Top 15 Things to Do in Shreveport
From a day at the aquarium to casinos and art galleries, you'll find something for everyone in Shreveport.
The Shreveport area, tucked in the northwestern corner of the state, is a grand mix of some of Louisiana's best southern food, casinos, culture and music. Find inspiration for your trip with our top 15 ideas.
Read on for:
- Family-Friendly Things to Do in Shreveport
- Art Galleries and Museums in Shreveport
- Restaurants and Culinary Experiences in Shreveport
- Nightlife in Shreveport
- Festivals in Shreveport
Family-Friendly Things to Do in Shreveport
See more than 1,000 animals at the Shreveport Aquarium.
Zip-line over alligators at Gators & Friends.
Visit the Cypress Zoo.
1. The Shreveport Aquarium
About 1,000 animals from 300 species call the Shreveport Aquarium home. Located on the city’s beautiful downtown riverfront, the aquarium focuses on immersive experiences, inviting families to walk through a specialized gallery where you can see some of the facility’s sharks, seahorses, eels and other sea creatures swim around.
2. Asian Gardens of Shreveport
The Asian Gardens of Shreveport is a lush oasis representing 15 Asian countries, inviting guests to stroll through beautifully landscaped gardens full of plants, flowers, statues and more on multiple levels.
3. Lakes and Adventure Parks
While Shreveport and Bossier City form north Louisiana's largest metro area, there's plenty of gorgeous surrounding natural areas worth exploring. Your range of outdoor adventures is great — whether you spend a day fishing on the Cypress Black Bayou or Caddo Lake, or go zip-lining over alligators at the Gators & Friends Adventure Park.
Learn about more outdoor adventures in Shreveport-Bossier.
Art Galleries and Museums in Shreveport
Explore exhibitions and events at Artspace.
Explore the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum.
Enjoy nature at the R.W. Norton Botanic Gardens.
4. The Agora Borealis
The Agora Borealis is an art gallery and market in a historic building in downtown Shreveport. This is northern Louisiana creativity at its most local, where you’ll find paintings, pottery, sculptures and more alongside furniture and jewelry.
5. Artspace
Artspace is not just a gallery or museum. It’s a venue for creativity in all forms. The self-described “arts center” hosts concerts, exhibitions, poetry readings and more, with a constantly changing roster of events that showcase northern Louisiana artists, plus works from Cuba, Ireland and other international destinations.
6. Southern University Museum of Art
As the only museum in North Louisiana dedicated to preserving the art and culture of the African and African American Diaspora, the Southern University Museum of Art makes art, artifacts and other treasured collections easily accessible to the public. Visitors can explore exhibits dedicated to African artifacts like ceremonial masks, statues, fabric, utensils and more, as well as works from prominent artists, including Fred Ajanogha, Walter Washington and Eric J. Brown.
7. Louisiana State Exhibit Museum
You can tell you’re somewhere special before you even step inside the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum. The Art Deco-era museum’s portico, built in the late 1930s, features massive frescoes that introduce visitors to the themes of the museum itself — Louisiana’s history of labor and the economic forces that made the state’s culture so unique. The museum’s galleries feature remarkably detailed dioramas depicting life in the swamps, sugarcane and rice plantations, factories and oilfields.
8. R.W. Norton Art Gallery and Botanic Gardens
“Diverse” is perhaps the best way to describe the R.W. Norton Art Gallery. Its massive collection of art, rare books, decorations and garden plants are anything but ordinary, as the property houses everything from John James Audubon nature prints to 16th century tapestries to an astounding azalea collection.
Restaurants and Culinary Experiences in Shreveport
Savor Cajun and Creole fare at Orlandeaux’s.
Sip a craft beer at Great Raft Brewing.
Herby K's. Image Credit: Visit Shreveport-Bossier
9. Orlandeaux’s Café
Formerly known as Brother’s Seafood — the oldest continuously operated African-American family-owned restaurant in the United States — Orlandeaux’s Café and its previous iterations have been serving Shreveport guests “Just the Way You Like It” since 1921. And how does Shreveport like it? Cajun and Creole-style, of course! Try the zesty gumbo, piled-high po’boys, a plate of famous stuffed shrimp or fish dipped in the restaurant’s legendary tartar sauce.
10. Herby K’s
No visit to Shreveport would be complete without a meal at Herby K’s. Dining at this historic restaurant (the city’s oldest) is more than a meal. It’s a rite of passage. The place is most famous for its open-faced Shrimp Buster po’boy, a butterflied fried shrimp sandwich served on toasted French bread and served with fries, slaw and the highly addictive Shrimp Buster sauce.
11. Local Breweries
Louisiana has been undergoing a craft beer renaissance for the past few years, and thanks to Great Raft Brewing and Flying Heart Brewing, northwestern Louisiana has been at the forefront. We recommend the delicious hot chicken at Great Raft, or the hand-tossed Cajun pizza, served with a side of gris gris sauce, at Flying Heart. Take a brewery tour, taste a beer (or two) in the taproom or stop by for live music and other fun events.
Discover culinary experiences in Shreveport and Bossier City.
Nightlife in Shreveport
12. Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
Built in the 1920s featuring elaborate brickwork and a lavish interior, the Art Deco-inspired Shreveport Municipal Auditorium actually served as an army barracks before becoming known as an internationally famous performance hall. That happened in 1948, when a new weekly music program called “The Louisiana Hayride” began shining a light on up-and-coming artists who would later become big stars. Just how big? Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley himself played here. Now, visitors can enjoy stage plays, concerts and more in this historic auditorium.
13. Casinos
Shreveport and neighboring Bossier City are home to numerous casinos with fine food and upscale amenities. On the Shreveport side of the Red River, you’ll find Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino, Bally's Shreveport and many more. Classic casino games — blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat and poker — are on hand, as well as hotel accommodations, live music venues and spas.
Learn more about gaming in Shreveport and Bossier City.
14. Fatty Arbuckles
To experience a taste of nightlife in Shreveport, stop by Fatty Arbuckle's - one of downtown Shreveport's oldest standing lounges. The pub features live entertainment, a large selection of whiskeys, rare bourbons and an extensive rotating craft cocktail menu.
Festivals in Shreveport
Celebrate Louisiana’s favorite crustacean at Mudbug Madness.
Listen to live music at the Red River Revel Arts Festival.
CORK Wine Festival. Image Credit: Visit Shreveport-Bossier
15. Festivals
In addition to all the excitement we’ve compiled above, don't miss Shreveport's amazing festivals that take place all year-round. The annual Mudbug Madness Festival celebrates the love for crawfish, Red River Revel Arts Festival celebrates local food, music and art and the CORK Wine Festival samples more than 80 wines from around the world.
To learn about even more things to do in the area, visit the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau.
