Groups can go with the flow and still enjoy an enchanting trip when they embark on a river cruise.
Characterized by small vessels and lots of land excursions, river cruises are becoming increasingly popular for travelers who want to explore multiple cities without hotel hopping. While time on the river is great for unwinding, trips to shore are the main attraction.
Whether they’re docking to enjoy an afternoon or embarking on a pre- or post-cruise extension, groups can discover these popular port cities as they glide down American rivers.
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Louisville, Kentucky
Many Ohio River cruises either begin or end in Louisville, which gives passengers plenty of time to experience every quintessentially Kentucky thing the city has to offer.
Groups can tour Churchill Downs with tickets purchased at the Kentucky Derby Museum and even opt for behind-the-scenes experiences that let them watch horses warm up on the track while they learn horse-racing history. They can explore some of the city’s top museums, including the Muhammad Ali Center, which is dedicated to the late boxing titan’s life and legacy, and the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, easily identified by the 120-foot-tall baseball bat leaning against the side of the building. Both museums offer group tours.
For a night out, travelers will love exploring the cast-iron storefronts of Whiskey Row and the bourbon behind them. This district is packed with distilleries and tasting experiences that offer a great introduction to Kentucky’s signature spirit. Louisville boasts a wide array of restaurants where groups can try everything from traditional Southern comfort food and Kentucky classics to bold new flavors before they board their vessel again.
Hannibal, Missouri
Hannibal, Missouri, a port city along the lower Mississippi River, is known as the town where famous American novelist Mark Twain grew up. Twain, whose real name was Samuel Clemens, found inspiration for many of his novels in Hannibal. Visiting groups can tour the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, a complex in the heart of the city’s historic downtown that includes everything from the home itself to Judge Clemens’ Justice of the Peace Office, where the author’s father worked.
Hannibal is also home to the Mark Twain Cave Complex, which Clemens is said to have used as the inspiration for the cave in “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.” Tours of the cave can be paired with a trolley tour of Hannibal. During the tour, visitors will also learn that Hannibal was the birthplace of the “Unsinkable” Molly Brown, an RMS Titanic passenger who was known not only for her bravery during the ship’s sinking, but also for her later activism and philanthropy. Her birthplace home is open for tours May through October.
Even those indifferent to history will find plenty to do in Hannibal, with its shops, restaurants and serene parks offering a pleasant way to pass an afternoon before re-embarking.
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Though the city was officially founded in 1811 and incorporated in 1825, Vicksburg, Mississippi’s history stretches back much further. In the 18th century, the area was enveloped in a power struggle between European colonists and local Indigenous tribes, thanks to its prime location on the Mississippi River. Later, during the Civil War, Vicksburg — called the “Key to the South” because of its strategic location — was the site of a 47-day siege that ended in a pivotal Union victory. Today, it’s a popular port city for river cruises along the lower Mississippi, drawing people in with its wealth of historic attractions, as well as its dining and shopping.
Groups can visit Vicksburg’s Civil War-related attractions, including the Vicksburg National Cemetery and the Vicksburg Civil War Museum, as well as dozens of historic markers at homes and businesses throughout downtown. Several other museums, like the Jesse Brent Lower Mississippi River Museum and the Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum, are also popular stops for groups. They can also amuse themselves with an afternoon of shopping along Main Street and grabbing a bite to eat at one of the city’s many riverfront restaurants.
Astoria, Oregon
Cruises along the Columbia and Snake rivers are becoming popular choices for those hoping to maximize their enjoyment of the Pacific Northwest’s beautiful scenery and nature-loving lifestyle. Groups can expect breathtaking views, farm-to-table fare and Willamette Valley wines on their cruises, as well as active excursions and stops at distinct communities along the route.
Astoria, Oregon, is one such community on the Columbia River, not far from the mouth of the Pacific Ocean. It’s the state’s oldest city, founded in 1811. It’s also the oldest American settlement west of the Mississippi. It was the endpoint of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and a home to Indigenous tribes and Swedish and Chinese immigrants. Astoria’s rich cultural heritage can be explored at area museums and attractions, such as the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park, the Columbia River Maritime Museum and the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum.
Groups can also enjoy what makes the city a standout today, including its growing local arts scene and expansive collection of craft breweries, coffee shops and seafood restaurants.
Juneau, Alaska
The major draw of river cruising in Alaska is access to the wonders of the natural world, from rare wildlife encounters to up-close sightings of glaciers and fjords that characterize this wild territory. But groups on these cruises also get the chance to see Alaska’s history for themselves and visit Indigenous villages. Juneau, Alaska’s capital, is a popular beginning and end point for river cruises in the state, as well as a popular stop for other small-ship cruises exploring the region.
Groups have plenty to do and see in Juneau. They can enjoy the comforts of Juneau’s downtown by dining at a locally owned restaurant or coffee shop or by taking a historic walking tour of the city. For more adventurous pursuits, there’s hiking on the Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau’s top attraction. For longer stops in Juneau, groups can take an excursion to Tracy Arm Fjord for some impressive Alaskan scenery. Zip-lining and fishing can keep active groups occupied, while whale-watching tours let groups spot humpback whales, orcas and sea lions in their natural habitats. Group leaders can even book a tour in advance to Pack Creek Bear Sanctuary on the eastern shore of nearby Admiralty Island.
Saint Paul, Minnesota
The capital of Minnesota is also one of its Twin Cities, part of a booming metropolis of industry and culture in the Upper Midwest. Saint Paul is a common starting or ending point of cruises on the Mississippi River. With its abundance of history, architecture and cultural attractions, groups will want plenty of time to discover all it has to offer.
Walking tours let visitors take in the city’s historic architecture, from the longest stretch of Victorian-era homes in the country to beautifully restored mansions. Part of that history has a darker side, which groups will relish learning — the Wabasha Street Caves are a perfect place to take a gangster tour and learn about the city’s past of organized crime.
Groups will want to explore the Twin Cities’ eclectic food scene, from its plentiful brewpubs to its elegant ethnic restaurants. Moscow on the Hill is a great place to sample Russian cuisine and vodka, while Cossetta Alimentari offers an Italian market, restaurant, bar, bakery and pizzeria rolled into one. Handsome Hog hosts large groups for Southern comfort food, smoked meats and bourbon, and The Gnome Craft Pub, a laid-back eatery in a historic firehouse, has a long tap list for groups to sample.
