On a Mississippi River cruise, the journey and the stops can be as enchanting as the paddle wheeler you’ll travel on. You’ll visit many historic and charming towns that illuminate our nation’s past and offer distinctive present-day pleasures.
“Traveling on the American Queen steamboat made me feel that I was entering a part of American history,” says AAA Travel Advisor Terry Cullinan, who took a 7-day Mississippi River cruise with American Queen Voyages last December. “Every stop brought an opportunity to meet locals, who were warm and welcoming and so very proud of their cultural heritage and historical sites.”
Many of the river towns that cruise passengers like Cullinan visit are packed with compelling history, cool culture, and a cornucopia of charm. Here are 6 you'll want to visit.