Cruising the Mississippi on American's Serenade

Photo by Gerry Barker

By GERRY BARKER

It’s called the Mighty Mississippi for a reason. Steeped in legend and lore, this major waterway continues to play a vital role in our nation’s commerce. And just as they’ve done for almost 200 years,  riverboats make the journey from New Orleans in the South to Minnesota in the North.

But make no mistake — those riverboats of yesteryear can’t compare to American Serenade, one of the newest ships from one of the leaders in U.S. river cruising, American Cruise Lines, which has been sailing U.S. waters for over 50 years on American-crewed and American-flagged ships.

We are taking their Upper Mississippi, fall foliage cruise, which starts in Alton, Illinois, just outside St. Louis, and ends in Red Wing, Minnesota. This is where the river is the most scenic, flowing by tall bluffs and through habitats populated by bald eagles. Along the way, we’ll stop at towns embodying both history and charm.

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