Turkey Legs to Go is FanHouse's complete travel guide for all of the 2008-2009 college bowl games. Here, we cover the Independence Bowl (Shreveport, Louisiana), which pits Louisiana Tech against Northern Illinois.Overview/Matchup: If the city of Shreveport was hoping for a tourism boost this bowl season, well ... they're not going to get it. Unless Northern Illinois can drag 40,000 or so fans to this game. Which they can't. The Huskies closed out the season with a 16-0 skunking at the hands of Navy, giving them a sweet 6-6 and barely eligible bowl record. Only poor showings by the East Division of the MAC allowed them to sneak into a bowl and they were rewarded with a WAC matchup against the Bulldogs thanks to Boise St.'s perfect record. Yes, it is a scorcher.
Hotels: Shreveport is an odd town. Since it's located on the north side of Louisiana, you would think that it would qualify as a fairly conservative city. While that's accurate to a certain extent, Shreveport's main tourism draw is gambling. The southern city boasts several casinos and a racetrack, Louisiana Downs.
The Remingtion Suite Hotel is the highest end option available to travelers to Shreveport, but remember that while the city is a preferable stop along I-20, the number of elite hotels is few and far between. For a football weekend though, that's no huge problem. In fact, it's secretly kind of a bonus. It also means you can "go big" here or simply keep your budget down for other nightlife options. The Holiday Inn Shreveport West offers reasonable rates and easy access to the airport and stadium. For travelers on a tight budget, we recommend the Tajun Inn. Accommodations are meager, but they offer a convenient location and rooms for less than US$100 per night.
Restaurants: For fine dining head to the Olive Street Bistro and sample northern Italian cuisine with a Tuscan twist. The Blind Tiger Restaurant offers good Cajun food (the po-boys are especially delicious), pool tables and a lively atmosphere. For those on a budget, Superior Bar & Grill offers tasty Mexican food. The portions are substantial and the prices are right.
Nightlife: When it comes to nightlife, we recommend a visit to the tables or slot machines to test your luck. Eldorado Resort Casino is a popular place for gambling, as is Sam's Town Casino. If you plan on doing a lot of gambling, you may want to consider staying at one of these places. Don't expect the same quality accommodations as Las Vegas, but the rooms are nice enough, and the casino's just an elevator-ride away.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-16-2008 @ 12:35PM
Gardy said...
Might wanna check that title. Should be a Tech where the State is.
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12-24-2008 @ 9:22AM
Tom said...
As northern Illinois natives(Ottawa), my wife and I welcome you to SHV and yes, Bossier City (where we've lived since coming to Barksdale AFB in '85.) Hope you enjoy your short escape from your tough start to winter...we were up there just last week. Lots of good Tex-Mex foods places around...would highly recommend the Superior Grill on Line Ave. for great Mexican food and yes, great margaritas and fun! Superior also has a high end steak house within a block for those who want to splurge. Just across the street from Superor Grill is golfer David Toms' new Bistro Bryronz, which we enjoyed just yesterday. (There are lots of scenic older homes just off Line Avenue if interested in sight seeing.) While not much for atmosphere,for simple breakfast at anytime, or hot plate home cooking type meals, try any of the Strawn's restaurants...great pie desserts! Good luck in the game and hope you enjoy your visit. Tom
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12-26-2008 @ 11:50AM
shreveportguide said...
The author may want to do a little more research before blasting a city that he is not familiar with and puts the wrong team in the headline of the story. Louisiana State is LSU and Louisiana Tech is the team in the bowl game. Be careful of recommendations posted by someone who has never visited the area. The author recommends a Tajun Inn which does not exist, it is the Cajun Inn and is not a nice place even for a tight budget. The casinos offer several high end rooms and suites with hot tubs and other extras. There is also a new convention center Hilton that even offers a penthouse suite that many actors rent out when filming movies nearby. You'll enjoy your stay. The locals will normally go out of their way to help you find your way around.
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12-28-2008 @ 4:12AM
Unforgivable Wetness said...
Strip Clubs: You probably should not bother. There is only one club in Shreveport, a Deja Vu. And there are just two in nearby Bossier City; the more acclaimed one is Action Central Cabaret, the place people in the know say has the most good-looking girls and is far and away the best when it comes to customer service. (The other is called Wild Orchid Cabaret.) However, there is much more talent and higher-contact lap dances in any other city if you're willing to drive for an hour or two, such as New Orleans or even East Texas.
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