While many families may think about heading to the beach for a family vacation, Shreveport is actually a hidden gem for families with kids of all ages. From aviation to the zoo, the entire family can enjoy plenty of awesome attractions in Shreveport. If you're on the hunt for some ideas, we've got you covered. We've featured some of our favorite family-friendly things to do with kids in Shreveport so you can start planning your amazing Shreveport getaway.

Best Things to Do with Kids in Shreveport

Shreveport has plenty of wonderful attractions that kids can enjoy, and who knows? You may just unlock an interest by exposing them to some of the natural areas, museums, and live performances in Shreveport. Check out some of these fabulous family-friendly spots in Shreveport and inspire the next generation:

1. Walter B Jacobs Memorial Nature Park

• Address: 8012 Par Rd 4, Shreveport, LA 71107
• Neighborhood: Just outside of Blanchard
• Website: https://www.caddo.org/facilities/facility/details/Walter-B-Jacobs-Memorial-Nature-Park-6
• Pro-Tip: Check the events calendar before you arrive

Both nature lovers and animal lovers will enjoy visiting this beautiful park in Shreveport. The 160-acre park has five miles of hiking trails that weave throughout the pine-oak-hickory forest, and plenty of informational signs along the way to make it an educational outing the entire family can enjoy. One of the special attractions of this park is the live animal exhibits, which is a bit of an unexpected surprise! There’s both a live raptor aviary and a deer pen where you can see some of the cute critters that call the Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Nature Park home. The park often hosts special events in the interpretive building as well as guided hikes where you can learn all about the ecosystems that thrive here.

2. R.W. Norton Art Gallery

• Address: 4747 Creswell Ave, Shreveport, LA 7110
• Neighborhood: Uptown
• Website: https://www.rwnaf.org/index.html
• Pro-Tip: The gardens are open Thursday-Sunday from sunrise to sunset, and closed on Monday-Wednesday

Now, museums tend to be reserved for rainy day adventures, but we’d explore you to visit this Shreveport attraction during a better weather day. The R.W. Norton Art Gallery houses an impressive collection of art that spans hundreds of years, and you could easily spend an afternoon strolling from room to room admiring all of the fascinating pieces and rotating exhibits, but be sure to leave some time for the botanical gardens. The eye candy extends outside where you’ll find 40 acres of picture-perfect landscaped grounds and botanical gardens to enjoy. From the reflective pond to the labyrinth of winding paths, you’ll be surrounded by beautiful blooms everywhere you look. This is a great spot for a family photo, so keep that in mind!

3. American Rose Center

• Address: 8877 Jefferson Paige Rd, Shreveport, LA 71119
• Neighborhood: Near Greenwood
• Website: https://www.rose.org/visit-public-gardens
• Pro-Tip: Check the bloom schedule before your visit

Vacations can often be filled with so many activities, you feel like you’re in an episode of Supermarket Sweep. Press the pause button and stop and smell the roses! The American Rose Center is the largest park dedicated to roses in the United States, and it’s a beauty. There are over 20,000 rose bushes peppered around the 118-acre garden with nearly 100 different varieties to admire! The gardens are open year-round, and thanks to Louisiana’s mild winters and overall consistent temperature, there’s always something in bloom. The gardens are at their best from the middle of April to late May and from mid-September to late October, so if you really want an eye-catching performance from Mother Nature, time your visit around those months. If you happen to visit during the holidays, you’ll be treated to an extra special experience when the gardens transform into a dazzling light show for its annual Christmas in Roseland holiday light show.

There are several benches dotted around the gardens so you can sit for a spell and enjoy the view, and there are plenty of picnic tables, too, so you can pack a picnic and enjoy a lovely lunch surrounded by thousands of beautiful blooms.

4. Barksdale Global Power Museum

• Address: 88 Shreveport Rd, Bossier City, LA 71112
• Neighborhood: Bossier City
• Website: https://www.barksdaleglobalpowermuseum.com/
• Pro-Tip: Be sure to fill out the access pass prior to your visit

Whether you’re a war history buff, a fan of aviation, or you’ve got a kid who likes airplanes, the Barksdale Global Power Museum should be at the top of your list. Because the museum is located on the Barksdale Air Force Base, you’ll need to go through some security screenings and fill out a guest access form ahead of time, but once you’re in, it’s incredible! Take a walk out to admire the many vintage aircraft in the air park like the B-17 and B-24 bombers, both WWII relics, as well as many, many others! You’ll learn about the history of the air force base, some wartime heroes, and maybe even inspire the next generation of pilots!

Free Things to Do with Kids in Shreveport

We get it. A lot of kid-friendly attractions in Shreveport will cost you a pretty penny, but it doesn't have to! With a little creativity and some pre-planning, you can find all sorts of free things to do with kids in Shreveport.

