Rolling Along the Upper Mississippi
By Robin Cherry
Rolling Along the Upper Mississippi
By Robin Cherry
This summer, a journey along the Upper Mississippi River is a must.
Summer is the perfect time to sail the Upper Mississippi with American Cruise Lines not just because the weather is comfortable, wildlife is plentiful, and the scenery is stunning but also because these cruises include savings of $1,000 per stateroom, complimentary airfare, and pre-cruise hotel stays. A premium pre-cruise package with one night at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis and a tour of the city is also available.
American Cruise Lines’ Upper Mississippi itinerary sails from St. Louis, Missouri to St. Paul, Minnesota visiting cities and towns that exemplify the industriousness of the American Midwest. Highlights include the Gateway Arch of St. Louis which celebrates the pioneers who settled the American plains and Davenport, Iowa, home of John Deere whose farm equipment made westward expansion possible. The Upper Mississippi is a treat for fans of nature and wildlife because the farther north you travel, the more likely you are to see bald eagles, hawks, turtles and river otters. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune in 1886, Mark Twain sang the praises of the Upper Mississippi where “every hour brings something new. There are crowds of odd islands, bluffs, prairies, hills, woods and villages.”
American Cruise Lines’ Upper Mississippi itinerary sails from St. Louis, Missouri to St. Paul, Minnesota visiting cities and towns that exemplify the industriousness of the American Midwest. Highlights include the Gateway Arch of St. Louis which celebrates the pioneers who settled the American plains and Davenport, Iowa, home of John Deere whose farm equipment made westward expansion possible. The Upper Mississippi is a treat for fans of nature and wildlife because the farther north you travel, the more likely you are to see bald eagles, hawks, turtles and river otters. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune in 1886, Mark Twain sang the praises of the Upper Mississippi where “every hour brings something new. There are crowds of odd islands, bluffs, prairies, hills, woods and villages.”
There are two different ship options: American Heritage, a Victorian-style paddlewheel riverboat, or three sleek modern riverboats. In 2022, American Heritage was redesigned with richly colored textiles and more sophisticated furnishings while keeping the historic touches that enchant its nostalgia-loving guests. The custom-designed modern riverboats, accommodate fewer than 200 passengers in all-balcony staterooms. Despite their intimate size, the modern riverboats all have a four-level atrium with a skylight and a top level skywalk. They’re known for their unique bow which stores a retractable gangway so the ship can dock in ports where traditional cruise ships can’t.
There are two different ship options: American Heritage, a Victorian-style paddlewheel riverboat, or three sleek modern riverboats. In 2022, American Heritage was redesigned with richly colored textiles and more sophisticated furnishings while keeping the historic touches that enchant its nostalgia-loving guests. The custom-designed modern riverboats, accommodate fewer than 200 passengers in all-balcony staterooms. Despite their intimate size, the modern riverboats all have a four-level atrium with a skylight and a top level skywalk. They’re known for their unique bow which stores a retractable gangway so the ship can dock in ports where traditional cruise ships can’t.
Highlights of the Upper Mississippi include a visit to Hannibal, Missouri, the birthplace of Samuel Clemens who became Mark Twain. Twain’s boyhood home is now a museum where you can see the only known example of his iconic white jacket and other personal artifacts. New this year, American Cruise Lines has an excursion to the Mark Twain Caves where young Clemens played as a child and signed his name. The signature, one of 250,000 written on the cave walls, wasn’t found until 2019 when one of the cave owners and her friend found it after years of searching. The cave inspired The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
Highlights of the Upper Mississippi include a visit to Hannibal, Missouri, the birthplace of Samuel Clemens who became Mark Twain. Twain’s boyhood home is now a museum where you can see the only known example of his iconic white jacket and other personal artifacts. New this year, American Cruise Lines has an excursion to the Mark Twain Caves where young Clemens played as a child and signed his name. The signature, one of 250,000 written on the cave walls, wasn’t found until 2019 when one of the cave owners and her friend found it after years of searching. The cave inspired The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
A visit to the John Deere Pavilion in Moline, Illinois (across the river from Davenport) illustrates how the company’s innovative machinery built and continues to build our country. Interactive exhibits showcase both vintage equipment including a horse drawn plow and new inventions like the X9 combine which can harvest 30 acres of wheat per hour. Kids of all ages will enjoy posing for photos inside the bucket or wheel of a tractor loader.
A visit to the John Deere Pavilion in Moline, Illinois (across the river from Davenport) illustrates how the company’s innovative machinery built and continues to build our country. Interactive exhibits showcase both vintage equipment including a horse drawn plow and new inventions like the X9 combine which can harvest 30 acres of wheat per hour. Kids of all ages will enjoy posing for photos inside the bucket or wheel of a tractor loader.
The film site of Kevin Costner’s inspirational movie Field of Dreams is a must-visit site where you can toss a baseball and take selfies. The mystical baseball field set in the middle of an Iowa cornfield may even inspire you to ask the question posed by Shoeless Joe Jackson as he spies the field: “Is this Heaven?”
A cruise on the Upper Mississippi is also an engineering marvel as the ships pass through more than 20 locks and an architectural delight as many of the river towns boast Victorian mansions. American Cruise Lines has been exploring the legendary waterways of the United States on small ships for over 50 years and there’s no better way to see the heart of America.
The film site of Kevin Costner’s inspirational movie Field of Dreams is a must-visit site where you can toss a baseball and take selfies. The mystical baseball field set in the middle of an Iowa cornfield may even inspire you to ask the question posed by Shoeless Joe Jackson as he spies the field: “Is this Heaven?”
A cruise on the Upper Mississippi is also an engineering marvel as the ships pass through more than 20 locks and an architectural delight as many of the river towns boast Victorian mansions. American Cruise Lines has been exploring the legendary waterways of the United States on small ships for over 50 years and there’s no better way to see the heart of America.
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