Thurman Inspection Services

Shreveport's Mudbug Madness Festival all started when people began to view the people in Shreveport more as Texans than natives of Louisiana. In response to that erroneous perception, a group of citizens wanted to stage the largest crawfish boil in the downtown area, add lots of music and fun, and reinforce the Cajun culture and attitude in the city. What started as a two day festival has become a four-day tradition that happens every Memorial Day Weekend and draws as many as 56,000 people in one day.

Various facets of history all intersect at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum. From artifacts of some of the state's most high-profile figures to pieces from prehistoric life in the area, the dramatic sweep of these collected stories is breathtaking. The Louisiana State Exhibit Museum is a Smithsonian affiliate museum and features 18 world renowned dioramas and rotating exhibits. Science, technology, culture and history intertwine here, and the stories that they tell will give you a deeper sense of understanding and appreciation of what the state's founding fathers went through. Admission is always free and the museum is open seven days a week.

If you've been moving too fast and haven't taken the time to stop and smell the roses, the Gardens of the American Rose Center will give you so many opportunities to take in the pleasant aroma and sight of the beautiful flower. Over 20,000 blooms can be seen throughout the 42-acre research and garden attraction, so there's no excuse for missing the chance to take a break from your busy-pace-rat-race to literally smell these roses.