North Bossier - Bossier City, LA

Bossier City started off as a plantation city, sourcing both cotton and sweet potatoes among other crops. After the Civil War, settlers favored the rich fertile earth in the area. This region later became famous for the Red River and ferryboats traveling along the nearby waters. These ferries carried crops from the land to other parts of the country.

In modern-day Bossier, river boats dock on the Red River, but do not transport goods from the land. Locals embrace the rich culture of the area with Mudbug Madness. This four-day festival each Memorial day celebrates Cajun culture and the mighty mudbug. A mudbug, or crawfish, eating contest entices hard-core Louisiana food fans.

Louisiana's Brunner Gallery affiliates with the Bossier City Art Gallery Fine Art Center. The gallery sponsors a Songwriter Circle Series, which celebrates music in the round, just like in Nashville. Four local musicians apprentice with old hats to produce great music.

Cascio Market Bistro on Shed Road gives military discounts, so expect to see plenty of enlisted men and women from the nearby Barksdale Air Force Base. This restaurant specializes in Italian cuisine, but doesn't fail to add its twist on local favorites. For example, the staff makes an amazing Italian-style meatball po' boy, the classic sandwich of Louisiana with an Italian flavor. Chefs generously place at least six meatballs on each sub and add copious amounts of tomato sauce alongside a huge handful of provolone. A side of sweet potato fries stands in place of French fries.

Lemongrass, an Asian Fusion restaurant on Barksdale Boulevard, fits right in with restaurants in this melting pot. Diners rave about the Thai lettuce wraps stuffed with cucumber and vegetables and chicken strips. Customers like the do-it-yourself aspect to the meal, adding more and less of each ingredient as they see fit. Diners also love that these dishes taste fresh and homemade compared to other nearby eateries. Call in your order to save time.

Margaritaville World Tour Buffet located in the Margarita Resort and Casino speeds up the process by letting you order items online. The vast menu many not take you around the world, but you can visit several popular cities through several dishes. Experience Florida when you taste the Key West quesadilla. This main dish mixes flour tortillas with Oaxaca and Monterey Jack cheese in addition to lime and guacamole. Get ready for a Hawaiian explosion when you order a volcano burger. This handcrafted sandwich comes topped with volcanic chilis and lava cheese sauce alongside jalapeño peppers. Finally, finish your journey with a scrumptious New York cheesecake for dessert.

Since legalizing riverboat gambling in Louisiana, Bossier City took advantage of its position along the Red River. Four casinos located along the shore draw gamblers from the Ark-La-Tex region. Visitors stay at fancy hotels such as the Horseshoe Casino while playing games of Texas hold 'em and blackjack on the moored vessels. After a night of gambling, the Horseshoe also provides live music and drinks. Don't plan to imbibe past 10 p.m. since a state-wide law prohibits wine and beer refills after this time.

Another fun night-time option includes the Twin City Knockers roller derby team. Bossier and Shreveport joined together to form a fun event for an interesting and rowdy evening. Most bouts start at 7 p.m.

The Shreveport Area Transit System runs through North Bossier and Shreveport, located off of Interstate 20. Most residents drive, but those without a car rely upon this form of transportation. City dwellers can easily hail a passing cab, but Uber does not service this area. Plenty of public parking exists within the area, and the parkways safely accommodate bicyclers. Walkers can safely travel North Bossier without fearing for their safety. The Arthur P. Teague Parkway along the Red River provides both jogging and biking trails, along with places to sit and reflect along the river.

Both neighborhood and community parks in Bossier City make for nice places for recreation. For instance, the Field of Dreams neighborhood ball field on Hazel Jones Road makes the perfect spot for the city's softball league. Teams sign up for a fee and play three different sports in the adult league.

Children enjoy play at community parks, which come equipped with climbing rocks and spray water. The North Bossier Park on Brownlee Lane gives children plenty of room to run and play. A nearby tennis center lets them practice that sport. Children also enjoy the annual Youth and Sports and Wellness Expo. It gives them the chance to sign up for sports teams, such as soccer and football, and receive health screenings. These parks, unfortunately, don't allow dogs.

This exceptionally livable city has a cost of living 6 percent lower than the rest of Louisiana. It cost $1.25 to ride the Shreveport Area Transit System, which runs regularly in and around Shreveport-Bossier. With rent averaging around $700 per month for a one-bedroom apartment and gas at 16 percent lower than the national average, folks live comfortably here. Beer at a local bar costs about $2 for a local brew outside of the casino district.

Most resident don't have to go any further than the Louisiana Boardwalk for shopping in Bossier City. This half-mile stretch of fun gives visitors typical outlet shopping courtesy of big-name stores such as J.Crew and Banana Republic. Don't be afraid to try out local clothes shops such as Papaya and Charming Charlie. These clothiers may not have the gravitas of the big boys, but they deliver what customers want: trendy outfits and unique accessories.

Specialty stores including Chocolate Crocodile and Beef Jerky Outlet please those who like to shop for unique delicacies. The Beef Jerky Outlet ups the ante with exotic jerky flavors such as elk and alligator. Chocolate Crocodile doesn't dare dip a reptile in chocolate, but they do manage to cover a variety of fruits and nuts in that creamy confectionery.

Don't be surprised if you see frog legs on the shelf alongside fish sticks and crab legs on grocery shelves. Grocery stores including Kroger and Brookshire's stock food items that appeal to those within the region. The North Bossier Kroger also makes sure to keep both organic and gluten-free products in stock. Both stores extend the courtesy by bagging and carrying out bags for customers.

The Shreveport Farmers Market roars into town during the summer months. It brings a busy children's play area in addition to live music and demonstrations. Close to 200 vendors hawking the best that Ark-La-Tex has to sell come along. That includes fresh fruits and vegetables from area farmers and even freshly-canned items in pretty Mason jars.