A Road Trip through Louisiana’s Holiday Trail of Lights: Stop 3
Guest Blogger Alice Phillips toured each of the eight cities on Louisiana’s Holiday Trail of Lights. This is her experience in Stop 3 – Shreveport-Bossier City.
Stop 3: Shreveport & Bossier City
Shreveport and Bossier City are just over a 30-minute drive from Minden and I drove straight to the Fairfield Place Bed & Breakfast Inn. I drove by beautifully decorated homes in the Highland area of Shreveport before pulling up to the bed and breakfast. Inside, I felt as if I was in someone’s holiday decorated home. I was greeted by the owner, John, who ensured I got everything up to my room and knew I could make myself at home. Bowls of trinkets and candy filled the tables in the foyer and outside my room. I couldn’t help myself but grab a few packs of M&Ms before my first stop.
The Louisiana Boardwalk Outlets has a collection of more than 50 outlets stores, restaurants and entertainment where people were enjoying some Christmas shopping. I stopped into Bass Pro Shop and saw Santa who was greeting children and asking them what was on their Christmas list. The entire boardwalk is decorated with lights including the fountains that people were posing for pictures next to. A carousel complete with moving crawfish spun next to a giant tree decorated by the different outlets. I made sure to stop in The Chocolate Crocodile, a local chocolatier, before dinner because sometimes it is ok for desserts to come first. Visitors could spend an entire day on the boardwalk taking in the views of the Red River, shopping and eating.
For dinner, I went to the Flying Heart Brewing and Pub in Bossier City. As the city’s first craft brewery, it was full of locals enjoying an after-work beer and pizza. The pizza was delicious with the added choice of cauliflower crust to attempt to make up for all the candy I had been eating. The space has plenty of room for groups and suits a wide variety of ages. They offered seasonal brews and I got a flight of four to taste a little of each.
I was full of great food and beer and ready for my next destination, the North Pole! I hopped on the Red River Express Cruise with Mrs. Clause, a festive conductor and an elf as we sang Christmas carols while enjoying hot chocolate and cookies. Children came dressed in pajamas and eagerly awaited our stop at the North Pole to see Santa. The ferry itself was decorated with string lights, garlands and bows to really put me in the spirit. Once we reached the North Pole, Santa got on the boat and talked with each child. Everyone was asked what they wanted to Christmas, even me! The boat ride lasted almost an hour overflowing with holiday cheer.
After the cruise, my next stop was to see some lights at Christmas in Roseland. The American Rose Center in Shreveport is transformed to a winter wonderland with thousands of twinkling lights and local art displays. We walked through the grounds and saw cowboys, reindeer, elves and giant Christmas cards from local schools. Groups of families walked around stopping for photo ops in front of their favorite displays or with marshmallows they roasted on a firepit. Inside, you could get a photo with Santa or shop for holiday trinkets to take home.
The next morning, I went to Sno-Port Discovery Center’s Sno-Port – a interactive, snow-themed exhibit where I learned the science and wonder of snowflakes. Several hands-on activities made for a fun time for all ages. Both kids and adults alike where cutting snowflakes, ice fishing and taking a virtual tour through Shreveport and Bossier City on the Red River Rocket Ride inside the museum’s planetarium. The rest of the museum was open with the usual exhibits showing science experiments, interactive play stations and other activities.
I was fully in the Christmas spirit after all the holiday fun and sightseeing in Shreveport and Bossier City. Ready to see more, I headed south toward my next stop on the Holiday Trail of Lights Tour.
Read more about Alice’s tour in her other four stops along the Trail of Lights.
