Shreveport-Bossier: Holiday to Louisiana’s Other Side

A great way to start your trip is taking a spin on the Spirit of the Red River Cruise. Lasting about an hour, this popular cruise is a great way to find out where all the popular riverfront attractions are located and learn a bit about the history of Shreveport-Bossier. In addition to the tour of the popular riverfront, you’ll go farther up river where you can see some of the local wildlife.

If you are looking see an alligator, head to Gators and Friends Alligator Park and Exotic Zoo. As well as being able to see giant alligators at feeding time, if you’re brave enough, you can hold a baby one. There’s a petting zoo, with a great variety of animals and an opportunity for children to help at feeding time. For a bird’s-eye view of the zoo, jump on the zip-line, which includes a pass over the alligators.

Time to relax and have a drink? Book a free Saturday tour of Great Raft Brewing. It’s a well-known micro-brewery dedicated to making creative, authentic beer. As well as producing fantastic beers, they’ve managed to create a great ambiance for anyone who’s visiting, which can be experienced in the popular tasting room. It can get pretty busy on a Friday or Saturday night, making this a great way to mingle with the local residents.

To up the excitement a bit more, try out one of the many casinos along the Red River. With world-class gaming facilities, entertainment, restaurants and bars, the excitement is almost guaranteed. You could also check out Shreveport-Bossier’s own “racino,” Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, which features a horse racing track.

If you happen to be in Shreveport-Bossier during the Memorial Day weekend in late May, the Mudbug Madness Festival is a must-go. This festival has been running for more than 30 years and is a fantastic way to experience Louisiana culture. There’s a smorgasbord of mouth-watering food, including Cajun and Creole cuisine, crawfish, alligator tail on a stick and even fried cheesecake. You’ll get to hear renowned Zydeco, Cajun, Jazz and Blues musicians, and Rock and Folk bands. There’s even crawfish-eating contests and loads of activities for children

Shreveport-Bossier immerses you in rich Louisiana culture with plenty to do for everyone. As they say: “See It. Bet It. Taste It.”  Just make sure you don’t miss it.