Front Street
Ironwork balconies by the water.
Natchitoches and Cane River
The oldest town in the Louisiana Purchase, with Creole plantations on Cane River, meat pies, and a famed Christmas festival.
Founded in 1714, its brick-paved Front Street lines a quiet lake. Cane River Creole National Historical Park tells the stories of the enslaved and of the Creole families who owned Oakland and Magnolia. It's where Steel Magnolias was filmed.
- Best Time
- March–May and October–December
- Time Needed
- 1 day
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Check before you go; hours vary by season
- Getting There
- About 90 minutes by car south of Shreveport.
What to See
2 of 3 are freeCane River Creole Park
Oakland and Magnolia plantations, told plainly.
Christmas Festival
Lights on the lake since the 1920s, from November on.
Know Before You Go
- Book far ahead for the December festival.
Where to Stay
Stay in a town bed and breakfast.
Where to Eat
Our picks are on the way.
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Earthworks built by hunter-gatherers about 3,400 years ago, one of the oldest great monuments in the Americas.
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Last checked 2026-11-02. Part of the Southeast list.