5. Shreveport Water Works Museum

• Address: 142 N Common St, Shreveport, LA 71101
• Neighborhood: Downtown/Riverfront
• Website: shreveportwaterworks.org
• Pro-Tip: It’s two museums in one, so leave enough time to see both

This museum is actually two museums in one! The main attraction, the Shreveport Water Works Museum, is a historical treasure where you can learn about the history of how the city pumped water to its residents a century ago. This was the site of Shreveport’s first water plant, which was built in 1887. As you make your way through the self-guided tour, you’ll see the remains of the massive stem-powered boilers and filtration systems. Here’s a fun fact for you: this was the nation’s last steam-powered waterworks facility and was in use until 1980! Don’t forget to blow the whistle at the end, the kids will love it!

Speaking of whistles, the Shreveport Railroad Museum is also located here, and it’s a fascinating display of memorabilia from the days when the railroad was the main route of transportation. It’s a quaint little museum, so you won’t be spending much time here, but when combined with the Water Works Museum, you can build a wonderfully educational afternoon.

Both of these museums are free to enter, though donations are encouraged so the museums can continue to house these historical landmarks.

6. A C Steere Park

• Address: 4009 Youree Dr, Shreveport, LA 71105
• Neighborhood: Broadmoor
• Website: https://www.myspar.org/328/AC-Steere-Purple-Park
• Pro-Tip: Snag a picnic table under the trees so you have some shade

If you need a break from the downtown scene, head over to this green space for some good old-fashioned family fun. Louisiana’s first boundless playground offers an opportunity for kids of all abilities to enjoy this splendid little park’s playgrounds, as well as many other attractions. The park has a ball field, a tennis court, picnic areas, nature trails, and a splash pad that’s always a refreshing way to cool down in the summer months. There’s also a disc golf course, if you and your crew are interested in some friendly competition, you’ve got 18 holes to find out who in your family will take home bragging rights.

Things to Do with Kids at Night in Shreveport

Just because the daylight fades away doesn't mean that the fun has to stop! Shreveport truly comes alive at night, and you'd be surprised at how many kid-friendly attractions there are in the evening. The kiddos will have a blast getting out the rest of their energy at one of these spots:

7. The Strand Theater

• Address: 619 Louisiana Ave, Shreveport, LA 71101
• Neighborhood: Downtown
• Website: https://www.thestrandtheatre.com/
• Pro-Tip: Give yourself ample time to find parking

When the Strand Theater first opened in 1925, it was nicknamed "The greatest theatre of the South" and we’d have to say, nearly a century later, it still holds true! Originally a vaudeville theater, today the Strand hosts a myriad of different live performances which range from touring broadway shows to live music. There’s not a bad seat in the house, and the theater might just be one of the most beautiful theaters in America.

8. Shreveport Municipal Auditorium

• Address: 705 Grand Ave, Shreveport, LA 71101
• Neighborhood: Downtown
• Website: https://shreveportmunicipalauditorium.com/
• Pro-Tip: Take a backstage tour

Constructed just a few years after the Strand, the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium is a wonderful Art Deco-inspired building that dates back to the late 1920s and has a very special history. The 3,200-seat auditorium was the location for the Louisiana Hayride radio program, a popular radio show that ran from 1925-2013. During its prime, it helped catapult the careers of many famous musicians including Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and even the King himself, Elvis Presley.

If you can’t catch a show, be sure to take a backstage tour where you’ll walk the same halls that these iconic musicians once did. You’ll even get to see a pair of Elvis’s shoes along the tour.

9. Air U Trampoline Park

• Address: 424 Ashley Ridge Blvd, Shreveport, LA 71106
• Neighborhood: Near Springlake
• Website: https://www.adventure-shreveport.com/
• Pro-Tip: Save dinner for after the jumping

If you’re looking for a place where the kids can release that last bit of energy from the day, Air U Trampoline Park will do it! This awesome fun zone has wall-to-wall trampolines for catching massive air, playing dodgeball, and maybe even learning new tricks in the foam pit. Air U Trampoline Park also offers toddler times during the week where the littlest of jumpers can enjoy the space without the bigger kids taking over.

Best Things to Do with Teens in Shreveport

Teens are often the hardest age group to accommodate! Across the country, there aren't many attractions specifically geared towards teenagers like there are for toddlers and kids under 10. If you've got a gaggle of teens in your crew, be sure to check out some of these spots.

