If you want to see the most territory on a Mississippi River cruise then this is the one you want. In eight days, you’ll see six states when you travel from St. Louis to New Orleans.
American Cruise Lines’ Queen of the Mississippi has a river cruise that goes all the way from St. Louis to New Orleans. Starting from the “Gateway to the West,” you can learn all about the historical west, pay tribute to the King of Rock and Roll, visit a famous battleground, and pick cotton on a plantation before heading to the mouth of the Mississippi.
There are only two St. Louis to New Orleans Mississippi River cruises offered yearly. In 2015, sail August 15 or October 24.
Map courtesy of American Cruise Lines
St. Louis, Missouri is best known for its Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Gateway Arch. You can take a ride up to the top of the arch in a small egg-shaped capsule and see a spectacular view of the city and Mississippi Valley from the observation deck.
St. Louis Gateway Arch observation area inside at the top.
Photo courtesy of National Park Service, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
This is also home of the original Anheuser-Busch Brewery and the historic stables of the famous Clydesdale horses–as seen on Superbowl Sunday. Make sure to include a Budweiser Brewery tour while in St. Louis.
Photo courtesy of Anheuser-Busch
The Museum of Westward Expansion is filled with exhibits and history recollecting the lives of the explorers, cowboys and Native Americans.
On your second day you’ll get to enjoy relaxing on your paddlewheeler boat all day as you cruise along the Mississippi River between St. Louis and Memphis.
There’s no shortage of things to do in Memphis. Learn a little history about the King of Rock and Roll at Elvis Presley’s Graceland and Car Museum.
Photo courtesy of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.
If you want to just enjoy the natural environment of Memphis, go to Shelby Farms where the buffalo still roam. You can also go horseback riding through the back country.
Photo courtesy of Shelby Farms
On this river cruise, you’ll get a second day to enjoy sipping sweet iced tea from your balcony while you enjoy the sights and sounds along the Mississippi.
A visit to the south wouldn’t be complete without a visit to a Civil War battlefield site in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Vicksburg National Military Park has preserved the historical site and includes battle re-enactments.
Photo courtesy of the National Park Service at Vicksburg National Military Park
Natchez, Mississippi has over 1,000 historic structures in this 300-year old preserved historical city. Frogmore Cotton Plantation and Gin, a must-see, is an 1800-acre working cotton farm, with a rare steam cotton gin and the history of computerization of cotton ginning.
Photo courtesy of Frogmore Cotton Plantation and Gin
You’ll find the best Louisiana Cajun cuisine in Baton Rouge. Be sure to visit the LSU Rural Life Museum. Take a peek into the lives of early settlers as you tour the plantation and see the kitchen, slave cabins and a grist mill.
Photo courtesy of LSU Rural Life Museum
See a civil war submarine at the Capitol Park Museum (Louisiana State Museum).
Photo courtesy of Mark J. Sindler/Louisiana State Museum
When you arrive in New Orleans, be sure to visit the New Orleans Museum of Art, a collection of French, American, African and Japanese works and the Sydney and Besthoff Sculpture Gardens.
Photo courtesy of New Orleans City Park Archives
When you arrive back in New Orleans, be sure to visit the Louisiana State Museum has a new Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond exhibit. This exhibit shows how hurricanes develop and their destructive nature as well as pictures of the devastation from Katrina.
There’s a great view of the Crescent City Connection Bridge from the terrace on the fifth floor at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.
Photo courtesy of Odgen Museum of Southern Art
And a trip to New Orleans wouldn’t be complete without trying the locals favorite Parkway Bakery & Tavern’s crusty Po-Boys hero sandwich piled with fried gulf oysters, shrimp or catfish.
Photo courtesy of Parkway Bakery & Tavern
Want more information?
Call a CruiseExperts.com travel advisor now to book your stateroom on an America Cruise Lines river cruise. We are here to answer any questions you may have about taking a cruise on a paddle wheeler. Call us at 1-888-804-CRUISE (2784) or visit our website, www.CruiseExperts.com
You may be interested in our other blog about other Mississippi river cruises
See the historical South on a paddlewheeler boat on a Mississippi River cruise
From St. Louis to St. Paul—take a Mississippi River cruise through history on a paddlewheeler boat
Cruise the Mississippi and Cumberland Rivers through America’s Heartland
Experience and explore history while cruising the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers
Cruise the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers between St. Louis and Memphis for a taste of Americana
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