Trail Blog

August 22, 2011

Sunday: Shreveport-Bossier

Three-day weekend: Red River Riches Trail Itinerary

SUNDAY

Brunch: Marilynn’s Place is new to Shreveport’s dining scene but has quickly earned a following (http://marilynns-place.com/). Housed in a former gas station, this is now the place to go in Northwest Louisiana to fill up on New Orleans flavors. Their daily menu features specialties such as red beans and rice, jambalaya and gumbo. The Sunday brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features shrimp and grits; biscuits and Cajun gravy, andouille gravy that is; and a Mexican breakfast of scrambled eggs, jalapeño and cheese cornbread topped with a chipotle cream sauce and finished with crumbled bacon pieces. And if you really want to spice things up, take advantage of the $11 all-you-can-drink bloody Mary buffet.

Work up an appetite: Walk off your brunch by exploring the nearby gardens of the R.W. Norton Art Gallery and touring the free museum’s collection of tapestries, paintings, Steuben glass, antique firearms and more (http://www.rwnaf.org/). Then spend some time shopping at the Louisiana Boardwalk, home to Bass Pro Shops (http://www.louisianaboardwalk.com/).

Afternoon treat: Before heading out of town, stop by The Chocolate Crocodile at the Boardwalk (http://thechocolatecrocodile.com/). Try one of their dipped apples, like the Monster Croc, a chocolate-and-caramel covered apple rolled in pecans.