power of Play (POP) Children’s Museum, the Planetarium, and the IMAX Theatre.

Shreveporters love the Robinson Film Center, a downtown movie house showing independent, international, and classic movies. Abby Singer’s Bistro is its full-service restaurant and bar. Dinner and a movie!

And here’s a nod to the outstanding entertainment from the local performing arts community in Shreveport-Bossier. Check here to get performance information for the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, Shreveport Opera, Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet, and community theatre productions.

Shop Like the Locals

Shreveport and Bossier City have many locally owned retail shops scattered across the area. You won’t have to look hard to find local clothing stores, craft shops, jewelry stores, hardware stores, home decor, bridal shops, gift shops, and more. There’s a nice stretch of popular local stores and restaurants in the 5800-6500 blocks of Line Avenue in Shreveport. Check it out! And there are malls and shopping centers as well as the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City, the largest outlet mall in

Louisiana. With 60+ outdoor retail stores and restaurants, a cinema, carousel, trolley, hotel, and riverfront views, the Boardwalk is a happening place.

Become a Sports Fan!

Shreveport loves to host sporting events. As our country celebrated its Bicentennial in 1976, Shreveport held its inaugural college football bowl game, the Independence Bowl. Now the 11th oldest bowl game, the Indy

Bowl is held in late December and is played at Shreveport’s Independence Stadium. Shreveport is also home to the Shreveport Mudbugs hockey team and Shreveport Rafters Futbol Club. And the city regularly hosts many amateur, professional, and youth tournaments and championships.

Or you might get lucky and see monster trucks, angler tournaments, wrestling, triathlons, hot air balloon rallies, and powerboat events.

See Headliner Entertainment

Bossier City hosts big-time entertainment at their CenturyLink Center, a 14,000-seat arena/concert venue. Big names such as Elton John, Taylor Swift, and Paul McCartney have performed to sell-out crowds. Century Link also hosts performances such as Disney on Ice and circus events.

Six riverboat casinos dot the riverfronts of both cities, showcasing concerts and performances. See what’s happening on the river!

Indulge in some Favorite Foods

Eat like the locals do when you visit Shreveport and try these authentic LONG-TIME FAVORITES! Get a Shrimp Buster at Herby-K’s, an iconic hole-in-the-wall family restaurant since 1936.

Stop by Fertitta’s Delicatessen for their signature sandwich, the Muffy, and you’ll know why this mom-and-pop deli has served over a million since opening in 1927.

Think fried or smothered or both and get the diner experience at the Cotton Boll, where Shreveporters have eaten since the 1930s.

Serving great house specialties at lunch is Jacquelyn’s Cafe in their 40+ years at the same location. Ralph and Kacoo’s has been serving spicy Cajun favorites and New Orleans-style seafood in Bossier since 1969. Joe Cobb’s BBQ in Bossier City and Hickory Stick in Shreveport have been serving up tender, smoked meats for many decades.

Local Italian restaurant Monjunis serves amazing lasagna and an unbelievable shrimp pasta salad. Enjoy mint tea with your meal and buy a jar of pasta sauce to go.

Johnny’s Pizza has been serving the best pizza across north Louisiana for over 50 years, including their famous “Sweep the Kitchen” pizza with everything on it! Follow the crowd to Superior Bar and Grill for great Mexican food and local’s choice for best margarita.

Southern Maid Donuts began serving up donuts at their Hearne Avenue location in 1946. Locals know these are the best donuts and are still lining up at this vintage location where they serve ’em up HOT at 4 p.m.! FUN FACT: the only commercial that Elvis Presley did was for this donut shop!!

Counter Culture began serving up their yogurt-piled-high specialty treat, the Humphrey Yogart, at their original (and best) location on Kings Highway in 1977. The best pies in town (and great burgers too) are served at Strawn’s Eat Shop, and yes I prefer the atmosphere at the original location on Kings Highway. Or maybe you’re hoping for mid-afternoon English tea served Victorian style.

Head over to the Glenwood Tea Room and be sure to have cheddar scones with your pot of hot tea (served with milk and sugar, please).

And speaking of Victorian, the Mabry House was built in 1902 and offers elegant dining and wonderful cuisine in a lovely restored Victorian home.

What’s your favorite place to visit in Shreveport and favorite place to eat? Leave me a comment below!

This article was written by Shreveport native and travel blogger Candy Ray, owner and content creator of TrueheartTravels.com.