Things to Do When You Visit Shreveport and Bossier City
Keep reading for what to see, do, eat, and where to stay during a weekend trip in Shreveport and Bossier City. These are perfect for couples, a girls’ weekend, or even for family trips with older kids.
In October, I had the privilege of spending a long weekend in Shreveport, Louisiana for a hosted stay after attending TBEX in Lafayette.
First off, I need to admit a particular fact when it comes to northern Louisiana. With the exception of a visit to Louisiana Tech when I was discerning where to attend school, my experience with everything outside of southeast Louisiana was drive-bys. You know, driving from point A to point B with only stops for gas, food, and a restroom.
For me, Shreveport was a good stopping point when coming from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. My boys have a particular affinity for Whataburger and there’s one just off the interstate at an exit prior to Shreveport proper.
After a few days of sampling the sights, smells, and sounds, I now know there is a lot to experience in the area. I was fortunate to have two ladies from the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau pulling together the itinerary and then taking me and another travel writer all over the area.
For the uninitiated, Shreveport & Bossier City form the third largest metropolitan area for the state of Louisiana. Found in northwest Louisiana, the cities are separated by the Red River. The Texas Street bridge (also known as Bakowski Bridge of Lights) joins the two cities.
Places to Visit in Shreveport & Bossier City
By no means is this an exhaustive list. My long weekend started late on a Saturday and carried over through Monday. The downside is that many places wind down on Saturday.
But that didn’t stop us from having a good time!
Part of the weekend was spent at Prize Fest, an annual event that spans two weekends in mid-October.
We caught the second night of Music Prize and then attended Fashion Prize. The dress below was one of my favorite pieces. I would SO wear it, although I’d prefer a rich purple to the coral.
Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
We went on what is called “The Elvis Presley Tour” with our guide Robin. She has a passion for history that edified us inside the auditorium as well as an impromptu walk through the nearby cemetery.
The building was constructed after the First World War. A small structure sat to the side where they made bricks that were used for the building. Now that space houses statues of Elvis Presley and James Burton.
When people mention Elvis, they may think about Memphis, Tennessee, and Graceland. Maybe they recall his childhood hometown of Tupelo, Mississippi. But, the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium played a huge role in his early career as he was under contract to play there every Saturday night.
While the tour title might have had “The King” named, the history shared with us encompassed so much more. The stage floor has never been refinished. It contains the blood, sweat, and tears of so many wonderful artists who have performed there with more to come as it is an active venue.
We learned a bit about the architecture of the different spaces inside, including how the center doors into the auditorium could not be used by anyone considered colored. Back then, that phrase included Italians. So, I’d have been going in the side doors alongside my black and Jewish friends. An ironic fact is that the architect was Jewish and couldn’t use those doors.
I could go on (and on!) with more interesting facts about this building. Like the secret map work done by ladies in the basement during the Second World War. Or, the two ghosts that frequent at particular times. Instead, I recommend adding this to your must-see places when visiting Shreveport.
Private tours need to be arranged in advance and have a minimum eight-person requirement. There is a limited schedule of public tours.
Gardens of the American Rose Center
I adore spending time in nature, including roaming about in search of blooming flowers.
We had traditional roses when living in western New York and now have a circle of tea roses here in south Mississippi.
The American Rose Center is a lovely place to visit if you enjoy walking through gardens or have a serious love of roses. It was quiet when we visited.
During the week, they are open year-round. For weekend hours, they are only open April 1st to October 31st.
Towards the back, you will find a Japanese Garden space along with areas for quiet reflection. It was all very calming.
I have heard that they offer a wonderful holiday lights display called Christmas in Roseland.
I suspect late May would be a wonderful time to go and see many more roses in bloom. I would be game for either then or during their holiday lights display.
R.W. Norton Art Gallery and Botanical Gardens
In the early 1920’s, Richard W. Norton became one of the discoverers of the Rodessa Oil Field in north Louisiana. With some of his newfound wealth, his wife and son began to build an art collection. In 1946, they created the R.W. Norton Art Foundation which eventually started the R.W. Norton Art Gallery.
Inside you will find many works of art spanning over four millennia. Some of them were from the Norton family’s original collection.
This was a perfect spot for a rainy Sunday afternoon. Everything is spaced out to allow for quiet contemplation. I could have easily spent more time and would gladly pay a return visit.
They are open Thursday – Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. No need for reservations or the purchase of tickets as admission is free.
Since it was raining when we went, we did not walk through the Botanical Gardens. I suspect they are delightful given the smaller arrangements you could see from inside the museum.
Find your Artistic Side at High Gravity Glassworks
The ability to make your own work of art under the guidance of a glassworks artist has taken off in recent years. High Gravity Glassworks is one option in the greater Shreveport – Bossier City area.
There were people finishing when we arrived and more coming in when we left. I’d say the glassworks experience is popular!
We made heart-shaped paperweights on a Sunday afternoon. As they are thick, they had to cure in the kiln for more than 24 hours. They were ready for pick up on Tuesday morning.
