Things to do & places to visit in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States

The Red River is the heart and soul of Shreveport, a cultural and gaming center on the Louisiana/Texas border. Riverboat casinos evoke the glamour and mystery of the past while providing modern travelers with thrills and excitement. If the tables aren't your style, take a trip over the neon-lit Texas Street Bridge to the horse-racing at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, Shreveport's thriving sister city. Visitors can unwind in one of Shreveport's botanical oases and enjoy the area's fine waterfront dining, shopping and entertainment. Shreveport sizzles in the summertime but has a temperate climate for the rest of the year.

Shreveport city in Louisiana, United States. Timezone: America/Chicago, current date and time: Wednesday, May 08, 2024, 19:50.

Top things to do (23)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 The Strand Theatre (18 reviews)
- Beautiful!
Spent 2-3 hours Theaters

Was going to Bossier City and saw Beautiful - The Carole King Story was going to be there playing one night. The theater was easy to find and parking was not a problem. The facility was just beautiful. Built in the 1920's and the elegance was intact. Sound was excellent. Was almost sold out when I purchased my tickets...sort of in the nosebleed section, but they were still great tickets. Steps are pretty steep, like most older theaters, but folks working there were very helpful. Wish I lived closer, I would become a season ticket holder! See more..
5.0 Shreveport Little Theatre (10 reviews)
- America's longest running theatre company
Spent 2-3 hours Theaters

Always a great schedule of quality plays. Top notch direction and acting. Definitely worth a visit on your next trip to Shreveport. See more..
5.0 Artspace (10 reviews)
- Artspace ‘Art of the Guitar’ exhibition
Spent 1-2 hours Convention Centers

Our visit to ‘Artspace’ was very enjoyable & the staff are very friendly. We saw the James Burton ‘Art of the Guitar’ exhibition & it was amazing! We enjoyed our lunch at the in house restaurant & highly recommended! See more..
5.0 Southern University Museum of Art at Shreveport (6 reviews)
- Interesting place to visit
Art Museums
My husband and I enjoyed our visit here. There was a lot of interesting things to look at and read about and it was free of charge. See more..
4.5 R. W. Norton Art Gallery (376 reviews)
- Art museum housing a nationally significant collection in a beautiful setting
Wednesday: Art Museums

The Norton’s permanent collection is quite extensive, including the works of over 100 artists ... from Renaissance Old Masters, to modernist iconoclasts and contemporary neo-realists. In addition, our museum possesses hundreds of sculptures ranging from miniatures and maquettes to life-size pieces in media including bronze, silver, marble, and wood. Among the oldest works in the Norton are six tapestries dating from the 16th century which once graced the palace of a King of France, while decorative arts are also featured throughout the museum, including works in porcelain, pressed and blown glass, and 18th - 19th century silver. See more..
4.5 Sci-Port Discovery Center (332 reviews)
- An experience that is brand new every time you enter!
Wednesday: Spent 2-3 hours Science Museums

Sci-Port Discover Center is a 92,000 square-foot science and entertainment center made up of Louisiana’s Space and Science Center, Power of Play Children’s Museum (POP) and Louisiana’s only IMAX® Dome Theater. Louisiana’s Space and Science Center includes over 200 hands-on exhibits, interactive programs and demonstrations and the Sawyer Space Dome Planetarium. POP is a kid-sized Shreveport-Bossier where kids ages 8 and under can learn through the power of play. The IMAX® Dome Theater immerses guests in award-winning films through state-of-the-art technology. Center accolades include Best Science Attraction for Kids in Louisiana, Attraction of the Year in Louisiana, and one of Parents magazine top ten science centers in the nation. Sci-Port is a member of the Association of Science-Technology Centers, the Association of Children’s Museums and the LA Space Consortium. The Center is located at 820 Clyde Fant Parkway on the downtown Shreveport Riverfront. See more..
4.5 Shreveport Water Works Museum (133 reviews)
- Worth a donation
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 AM Speciality Museums

Shreveport's first water works was built in 1887. A National Historic Landmark. Free admission. See more..
4.5 Louisiana State Exhibit Museum (122 reviews)
- Amazing dioramas and facts about Louisiana
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM History Museums

The Louisiana State Exhibit Museum opened in 1939 as part of the Public Works Administration. It is a Louisiana agriculture, industry, art, and history museum. Admission is free and open to the public and the museum is handicap accessible. See more..
4.5 Shreveport Convention Center (55 reviews)
- Great Place
Convention Centers

Stayed here for 11 days in a row, great staff, great place, they are always want to make your trip comfortable. See more..
4.5 Great Raft Brewing (46 reviews)
- Great beer selection!
Wednesday: 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Breweries

