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American River Cruising

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Do you love gently floating down rivers on a luxury liner? Does having your floating resort take you from port to port where you get to enjoy the history and culture of the area sound like a dream vacation?

Would you like to enjoy a river cruise vacation but aren’t sure about leaving the United States? Then, an American river cruise might be just the vacation for you!

Cruise the Rivers of the United States

Throughout history rivers have been the lifeblood of our country. New towns were settled westward on rivers which provided essential food and transportation. Rivers connected neighboring peoples and brought them together for fun, fellowship, commerce and trade. The river cities and towns in America have a rich history just waiting to be discovered.

And an American River Cruise is the perfect way to do it! This post will show you what’s special about American river cruises and introduce you to an American river cruise on the Lower Mississippi River.

What is special about an American River Cruise?

  • A true All-American experience–built, flagged and crewed by Americans visiting almost 30 different states through many different itineraries all over the United States
  • Exquisite cuisine, showcasing the delicious flavors of the local area
  • Onboard musical entertainment featuring the rich American traditions of Country, Jazz, Blues, and Rock and Roll.
  • Access to US landmarks in a new and exciting way
  • Daily lectures and education about American history and culture
  • Sail aboard a classic river cruise ship or on a Paddlewheel boat

Plus, all the other amenities you would expect from a river cruise–beautiful ships with ample amenities, first class personalized service, spacious staterooms, complimentary cocktail hour and wine and beer with meals, complimentary shore excursions, and more.

American River Cruising on the Lower Mississippi River

8 Days from Memphis, TN to New Orleans, LA

Map of a lower Mississippi American river cruise.

Memphis, TN

Begin your voyage in Memphis, the home of Blues, BBQ, Beale St. and of course Elvis, the King of Rock and Roll. Add a pre-cruise package to explore even more of this fascinating city.

Scenic Cruising

Take some time to enjoy the ship lounges, putting green, afternoon tea or just the gorgeous scenery from the deck, indoor lounges or your own private balcony.

Vicksburg, TN

Vicksburg served as a pivital turning point during the American Civil War. Join in as a historian guides you through the National Military Park commemorating the war in Vicksburg–the battlefields, the U.S.S.S Cairo gunboat and other significant historic places.

Natchez, MS

Visit antebellum houses in Natches, LA on a lower Mississippi American river cruise.
Longwood House in Natchez

Discover the antebellum charm of the south while in Natchez. The rich history and southern hospitality comes alive through an historic cotton plantation, piano concert and other highlights on a guided exploration of this fascinating city.

St Francisville, LA

Located on the bluffs of the Mississippi River, St. Francisville has been called, “One of the 200 most beautiful small towns in America.” Take a stroll through its historic center where two centuries of architecture and lifestyle are sure to charm.

Baton Rouge, LA

Baton Rouge Old Capital Building

Your visit to the down-home capital city of Baton Rouge will include a guided tour of the cities’ most famous attractions–Old and New State Capitols and the interactive Louisiana State Museum. You will want to soak up the truly unique history and culture of this wonderful city.

Oak Alley, LA

Visit Oak Alley Plantation on an Lower Mississippi American river cruise.
Oak Alley Plantation

Dive deep into the antebellum south while visiting the Oak Alley Plantation. At the end of a row of 300 year-old oak trees sits a classic Greek Revival mansion that has been fully restored to it’s 19th-century grandeur. Breathtaking!

New Orleans, LA

End your American river cruise journey down the Mississippi in the vibrant city of New Orleans, also known as the Big Easy, where art and culture abound. Extend your visit a day or two so that you can experience the art, history, and music through open-air galleries, concerts, and a multitude of museums. Oh, and don’t forget to indulge in some mouthwatering Beignets!


Have you visited one of these beautiful places? What was your favorite thing to see or do? Let us know in the comments below!

More questions about American River Cruising? Send me a message using the Contact Me button above.

Happy travels to you…until we meet again!

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Where can we travel in the United States this summer?

We have been cooped up the last few month but hings are starting to open up. Some of us are not quite ready to travel and that is okay. But some of us might be getting the bug to get out and see somewhere other than our own city. There are so many awesome places to explore when you are traveling in the US this summer.

Obviously, this blog won’t be exhaustive of the possible vacation destinations throughout the United States. Hopefully this will get you started thinking and dreaming for this summer or possibly next.

East Coast

Florida has some wonderful beach options. Florida is open up to people from all states except the Tri-State area.

