If you are a honeymooning couple or a history buff, sailing along the Mississippi River on board an authentic river ship may satisfy your desire for romance, adventure or history. There are a few outfitters which may help you follow in the footsteps of Huck Finn.

Paddelford Riverboats

The Paddelford Packet Boat Company will operate six ships from St. Paul, taking passengers on daily cruises along the upper Mississippi River. You may explore the history of the Mississippi River Valley on a 1 1/2-hour narrated cruise trip through the mouth of the Minnesota River to Fort Snelling and Pike Island, taking a glimpse of the Pig`s Eye`s Cave or St. Paul High Bridge. These day trips will operate seven days per week, from early June to late August. In September or October, you may enjoy the colorful fall foliage on the river on board special Fall Sightseeing cruises. If you are in the search of a new dining experience, you may sail and feast on board several distinct meal cruise trips, which will include sunset cruise up the Mississippi, dinner or Sunday brunch cruise tours, as well as Mother`s and Father`s Day Brunches. Specialty cruise trips will include a Margarita cruise, an Oktoberfest cruise, a Fireworks cruise on the Fourth of July, where you will be able to see the St. Paul`s fireworks display from the river, and a Beer & Brats cruise. All traditional and specialty cruise trips can be subject to be changed starting with 2011.

Paddelford Packet Boat Co., Inc.
Harriet Island
(651) 227 1100
http://riverrides.com

The Spirit of Peoria

See the landmarks on the Mississippi River as you will sail on board an authentic paddle-boat from Peoria to St. Louis, during any period of the year. For 3 days, you may travel in the way that Mark Twain sailed through locks of this great river, seeing riverscapes and watching the wildlife in the area on the Spirit of Peoria. The ship will sail from 08.00 to 19.00 each and every day, the 1st night you will spend in Jacksonville, while the 2nd one at the Pere Marquette Lodge in Grafton, before you will dock at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis on the 3rd day. As of 2011, ticket rates will include overnight lodging, unlimited complimentary drinks, live entertainment like old-time banjo picker or ragtime piano player, and all meals. The cruise price, which as of 2011 will be of $499/person/double occupancy, will include round-trip transportation back to Peoria as well as bagging handling. The Spirit of Peoria will offer other overnight excursions as well.

Spirit of Peoria
100 Water Street
(309) 637 8000
http://spiritofpeoria.com

The Creole Queen

Glory in the sights or sounds of New Orleans as you will be sailing along the Mississippi River on board the Creole Queen, an authentic paddler-wheel riverboat powered by twenty-four-foot diameter paddle-wheel, according to their official website. At night, you may dine on a delightful Creole buffet or watch the lights of the city slip by on the Dinner Jazz Cruise which will run 4 to 5 nights per week, which will include Fridays or Saturdays. During the day, you may cruise downriver, disembark at Jean Lafitte National Park and Preserve, and take a tour of Chalmette Battlefield, a site from the 1815 Battle of New Orleans between the United States President-to-be Andrew Jackson and the English. Specialty cruise trips will include the Fourth of July Celebration River Cruise and the Easter Sunday New Orleans Jazz Brunch. All cruise tours will be available as of 2011.

New Orleans Paddlewheels Inc.
Riverwalk Market Place, Box 39
(504) 529 4567
http://creolequeen.com

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