Great Raft Brewing is a Shreveport, Louisiana based craft brewery dedicated to making creative, authentic beer and helping to build a great beer culture within communities it serves. We brew and package everything on site. Enjoy one of our 20 beers on tap in our large tasting room. Try food from our in-house kitchen, Provisions by Great Raft Brewing. See more..
4.5 Red River Brewing Company (42 reviews)
- Great
Wednesday: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Breweries

Perfect! Delicious beer and super yummy tater tots with beer cheese, brisket and BBQ. Plus there’s glass blowing on site as live entertainment. Staff was great and stories behind the beer names were like having a Shreveport historical tour See more..
4.5 Walter B Jacobs Memorial Nature Park (33 reviews)
- Great for hiking
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Speciality Museums • Parks

A nature park featuring over 5 miles of forested hiking trails. A visitor center with exhibits and live animals and an outdoor aviary featuring live birds of prey, including a bald eagle and several species of owls. Public programs, events, and festivals are held regularly and are always free of charge. Tours and classes are offered for groups by reservation. See more..
4.5 Cathedral of St. John Berchmans (29 reviews)
- Liturgy & Music at the Cathedral of St.John Berchmans-Shreveport
Churches & Cathedrals

If you want to attend and participate in a classic-style Roman Catholic Mass, attend the Sunday 11 am Mass. It is beautiful & uplifting. The $1 million Parkey organ is played masterfully--the organ postludes are often works of J.S.Bach, etc. The choir sings beautiful anthems, sometimes Renaissance polyphony, always masterpieces of the choral literature under the direction of an accomplished choir master. All this is in a setting described in previous posts...beautiful, elegant, magnificent. There is also a Latin Mass, usually monthly, in the smaller chapel on the grounds, St.Michael's Chapel. Check the web site and do make the trip to Shreveport to visit & experience the Cathedral of St.John Berchmans. See more..
4.5 Meadows Museum of Art (21 reviews)
- A cultural Oasis in a cultural dead zone
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Art Museums

Located on the beautiful campus of Centenary College of Louisiana, the Meadows Museum displays unique, changing exhibitions to showcase human creativity and diversity, while teaching Centenary students the fine art of museum management. The Meadows preserves a collection of 1600 art works, including the Indochina Collection by French artist Jean Despujols. Free and open to the public, the Meadows is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the only nationally accredited museum in north Louisiana. Ample parking is available across the street. See more..
4.5 First United Methodist Church (15 reviews)
- Located in the middle of Texas Street
Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Churches & Cathedrals

The First United Methodist Church was built 1913. It has a very interesting location at Common Street and Texas Street. My husband and I were touring the Shreveport riverfront then turned onto Texas Street. We immediately saw the First United Methodist Church in the middle of the road 8 blocks away. It was a pretty sight. The stain glass windows and building architecture was beautiful. We did not attempt to go in. It is certain worth a drive by. See more..
4.5 On Cloud Wine (11 reviews)
- Hidden Gem
Wineries & Vineyards

On Cloud Wine is definitely a hidden gem in Shreveport. Their wine list has such a great variety of wines from delicious Dry wines, mouthwatering Semi-sweets to fabulous fruity sweets. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. We did a wine tasting for $10 which included 5 generous tastes and we got to keep our cute little glass. After, we had a glass of wine on the beautiful patio and watched all the geese on the pond. It was so beautiful! The Cabernet was AMAZING! I can wait for our next trip. See more..
4.5 Betty Virginia Park (11 reviews)
- A great place for a picnic!
Spent < 1 hour Biking Trails • Parks • Playgrounds
Betty Virginia Park is a 23 acre park located in the middle of Shreveport's South Highland neighborhood. This city owned/maintained park offers a short trail for biking/walking, picnic tables and a playground. At one time the western edge of the park had a full baseball/softball field but this area is now just green space. If you're looking for a beautiful green space to spend 30 minutes during your lunch or a place to hang out with friends/family for several hours over a picnic, this is the spot to go. I have very fund memories of playing in this park as a child. My first winter snow as a child was spent in the park and my mom took pictures so I know it happened. This local gem is situated on land that was donated to the city by A.C. Steere (a local elementary school is named after him) and his business partner Elias Goldstein in honor of their daughters Betty Goldstein and Virginia Steere. See more..
4.5 A C Steere Park (11 reviews)
- Lovely for kiddos
Spent 1-2 hours Parks • Playgrounds

Great place that both my 10 and 2 year old enjoyed. Large jungle gym, swings, tree covered seating areas, slides, and chime musical section. It has paths perfect for strollers and wheel chairs. Trash cans and bathrooms are a plus. It’s actually called Leaps & Bounds playground and is next to the AC Steere park. But while AC is limited to Mon- Fri 730-430, I’m here at Leaps & Bounds at 950a on a Sunday. See more..
4.0 Shreveport Aquarium (213 reviews)
- Nice displays
Wednesday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Aquariums