  • Destin
  • St. Augustine–awesome beaches and history from the Spanish exploration
  • St. Pete’s/Clearwater
  • Palm Coast and Hammock Beach
  • Amelia Island
  • Miami
  • Florida Keys (this could be a challenge to book as it is pretty popular this summer but)

Orlando just begs to be mentioned! Universal Studios Orlando, Sea World, and Legoland are currently open. Disney World will be opening mid-July. These theme parks are open with health and safety precautions put in place which will give visitors an experience that is magical but not quite the same as usual.

Georgia has some fantastic options. You can actually travel in just this state and hit the beaches, mountains, and fabulous historic cities.

  • Jekyll Island–a wonderful beach town
  • Savannah
  • Stone Mountain–a beautiful area full of outdoor activities and attractions. You can even stay in a treehouse on a farm. How cool is that!

Virginia has something for everyone–beaches, vast history, and scenic mountains and rolling hills.

See historic brick making demonstration in Williamsburg while traveling in the US this summer.
Historic brick making demonstration in Williamsburg
  • Virginia Beach
  • Williamsburg–Living History museums, spas, theme parks, biking, hiking and golf. What more could anyone want?
  • Hot Springs–This historic spa destination has some beautiful resorts.

North Carolina is another fantastic US vacation destination.

Lighthouse in the Outer Banks, North Carolina
A lighthouse in the Outer Banks, North Carolina
  • Ashville–The (almost) beginning of the Blue Ridge Highway and the Biltmore Estate. This is actually such a beautiful place to vacation in the fall with the amazing fall foliage.
  • Outer Banks–Some beautiful beaches, lighthouses and aviation history.

South Carolina

  • Charleston–a fun historic southern city
  • Hilton Head–Disney has a wonderful resort here
  • Myrtle Beach–another great southern beach town

National Parks

Visiting National Parks is an excellent way to spend your summer vacation. NPS.GOV is where you can start your research. National Parks are some of my favorite places to explore while traveling in the US during the summer.

What if we want to see a National Park but don’t want the stress of planning?

There are a couple of tour companies who are ready to help!

National Parks of the American West–National Geographic Journeys

Spend 15 days in October to visit Zion and Bryce Canyon in Utah, then the Grand Canyon and Route 66 in Arizona before heading to Death Valley, Sequoia, King’s Canyon and Yosemite.

There is also an 8 day option that focuses on the breathtaking canyons in Utah and Arizona.

These are small group tours that will fill up quickly!

Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons

Grand Tetons National Park
Grand Tetons National Park

Book this 8-day tour of the Grand Tetons (one of my absolute favorite National Parks) and Yellowstone for your whole family this August. Since this is a family journey there are special activities to really bring children into the history, geography and beauty of the area. (ages 7+)

National Geographic Journeys has a book with confidence policy (credit given) for all tours booked before June 30, 2020.

Arizona and Utah–Adventures by Disney

Do you love Disney service? Well, how about taking a tour of this beautiful country designed by Disney! This 8-day trip will take you through Arizona making sure to get plenty of time at the Grand Canyon. Then you will head to Monument Valley and Arches National Parks in Utah. You will finish up in Grand Junction, CO. On this trip, you will experience activities that you couldn’t anywhere else with any other company.

Washington DC and Philadelphia

There is one adult-only trip in September ready to show the wonders and history of Washington DC and Philadelphia. By taking a coordinated tour you are able to get into places that it is very difficult to get in on your own. Such a great way to make some once-in-a-lifetime memories.

River Cruise US Rivers this Summer

Just because we cannot go to Europe this summer doesn’t mean that you can’t go on a river cruise! This year consider taking a river cruise on the Mississippi, the Cumberland, Ohio, Tennessee, Snake, or the Columbia Rivers. You can even cruise on a small ship down the Southeast coast.

An American river cruise will introduce you to cities and towns that make up the heart and soul of our great country. Your riverboat journeys down the smooth American waterways with the land never far out of sight and beautiful landscapes nearly close enough to touch. Plus, throught the cruise you have the opportunity to learn about the geography, history and culture of the places you visit both onboard and during shore excursions. What a unique way to learn about and enjoy our country!

On an American River Cruise you may enjoy spacious staterooms with private balconies, gourmet cuisine from the local area, evening entertainment focusing on music and history of the area, an all-American crew providing excellent service, and complimentary afternoon tea and cocktail hour along with other fabulous amenities.


Do you have a vacation idea you would like to explore this summer? Comment below and let us all know some of your favorite places!

I would love to help you start your planning process for this summer or into 2021 which might be more comfortable for you to think about. Just fill out the contact form above and we’ll talk!

Happy travels to you…until we meet again!

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