10. Louisiana Boardwalk

• Address: 540 Boardwalk Blvd, Bossier City, LA 71111
• Neighborhood: Bossier City
• Website: https://www.louisianaboardwalk.com/
• Pro-Tip: The arcade can keep the entire family entertained for hours

The Louisiana Boardwalk is so much more than a shopping destination, although it’s worth mentioning that it’s one of the largest shopping outlets in Louisiana. Of course, you’ll find several shops, both local and national, to pick up some souvenirs at, but there’s so much to see and do here, you could spend an entire day exploring all the attractions at this waterfront shopping center. The arcade is a great little spot for some family fun that kids of all ages will enjoy, and there’s also a carousel for the youngest members of the crew to enjoy. Don’t forget to swing by the Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop, a 3,000-square-foot candy shop that would even impress Willy Wonka. After you’ve earned the high score and bragging rights and loaded up on sugary sweets, head over to one of the many restaurants to indulge in some delicious Louisiana cuisine before taking a casual stroll along the riverfront to soak in those beautiful views.

11. Splash Kingdom Waterpark

• Address: 7670 W 70th St, Shreveport, LA 71129
• Neighborhood: Near Greenwood
• Website: https://www.splashkingdomwaterpark.com/shreveport-oasis/
• Pro-Tip: Rent a cabana for a more comfortable experience

While waterparks are certainly geared towards families with kids of all ages, we know that teens really get the most out of them, and if you’re visiting Shreveport in the summer, you’re going to want to find ways to beat the heat. Splash Kingdom has several adrenaline-pumping waterslides, wave pools, and even a kid’s corner that the youngest siblings can enjoy while their older counterparts enjoy their need for speed. There are several spots to grab a bite to eat, and if you’re going to be spending a whole day here, we’d recommend renting a cabana so that you have a proper home base for the day. The waterpark is a cashless park, so when you arrive you’ll be given a wristband that you can load up with to use for payments.

12. Gators & Friends

• Address: 11441 US-80, Greenwood, LA 71033
• Neighborhood: Greenwood
• Website: https://gatorsandfriends.com/
• Pro-Tip: Bring closed-toe shoes for the zipline

Even though this attraction isn’t technically in Shreveport, it’s worth the few extra miles. Gators & Friends is a petting zoo, an alligator farm, and an adventure park all rolled into one. One of the most fun things to do here is the epic seven-part zipline, which will have you soaring over the entire park, including the alligator pond, that’s home to over 300 gators. Don’t worry, you’ll be safely harnessed in the entire time, and the guests aren’t usually on the feeding show or the menu.

What to Do with Toddlers in Shreveport

Exposing the youngest members of your family to the sights and sounds of Shreveport is a wonderfully enriching experience! Whether you've got a little animal lover on your hands or a tiny pilot in training, these are some of the best things to do with toddlers in Shreveport that'll have them mesmerized.

13. Sci-Port Discovery Center

• Address: 820 Clyde Fant Pkwy, Shreveport, LA 71101
• Neighborhood: Downtown
• Website: https://sci-port.org/
• Pro-Tip: Check the Planetarium and IMAX schedule and plan your visit around any shows you want to see

Kids of all ages will enjoy the Sci-Port Discovery Center, but the youngest ones tend to have the best experience. The museum is definitely geared towards children, and there are plenty of interactive exhibits and activities to partake in as you wander throughout the massive 92,000-square-foot space. Both the planetarium and IMAX shows are not to be missed, but just be sure you arrive early! There is no late entry, and you don’t want to miss the show.

14. Jubilee Zoo

• Address: 6402 LA-1, Shreveport, LA 71107
• Neighborhood: Northeast Shreveport
• Website: https://jubileezoo.com/
• Pro-Tip: Get there early to beat the crowds

The youngest of nature lovers will have a blast at the Jubilee Zoo, a unique petting zoo and play place that toddlers will love. The petting zoo is home to all sorts of cuddly creatures ranging from bunnies to camels, and they even have pony rides! Everyone loves a pony ride, and your toddler won’t be able to stop talking about the noble steed they get to ride. Your general admission ticket includes a cup of feed for the animals, a hayride, a train ride, and access to all the inflatable fun including the bounce houses. There’s also a splash pad that’s open seasonally, so be sure to check the website before your visit to see if you’ll need to pack a swimsuit!

15. Shreveport Aquarium

• Address: 601 Clyde Fant Pkwy, Shreveport, LA 71101
• Neighborhood: Downtown
• Website: https://www.shreveportaquarium.com/
• Pro-Tip: Check the feeding schedule for the popular shark and stingray feedings before your visit.

Once you’ve adored all the land animals, take a trip underwater and explore all of your favorite underwater creatures! From sharks to seahorses, the Shreveport Aquarium is home to roughly 1,000 animals from 300 different species. In addition to the tanks where you can watch these underwater wonders live their best life, there are also hands-on exhibits to enjoy! Have you ever wanted to stroke a stingray? How about touching a moon jelly or a sea star? You might just discover you’ve got a little marine biologist on your hands!

And there you have it! Will all of these wonderful attractions, your family is sure to have an incredible time in Shreveport. On the flip side, if you want to come to Shreveport for a romantic getaway, check out some of our favorite romantic things to do in Shreveport.