DISCOVER …an underwater world of wonder. Travel through brightly colored coral reefs, creaking shipwrecks, dark ocean caves and tropical lagoons. Marvel at the variety and diversity in our unique galleries and get up close and other cool creatures in one of our many touch tanks. Handfeed our stingrays, touch our moon jellies, observe shark feedings and more! Hunt for treasure, gems and fossils in Louisiana's only indoor mining experience. Enjoy holiday experiences like Mutiny at the A-SCARE-ium in October and BELIEVE! The Magic of Christmas in December. VIP tours, camps, parties and fieldtrips are available. See more..
4.0 Barksdale Global Power Museum (181 reviews)
- Aviation Enthusiast Wonderland
Wednesday: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Military Museums

Military museum features authentic uniforms, battle exhibits and aircraft dating back to World War I. See more..
4.0 Jubilee Zoo (44 reviews)
- Zoo day!
Wednesday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Zoos

Jubilee Zoo is your Family Fun Facility. We feature a Petting Zoo, Pony Rides, Bounce Houses, Exotic Animals, Playground/Picnic area, and our awesome Safari Hay Ride! Our covered, mist-cooled, petting zoo area makes for comfortable visiting in most weather. Join us for Reunions, Birthdays, Field Trips, Company Picnics, Sport or Scout events, and any time for Family Fun!Fun abounds at Jubilee Zoo. Pet and feed the animals, ride the carousel ponies, tour the zoo on our awesome safari hay ride, bounce in the inflatables and enjoy the seasonal Water Play Splash Pad/playground area. Please note, Jubilee Zoo is an interactive petting zoo/family park - not a large zoological facility. We have no government funding. Our animal residents are chosen for their ability to safely interact with our visitors. We do not display large carnivores - no lions, tigers, or bears. Please see our website for Seasonal Hours See more..
4.0 Caddo Parish Confederate Monument (36 reviews)
- Beautiful Sculpture Honoring History
Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • Monuments & Statues

This is a great piece of art located on a downtown public square in front of the courthouse for the local county (parish). What may be controversial to some of my friends in Boston, I find this monument as a reminder to local families that want to honor their ancestors who, in their minds, gave their all in fighting for their rights to defend their families and property. All American veterans should be honored in such a way regardless of how current events or philosophies may wish to alter history. See more..
4.0 Duck Pond (29 reviews)
- AmazinG Swans!
Parks

This duckpond is centrally located in the suburbs of Broadmoor right next to the Library . This pond is open for entertaining children and adults with a clean park with swings and playground in a quiet non congested street. Two miles will be Dunkin Donuts for snacks and drinks at very economical prices. A few restaurants also surround the duck pond for your convenience. See more..
4.0 Shreveport Railroad Museum (24 reviews)
- Small but super interesting
Spent 1-2 hours History Museums

It's small and easily breezed through but know that it's full of interesting information and displays. And as the really great tour guide who starts you off in the Water Works Museum next door says, the air-conditioned train museum is great for cooling you down after the hot trek through the (otherwise wonderful and amazing) Waterworks Museum. It has a donation box, throw them something into it, we did. See more..
4.0 Spring Street Museum (19 reviews)
- Oldest Building in Downtown Shreveport
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM History Museums

The Spring Street Museum is located in the heart of Shreveport's Historic District See more..
4.0 J. Bennett Johnston Waterway Regional Visitor Center (14 reviews)
- Small, but pleasant
Visitor Centers

The visitor center give a nice history of the Red River and the work done on it over the years. It's not big, but good for a short stop. The day I was there, the hours on website didn't match the actual hours open - be aware. You may want to call. See more..
3.5 Splash Kingdom Waterpark (113 reviews)
- Once Upon A Time
Water Parks

Splash Kingdom is a family friendly waterpark that offers plenty of summer fun for everyone. There are wave pools, slides, children's areas and a lazy river for those who want to just relax. See more..
3.5 Gardens of the American Rose Center (84 reviews)
- Large and beautiful rose gardens
Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Gardens

Operated by the American Rose Society, the 42 acres of this research and garden facility feature 20,000 blooms. See more..
3.5 Red River District (70 reviews)
- Don't go at night
Neighborhoods • Historic Walking Areas

If you go at night, stay in your car and view from your car. Not a safe neighborhood at night. View the lights and sights from your casino hotel room or walk the boardwalk on the Bossier side. Stay away from the Shreveport side after night fall. It's just not safe. See more..
3.0 Texas Street Bridge (81 reviews)
- Connects Shreveport and Bossier City
Bridges

Adorned with neon lights, the bridge that connects Shreveport and Bossier City across the Red River is considered a work of art. See more..