H&M Mechanical

If you're feeling particularly lucky and want to see how that luck will translate into cash, you can take several chances at the Horseshoe Casino Hotel. With 1,500 slot machines and 50 table games, the odds are pretty good that you'll walk away with a little more in your pocket, as well as the memory of the fun nightlife experience. And if all that gaming increased your appetite, you can enjoy a celebratory meal at the hotel's steak house, Asian restaurant, buffet, cafe and grille, or deli.

Each November, the area's best local and regional musicians along with some nationally recognized artists gather for the Highland Jazz and Blues Festival. Known as Shreveport's "party in the park," there's a whole lot more than just the incredible music. You'll see unique jewelry, home décor, and other one-of-a-kind items for sale by participating artisans. Two stages feature rotating musical acts, and the five hours of live music and fun are absolutely free!

What's a trip to Louisiana without a glimpse of a gator? Gators and Friends Alligator Park and Exotic Zoo is an attraction that gets you up close and personal with giant alligators as they feed and frolic in their natural habitat. And if the gators aren't enough wildlife, there's a fully stocked petting zoo where you can see such sights as miniature horses, kangaroos, llamas and a camel! Plus, you can even help feed the animals when it gets to their feeding time. Get ready for a fun, interactive romp with nature you and your family will never forget!

If you've ever wanted to get up close to a vintage SR-71 aircraft and learn its role in our country's military schematics, as well as the story of its construction and specifications, you need to visit Barksdale Global Power Museum. On your visit, you'll discover these seldom-documented stories that will add an even deeper dimension to brave men and women who served in our Air Force during some of the most dangerous moments in our nation's history.