By Jeanni Ritchie
Always multitasking and forever looking for a new adventure, I decided to combine a recent dental appointment in Shreveport with some sightseeing for this month’s Around the State article.
The Blind Tiger
After my appointment, I stopped at The Blind Tiger for lunch. The restaurant is housed in one of Shreveport’s oldest documented buildings (circa 1855), and far from the “ghost-town” vibe you might expect from a building older than my great-great-great-great-
The Blind Tiger takes its name from a Prohibition-era term for secret drinking rooms — places where people “turned a blind eye” to the law. Today, this downtown favorite keeps that same lively spirit alive with hearty seafood, burgers, and Cajun comfort fare. Its floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the busy streets of downtown, where cars, bicyclists, and pedestrians all share the view. The heart of Shreveport still hums with life, framed by historic architecture and bold new murals like the popular From Shreveport with Love one nearby.
I ordered the Pecan-Crusted Chicken with a side of Cajun Fried Corn on the Cob — a delicious, nostalgic reminder of how I used to coat chicken and fish with crushed pecans when my kids were still living at home. I may just have to add that one back into my dinner rotation.
Bonus: parking on the street for an hour cost less than a dollar — the cheapest meter I’ve seen yet during my travels!
Shreveport Aquarium
The Shreveport Aquarium, just a couple of blocks away, felt like stepping into a hidden world — right in the heart of downtown. Inside are more than 3,000 animals from roughly 300 species, in galleries that take you from colorful reef fish to deep-water caves.
When I visited, the aquarium was midway through its pirate-themed adventure, with swashbuckling activities scattered throughout. I learned my pirate name — Plundering Jane Barnacle — and even dropped a message in a bottle.
In November, the pirate adventure gives way to Believe! Lights the Night, a holiday transformation that turns the whole space into a sparkling Christmas wonderland complete with twinkling lights and magic adventure wands.
I felt like a scared toddler reaching into the water to touch a sea anemone, a starfish, a sea cucumber, and a sea urchin — and was shocked at how cold the water was. It was freezing! In the next room, I fed the stingrays and dipped my hands into a shrimp pond where tiny cleaner shrimp give a natural “spa treatment.” I didn’t leave my hand in long enough to find out — once it started crawling up my fingers, my feet took off!
One of my favorite exhibits was the shark-tooth station, where you slide a real shark tooth into a slot for the screen to display which type of shark it belonged to. The teeth were huge! It was part science, part scavenger hunt — and a hit with kids and adults alike.
The moon-jelly exhibit glowed softly beneath its glass, the jellyfish drifting like living lanterns. I’ve never forgotten that trip to Gulf Shores in 1982, when jellyfish made their way to shore — and my legs. I’ve been terrified of them ever since!
The Boardwalk & The Chocolate Crocodile
Just across the Red River from downtown Shreveport, the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City offers a breezy mix of shopping, dining, and riverside charm. It’s a far cry from its heyday — which is a shame, because the area is beautiful — but the remaining shops still offer a little something for everyone.
I window-shopped Bass Pro Shop, Rocket Fizz, and Build-A-Bear before arriving at my true destination: The Chocolate Crocodile. How could I not go in a place with that name?! I left with a box of assorted truffles and chocolates, then turned the drive home into a little road-trip game — reaching in without looking, tasting, and trying to figure out which chocolate I’d selected. Whether it was peanut butter, sea-salt caramel, milk chocolate, or orange cream, every bite was its own sweet surprise and made the drive home its own mini-adventure.
Whether you’re chasing flavor, fun, or just a quick getaway, Shreveport-Bossier City delivers a unique blend of charm — perfect for a day trip that satisfies your sense of adventure and celebrates life here in The Boot.
If You Go:
The Blind Tiger – 120 Texas St., Shreveport, LA 71101 • (318) 226-8747 • theblindtiger.com
Shreveport Aquarium – 601 Clyde Fant Pkwy., Shreveport, LA 71101 • (318) 383-0601 • shreveportaquarium.com
The Chocolate Crocodile – 460 Boardwalk Blvd., Bossier City, LA 71111 • (318) 742-3311 • thechocolatecrocodile.com
Jeanni Ritchie is a travel writer from Central Louisiana. Follow her adventures at jeanniritchie.com.
