The river and it's riverboats were also the semi-fictional home to an assortment of colorful literary characters that included Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, & Becky Thatcher who were all carved out of the experiences and imagination of Hannibal, Missouri native Samuel Clemens, who, in addition to being a riverboat pilot at one stage of his career, adopted a riverboat term on gauging depth in the Mississippi as his pen name...Mark Twain.
During the Civil War it was a fast flowing military artery that carried blue and grey troops and weapons into strategic positions to fight some of the bloodiest battles between the North and South along the river with a backdrop of high bluffs, riverfront towns and plantations that saw the battle smoke from muskets and cannons during the bloodiest conflict in American history that ended in 1865.
At wars end riverboats once again set a course on the Mississippi with a more peaceful purpose. The upper decks of were converted to present entertainment for travelers that ran the gamut from minstrel shows, vaudeville, burlesque, and Dixieland Bands. High brow culture was also on the playbill as even operatic performances found a place on the riverboat stage. The rowdy era of gamblers and pirates was fading fast into the past. The riverboats prospered for a time, and it could be looked upon as the golden age of riverboat travel, until that is the arrival of the steam engine trains.
In this new age, railroads took center stage, replacing the much slower, but, romantic steam powered paddle wheelers. The industrial revolution was about to fire up full steam ahead with it's faster transportation and westward expansion. America was now on the move at a furious pace, but, today, riverboat popularity is back and hotter than ever as a vacation and travel option to explore the new south, and it's river culture and history at a slower pace of another age, and as a calm and peaceful counter balance to today's technological society of multi-tasking, ulcers and the gluttonous electronic overload of laptops, desktops, cell-phones, i-Pads and social networks.
The old days of pirates on the Mississippi are long gone, but the steamboat paddle wheelers keep rollin' on the river, just like Proud Mary herself. Today you can cruise aboard a riverboat from St. Paul, southward all the way to New Orleans in an elegant stateroom with a riverboat load of entertainment, music and dancing, along with an all inclusive cornucopia of first class meals as you wine and dine on everything from catfish, filet mignon to saucy cuisine with a spicy Cajun flair. Top it all off with award winning deserts and a bottle of your favorite vintners vino, add some slow dancing under the stars at night into the mix and you have the recipe for the perfect romantic evening as you cruise in the moonlight down the mighty Mississippi River.
There are many different cruises from any port along the river, (as well as day cruises and dinner cruises of shorter duration.) All you have to do is choose which port of call you want to embark from and where you would like your final destination to be.
You also have a choice of which type of stateroom you want. They have a wide range and can accommodate almost every person or families budget. You can keep it cheap in an economy cabin on the inside of the boat with all the basics, or you can luxuriate in elegance in a stately stateroom on the outside to enjoy the view of the passing scenery and towns through French doors that also open up to your own private veranda where you can sit and relax. It may be old world elegance and ambiance, but ,rest assured there are technological amenities such as satellite TV and Hi-Def television for those who just can't escape the electronic tentacles of our high tech society.
Cruises are diverse, and for every taste and interest you can select the perfect cruise by theme. They range from the historic and educational to downright fun with rock and roll, blues and BBQ's.
The Old South meets the New South as you cruise the river through the history and culture of the south with visits to such towns as Hannibal, boyhood home of Mark Twain, to Memphis, Natchez and Vicksburg and towns in between on tours designed to discover Southern Culture such as the Antebellum South and it's rich gardens and architecture to a tour of battlefields and other Blue/Grey Sites as you travel along the river trail of the Civil War.
The boats make stops at various ports along the way and you can regain your land legs and visit towns for shopping and sight seeing before you board your vessel to continue your journey to your destination. It is one of the rare modes of transportation where the journey itself can be considered the destination!
Cruises can cater to the fall foliage crowd as Mother Nature unfolds her majestic beauty with an explosion of color and beauty to create a living art gallery of natural wonder. Food and wine just seem to go together and if you are a vino-phile you can unwind and uncork on a Food and Wine cruise to enjoy the bouquet and gastronomical delights of a fine wine and dine experience.
Other specialty cruises make the perfect holiday gift package for yourself or someone else. Enjoy Thanksgiving on the river or ring in the New Year riverboat style and kiss your loved one at midnight in one of the most romantic settings you'll ever experience. Christmas on the river is another once in a lifetime experience and don't be surprised if Santa has booked passage on the same ship! Even Santa likes to get away from his duties at the North Pole and relax before he makes his rounds.
Music cruising on the Mississippi is a another unique experience for the rock and roller and the blues aficionado. Lets face it, the south is the birthplace of rock and roll and the finest blues on the planet, along with gospel, bluegrass and Dixieland. Swivel your hips on the Elvis Cruise to travel the river path of the King of Rock and Roll traveling from New Orleans to Memphis. While in Memphis visit Graceland, rockabilly central at Sun Studios where the likes of the King, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis began their recording careers.
There is also a Fabulous Fifties Cruise that starts in Louisville, Kentucky on the Ohio River that rocks and rolls to St. Louis on the Mississippi where you can grab your poodle skirts and leather jackets for a nostalgic trip back in time while belting out a chorus of Great Balls of Fire at the top of your lungs. The ultimate southern party? Cruise on down party central at Mardi Gras in New Orleans. There are other music oriented trips as well including Polka's, so roll out the barrel as you roll on down the river and have a barrel of fun!
Choose a cruise and ride the river Southern style and explore the rich culture and cuisine of the south. It's a river trip through American history that is educational and exciting at the same time. Add a little bit of blues, BBQ's and some good old rock and roll and you have the type of cruise that Mississippi River dreams are made of. For more information on a vast variety of cruises go online to www.rivercruise.com/mississippi_river.cfm