Way up in northern Louisiana, Shreveport is unlike the rest of the state. Once a major oil and natural gas town, it suffered a serious economic downturn in the 1980s and has been reviving itself ever since. Today, the big money maker is the gambling industry, with five riverboat casinos, several Las Vegas-style casinos and a thriving horse-racing scene. Shreveport is also a popular convention city and, recently, it has become a prime location for making movies. Situated on the Red River, Shreveport, along with Bossier City (just across the river), is the commercial and cultural hub of Ark-La-Tex, serving the smaller communities in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, which all connect in the northwest corner of Louisiana. A thriving arts scene has developed here, with a city ballet, symphony and several live-music venues. There are plenty of outdoor activities, too, including hunting, fishing and golf.
Must See
- #1 R.W. Norton Art Gallery
- #2 Rid River Revel Arts Festival
- #3 American Rose Garden
- #4 Harrah's Louisiana Downs
- #5 Riverwalk Park
Skip It
- #1 The downtown core has some interesting attractions
- #2 But the outlying areas are fairly industrial and don't offer much too visitors