“100 Things to Do in Shreveport-Bossier, Louisiana, Before You Die”

Louisiana is a land of enchantment, a place where history, culture and adventure blend whimsically. Shreveport-Bossier City (SBC) is no exception, beckoning visitors to the northern part of the state through the shimmer of the Bakowski Bridge of Lights and its surrounding riverfront casinos. So begins the intro to Shreveport native and outdoor lifestyle blogger Monica Dollar Champagne’s new book, “100 Things to Do in Shreveport-Bossier, Louisiana, Before You Die.”

Whether you are a north Louisiana native or a newbie to the area, this book delivers on its promise; with the clever way it is organized, first-time author Monica has made the most of including as many places and ideas as possible. There are actually over 200 Shreveport-Bossier businesses represented. For instance, No. 45 under Music and Entertainment is Escape to a New World at a Live Theatre Performance, and at least six different area theater venues are referenced in total. “My hope is that for visitors the book will be a flexible guide to help make the most of their time in SBC. For locals, I hope that they will find a new appreciation of their hometown, gain insight into familiar places and make new discoveries,” adds Monica, who spent over two years researching the book.

The book itself is the perfect size to tuck into a backpack or tote bag as a reference while exploring the area. Divided into helpful chapters, including Food and Drink, Music and Entertainment, Sports and Recreation, Culture and History, and Shopping and Fashion, it is a quick reference guide for when you are on the go. Individual titles such as Rewatch a Cult Classic at the Robinson Film Center or Cast a Line at an Area Lake are not only inspiring, but they also have excellent followthrough, with listings and addresses both physical and digital.

Some of Monica’s suggestions for using this book include clever ideas such as writing the page numbers on individual slips of paper, putting them in a jar and pulling them out as motivation strikes or giving the book as a gift with the promise of 100 dates or best friend outings. Serious quest seekers can embark on a mission to complete all 100 listings in the book and get business owners or managers to autograph their pages. To spur participation, Monica encourages readers to take pics with their book while on their adventures and tag her on social media.

Multiple book signings are coming up this spring for “100 Things to Do in Shreveport-Bossier Louisiana, Before You Die,” including one at Little Shop of Music in Shreveport on Saturday, April 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For a complete list of events, visit ChampagneOnDeck.com/Shop. You can also follow Monica on her travel adventures on Facebook @ ChampagneOnDeck and Instagram @ monicachampagne. Monica’s book is available locally at Tubbs Hardware and Little Shop of Music and on the abovementioned website.