Needlepoint Shoppe

If you want to steer the family away from all the hustle and bustle of the city and relax near the water, a good choice is the Charles and Marie Hamel Memorial Park. Clean, well-maintained and serene, the scenery is a nice break from all of the city's fast-paced activity and mainstream attractions. Over the park's seventeen acres, you'll find the perfect spot to have a picnic and enjoy the river view. The hours are dawn until dusk, so plan a day full of wide open spaces with the Hamel Park as your only destination.

If it's a less formal but fun nightlife atmosphere you're looking for, then Fatty Arbuckle's Pub is just for you. It attracts both the younger crowd as well as the older set, not only for its late-night bar charm but also because it is within walking distance from two casinos in the Red River District underneath the Neon Bridge. Music, dancing, arcade games, and a great menu that features such tasty choices as half shell oysters, make Fatty Arbuckle's Pub a great destination to spend your evening with friends.

Every spring, you'll find locals and visitors looking up to the skies because that's where all the action is during the Barksdale Air Show. Vintage aircraft is on display and in the air, and often the personnel who commandeer the planes are available for questions and photo ops with spectators. It's a supersonic time for the whole family!