The weather is warming up, and we are celebrating the Year of Outdoors here in Louisiana. Here are 5 of our favorite escapes to hit the mental reset button and become one with nature this year:
Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Nature Park
Something special has been growing at Walter B. Jacob’s park for 3 years, and it’s now open to the public! This new, totally immersive museum is a place where our community can reconnect, recharge, and rediscover the wonder of the ecosystems unique to Caddo Parish and surrounding areas. This one-of-a-kind facility at Walter B. Jacobs Parks is a reminder of the endless possibilities when we take care of the nature around us. Located at 8012 Blanchard Furrh Road in Shreveport.
God's Country Resort & Campground
You would never believe this outdoor escape is 15 minutes outside of downtown Shreveport! At God’s Country Resort & Campground visitors can sleep under the stars in a rustic teepee or Conestoga wagon or unwind in a luxury cabin by the water with a view. It's the perfect escape for the whole family or friend group to cozy around the campfire and make s’more memories in Shreveport-Bossier. Stay at the West Campground, 7781 Highway 1 N, Shreveport or East Campground, 7050 Soda Lake Dr, Shreveport.
Cypress Black Bayou
Cypress Black Bayou in Benton is a great spot for camping, RVing, boating, fishing, and swimming. Located at 135 Cypress Park Drive, the recreation area offers scenic walking trails through the woods or along Cypress Lake, and a large beach area with picnic tables, covered pavilions and grills. There is also a petting zoo across 7-acres of Cypress-Black Bayou Park and a Cypress Nature Study Center. This is truly the day trip for the explorers in Shreveport-Bossier. Located at 135 Cypress Park Dr in Benton, LA.
Red River National Wildlife Refuge
Photo from @tina_brazzeal photography.
Red River National Wildlife Refuge offers five miles of marked beautifully maintained walking trails that surround a beautiful oxbow lake called Lake Caroline. If you aren't the walking/trail type, they have a large nature study center to learn about the nature unique to Northwest Louisiana, and a dock to look out on, or benches to sit with the unmatched sunset on the Red River. The refuge is particularly popular among birdwatchers and nature photographers. A terrific interpretive center offers regular classes and hikes. Located at 150 Eagle Bend Point in Bossier City LA.
Boom or Bust Byway
If you're looking for an easy day trip with a little bit of history, small-town charm, tasty treats, and lots of hidden outdoor wonders, this is the day trip you need to take in 2026. The Boom or Bust National Scenic Byway winds through small towns across North Louisiana, where you'll pass spots like Robert L. Nance Park or Earl G. Williamson, both recently renovated with playgrounds, updated facilities, scenic walking trials, boat launches, and more. Depending on when you go, in July you might catch the Sunflower festival in Gilliam, LA.
New gateway signs along the byway make it easy to navigate your day when you reach a new town or village. Eat gateway sign is equipped with a QR code that tells visitors where to eat, shop, what to see, and do. Along the Caddo side, places like God’s Country make it easy to turn a day trip into an overnight without overthinking it. It’s not a packed itinerary, but more of a “see where the road takes you” kind of day.
