This guide is meant to be a starting point for New Orleans families planning their next vacation. We are all about sharing family traveling tips whether your next adventure from New Orleans is to the beach, Disney or the mountains! As always, please do your own research and talk with other families. There is also a list of drivable destinations from New Orleans for every budget here. And if you end up staying right here in New Orleans, we have dozens of ideas for kid-friendly outings in New Orleans, too!
Take a Trip to the Port City: Places to Visit in Shreveport
There are so many fun places to visit in Louisiana. In Northwest Louisiana, only five hours from New Orleans, Shreveport is a great place to visit with your family. Shreveport is conveniently on the way to many already known vacation spots. It’s only 3 hours from Dallas, Texas, and on the way from New Orleans, Shreveport is a great stop on the way to the Ozarks or Hot Springs in Arkansas. You can fill a weekend of fun in Shreveport!
Places to Go
Shreveport, while mainly known for its casinos, also has some fun kid-friendly attractions. The Shreveport Aquarium has many hands-on sea creature interactions that are perfect for little ones! Your little ones can feed and touch beautiful stingrays. There is also a mine that kids can sift through gems and fossils.
There are some great free playgrounds for the children to play at in Shreveport. AC Steere Park has a mini water attraction that is turned on during the summer months. Pack a picnic lunch, eat by the pond and let the kiddos feed the ducks.
Even the casinos can be fun for the kids!
Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville has a great pool. All the casinos have fun pools that allow the kids to play and then some time for the adults to play the slots. The casinos also have great spas for some relaxation time for Mom and Dad!
In June, the Red River Balloon Rally is an amazing festival showcasing 32 hot air balloons.
It is such an experience to see that many hot air balloons that close up. In the fall, the Red River Arts Festival combines music, live music, and tons of art vendors.
If your kids are into science, the Sci-Port Discovery Center is full of interesting science exhibits, as well as an IMAX theater.
Check out the planets in the Planetarium Exhibit while you’re there!
There are some great places to eat in Shreveport.
A must-eat at in Shreveport is Cush’s Market and Grocery. It’s a sweet family-run establishment in an adorable farmhouse-looking restaurant atmosphere. I highly recommend the Shrimp Salad Avocado. You can eat at the restaurant or grab some take-out food from the market side. Grab some Spinach Tagliolini from Giuseppe’s PastaCaffe. The Original Superior Grill is in Shreveport and has THE best margaritas. The Shrimp Buster from Herby K’s is also a must-have!
While you’re in Shreveport, you should visit some of the breweries in town. Great Raft Brewing and Seventh Tap Brewing Project are two of our favorites. There are outdoor patio areas that are great for the kids to play while you grab a pint. Some nights, the breweries will even have live music.
