Louisiana Travel Guide - 2026
North Louisiana
2026-02-18 10:14:59
Nature and culture walk hand-in-hand in North Louisiana, an ideal place to immerse yourself in the creative, culinary, topiary and even sonic arts, from larger riverfront cities to quaint smaller towns.
North Overview
Thanks to an extra helping of the great outdoors, Louisiana has earned the nickname “Sportsman’s Paradise” — and the northern part of the state gets it honestly. A surplus of both wilderness and wildlife make this area a natural choice for fishing, hunting, hiking and camping throughout the region’s rolling hills, river bottoms and piney woods.
But don’t let the North’s rustic reputation fool you. Shreveport-Bossier City, the state’s third-largest metro area, offers a more cultivated big-city feel with notable nightlife supported by casinos, culinary delights and a cool music scene. This area is also home to the American Rose Center, the largest park in the U.S. dedicated to this fragrant flower — and a great place to go for a stroll.
Due east, Minden, Monroe-West Monroe and Ruston are also blessed with bloomin’ beauty. One example is The Biedenharn Museum & Gardens, where enchanting traditional English landscape designs surround the historic home of Coca-Cola’s first bottler, now a museum. An inviting attitude and a “something for everyone” range of attractions give the northern part of Louisiana a flair for all-ages fun … and a taste for the unexpected.
SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY
Tune In & Turn Up
Like all of Louisiana, the North is swimming in memorable music. Shreveport has been a star-maker for more than a century, with celebrated artists ranging from Lead Belly to Kenny Wayne Shepherd — and famously, Elvis Presley — getting their start here. Today, the city’s annual Red River Revel Arts Festival is where future music history is made.
Curated Creativity
Shreveport is also a hub for the visual arts, with an equal devotion to past and present, local and global talents. Historic works from masters like Cassat, Rodin and Audubon grace the collection at R.W. Norton Art Gallery and you’ll find African and African American artworks spanning centuries at the Southern University Museum of Art Shreveport (SUMAS). Catch beautifully rendered scale dioramas portraying early 1900’s Louisiana life at the architecturally stunning Louisiana State Exhibit Museum.
Foodie Finds
Dive into the seafood-forward Creole flavors of Orlandeaux’s Café, where you can sample regional specialties like boudin balls and alligator bites. Enjoy delicious crawfish at Seafood Empire or savory sandwiches at Geaux Fresh in Minden, then pop down to Gloster for scenic sips at Kickapoo Twist Winery & Vineyards.
MONROE-WEST MONROE & RUSTON
Little Adventures
Traveling with little ones? At Monroe’s Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum, kids can play at being a firefighter or paramedic, make massive bubbles and much more. An hour away in Bastrop, they can work off those wiggles in the shady acres of Chemin-A-Haut State Park with two engaging playgrounds, plus swimming and wading pools.
Grown-Up Activities
Put some patina on your retail therapy in West Monroe’s Antique Alley, a collection of 40+ boutiques that Southern Living magazine calls a “shopaholic’s delight.” Afterward, sip some Crimson Cabernet at nearby Landry Vineyards, a family-run winery whose warm welcome and tranquil property may tempt you to stay in one of their on-site cottages. And don’t miss a visit to Poverty Point UNESCO World Heritage Site in Pioneer. Dating back to approximately 1700-1100 BC, it’s one of the most important archaeological sites in North America.
Palate Pleasers
Stop for sustenance at Ruston’s Heard Freighthouse Food Park, where you can choose from several artisan food trucks. Then pick up the ultimate Louisiana souvenir — house-made fruit preserves — at Mitcham Farms Peach Store, a sweet Ruston staple for 70+ years.
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