I’ll admit that the HEAT coupled with knowledge of how bad burns can be had me with a healthy respect for the space.
Even with a dose of nerves, it was a great experience.
Now I have a gorgeous heart-shaped paperweight for my desk at work.
Where to Find Delicious Food
I’m including several of the places where I ate plus one we were going to visit but skipped to catch some zzzs.
I will mention how my experience went as someone who is gluten-free for medical reasons.
Orlandeaux’s Café
Orlandeaux’s Cafe offers both mouthwatering food and a stellar view as it sits on Cross Lake.
This is an extremely popular spot, so I recommend going outside of the ‘normal’ meal time. We arrived for lunch around 12:30 p.m. and had approximately a 45-minute wait.
With space to roam and soak in the lakeside atmosphere, I didn’t mind the wait. I did notice that people arriving closer to 2 p.m. had little to no wait for a table.
The family’s original establishment, Freeman & Harris Café, was the birthplace of Shreveport-style stuffed shrimp. You’ll still find that on the menu along with other staples of Louisiana Creole Cuisine.
Our server was extremely helpful, offering to double-check on a few dishes to see if they were safe for me to eat,
I opted for a side dish of Red Beans and Rice (bringing the cornbread home for my boys) and the Tankey salad that was HUGE. I ate all the shrimp with a few bites of lettuce and brought the rest home with me.
With their in-house salad dressing, it was a fabulous lunch. I’d like to point out that what looked like diced cucumber is really their in-house pickles. I wasn’t expecting that, so it took me by surprise.
The Missing Link
Set amid the highrise buildings of Downtown Shreveport, you’ll find The Missing Link.
The name is a play on the main attraction – gourmet hot dogs.
While I do enjoy a good, high-quality dog on occasion, I opted to go a little lighter with a salad version of a chicken sandwich. The gal taking orders verified with the chef that all of their meats were gluten-free. It was only what went on them or the bun used.
Yes, it was as good as it looks!
Ki’ Mexico
This cantina is NOT your typical Mexican restaurant. The menu has many unique items with pairings I would have not come up with on my own.
One thing to note, there are NO substitutions or custom ordering off the menu. They have developed incredible dishes that deserve to be experienced as intended.
Ask away about ingredients if you have a food allergy or sensitivity. then choose one that has ingredients you can have. Our server quickly pointed out my best options and there were plenty!
While we sat inside, the guests who opted for the covered outdoor space were treated to live music on a Sunday afternoon.
If you adore cheese, make sure to get an order of Quesabrosa. Our server brought out some warm corn tortillas for me. So good and there was a TON leftover.
BeauxJax Crafthouse
Sitting in the East Bank District of Bossier City, BeauxJax caters to those wanting good food with a Cajun flair. You can eat inside or opt for a table in the outdoor space up front. As the weather was still warm that evening, we stayed outside.
This gluten-free gal greatly appreciated that they marked the menu so I knew what I could eat and what needed to be skipped.
The Crawfish PepperJax Mac looked and smelled amazing. But, this popular dish was a pass for me.
Instead, I went with Shrimp and Grits. It was delicious with a generous portion I barely finished.
There is something unique about the East Bank District. It is the only other open container street in the state of Louisiana outside of New Orleans.
So, while we ate dinner at BeauxJax, my drink came from The Frozen Pirogue just a few doors down. I had their Cajun Peach Smash.
Ghost Ramen
This is the one I missed. I know that most of my boys would be over the moon going here for some authentic ramen.
You’ll find it inside a bar (Straycat) and only on certain days of the week and late at night.
Strawn’s Eat Shop
We visited the original location on East Kings Highway in Shreveport. They have one in Bossier City and another on the south side of Shreveport.
Strawn’s Eat Shop is a local favorite that has been in operation since 1946. This is classic diner fare and their strawberry iced box pie is nationally known. The walls are covered in murals, many of them reflecting the people who have either worked there or visited.
Our waitress gave me the bad news that almost everything on their menu is full of gluten. I opted for the Facebook Salad with grilled chicken (marinated in Italian dressing), feta cheese, and strawberries.
If you or people traveling with you adore a good old-fashioned diner, Strawn’s is definitely the place to go.
Where I Stayed
You have so many options for where to stay in the greater Shreveport – Bossier City area. The deciding factor is what you want to be near.
For my trip, I stayed at the Hilton Shreveport. They are connected to the Convention Center with a covered bridge to the large garage for parking.
The rooms are spacious, the staff is friendly, and you are minutes away from all the things.
I appreciated the small refrigerator for keeping my drinks cold and the view towards the Red River for gorgeous sunrise viewing.
Have you ever visited Shreveport or Bossier City?
Which of these places would you add to your itinerary?
My trip to Shreveport – Bossier City was hosted by Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau for editorial purposes. All opinions are our own.
This post is featured in Corinne’s Louisiana Bucket List post.