Top Things to See and Do on a Mississippi River Cruise
On a Mississippi River cruise, there’s no excuse for boredom: you'll float past roaring waterfalls, dams, and scenic river bluffs, and explore historical towns along the banks of the mighty river. These are just a few of the highlights you'll experience on a Mississippi River cruise.
- Grandad Bluff (La Crosse, WI) is a beautiful city park, with trails that will lead you to the peak of a hill that will offer amazing views of the Mississippi River Valley including three states and the city of La Crosse.
- Mark Twain's Hometown (Hannibal, MO) Hosts the museum dedicated to Samuel Clemens, who wrote under the pen name of Mark Twain. Here, various artifacts and the original architecture of his boyhood home have been preserved to commemorate the world-famous American writer. There is also the Mark Twain Cave Complex, where you can learn about the history of the area and how it also served as inspiration for many of his books.
- Gateway Arch (St Louis, MO) is a massive 600 ft arc, celebrating the expansion of the United States into the West. Tour to the top to experience unforgettable views, up to 30 miles to the east and west if the weather allows. This monument took nearly 20 years to build and had an original cost of 13 million dollars - well over 100 million dollars today!
- National Civil Rights Museum (Memphis, TN) is a complex of museums and historic buildings in downtown Memphis, where you will learn about the history of the Civil Rights Movement, its stories on those very streets only a few decades ago, and its legacy today.
- Vicksburg National Military Park (Vicksburg, MS) is the preserved site of a Civil War battle of Vicksburg, where they have reconstructed many of the buildings and even trenches that were used during the battle.
- USS Kidd Gunboat (Baton Rouge, LA) is a Fletcher-class destroyer built by the U.S. It was named after Rear Admiral Isaac Campbell Kidd, who was killed during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
- The National WWII Museum (New Orleans, LA) is full of exhibits that share the story of the war that changed the world, and the impact it still has today.
