Compare History Along the Mississippi: From St. Paul to New Orleans by Road Scholar

Day 1 Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner Minneapolis, MN

Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Program Registration: 3:00-5:00 pm. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in. Orientation: 5:00-6:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This program is staffed with a Study Leader who will provide exclusive educational content to our group aboard the riverboat. This is a Road Scholar Adventures Afloat program. In addition to Road Scholar exclusive lectures, field trips, and activities, you are invited to take advantage of activities and events offered by the cruise line that are separate from Road Scholar. Routes, field trips, and excursions are subject to change as weather and river conditions including water levels could require altering the itinerary and/or the progress of the riverboat, making it run late and sometimes miss ports if it cannot dock. The cruise itinerary should therefore be regarded as provisional. The operators reserve the right to change the content of field trips and excursions without prior notice. The time available in each port is set by the cruise line. Whenever possible, the Road Scholar daily schedule indicates port arrival and departure times (subject to change by the cruise line). This may mean that free time in port is limited. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel.

Day 2 Minneapolis-Minnesota, Minnehaha Falls, Summit Avenue Minneapolis, MN

Getting on/off a motorcoach; on/off a streetcar (approximately 5 steps). Walking and standing up to 1 hour at a time.

We will board our motor coach for a field trip with a local expert to experience some of the city’s highlights. Minneapolis is known as the “City of Lakes” for its 22 lakes in addition to waterfalls, a dozen gardens, as well as golf courses and many miles of biking and walking paths. First will be Minnehaha Falls, named for the famous poem “The Song of Hiawatha” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that achieved great popularity after its publication in 1855. With our local expert, we’ll set out on a walking field trip. We will also stop at the riverfront for a dramatic view of St. Anthony Falls. We will walk with our expert who will explain the significance of the northernmost major economic hub on the Mississippi River. By motor coach, we’ll also see some of the surrounding neighborhoods and their impressive parade of luxurious mansions.

Next, we will the board our motor coach and ride to explore the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the largest urban sculpture garden in the United States. With our expert, we will stroll through some of the site’s 11 acres and have an opportunity to see more than 40 sculptures including the whimsically iconic “Spoonbridge and Cherry.” After our city exploration we will return to the hotel and have some free time to freshen up before dinner.

Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening at leisure. Prepare for check-out, transfer, and embarkation in the morning.

At the hotel.

At a local restaurant.

At a local restaurant.

Day 3 Minnesota Sculpture Garden, Embark Riverboat Red Wing, MN

Getting on/off a motor coach. Walking at field trip site. Boarding riverboat.

Once checked out of the hotel, our luggage will be picked up separately for transport to the riverboat. Next, we will head to the Minnesota Streetcar Museum for a ride on a genuine streetcar restored at this museum. The short ride (approximately 20 minutes) will provide a chance to experience the way local folks travelled to work, school, and for weekend activities as the city expanded. Before departing, there will be some independent time to view the photographs and nostalgia in the museum We’ll then re-board the motor coach and ride to lunch.

We will ride to the American Countess dock, board the riverboat, and complete embarkation procedures. Luggage will be delivered to cabins. We will take part in the riverboat’s safety drill with everyone aboard when announced. Take some time to freshen up and relax or start becoming familiar with our floating hotel.

At leisure. Enjoy live entertainment in the theater, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, see more of the riverboat on your own, or just relax in your stateroom.

At the hotel.

At Minnehaha Park, we will enjoy a picnic lunch

In the Grand Dining Room aboard the American Countess.

Day 4 Winona-Minnesota, Hop-on/Hop-off Field Trip Winona, MN

Getting on/off riverboat, Hop-on/Hop-off buses. Walking and standing at field trip sites.

We will step out and board waiting Hop-On/Hop-Off buses to explore Winona. This small town on the Upper Mississippi has a rich history and culture with museums, galleries, and parks. Provided maps will indicate which sites on the bus route charge no admission when you show your ship ID as well as those that do have an admission fee. The time for each visit varies from 15 minutes to more than an hour. The buses will complete a circular route and stop approximately every 15-20 minutes for pick-ups.

We will gather for a presentation by our Study Leader on topics relevant to the program.

At leisure.

Aboard the American Countess.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Day 5 La Crosse-Wisconsin, Hop-on/Hop-off Field Trip La Crosse, WI

Getting on/off riverboat, Hop-on/Hop-off buses. Walking and standing at field trip sites.

We will step out and board waiting Hop-On/Hop-Off buses to explore La Crosse. This area was first explored by French fur traders during the 17th century. Hop-on/Hop-off bus stops will include the Dahl Auto Museum, Hixon House, Riverside Museum, and International Friendship Garden.

We’ll gather on board with our Study Leader for a presentation on a topic relevant to the program.

At leisure.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Day 6 Dubuque-Iowa, Hop-on/Hop-off Field Trip Dubuque, IA

Getting on/off riverboat, Hop-on/Hop-off buses. Walking and standing at field trip sites.

We will step out and board waiting Hop-On/Hop-Off buses to explore Dubuque, Iowa’s oldest city and one of the oldest settlements west of the Mississippi River. Mesquakie (Fox) Indians occupied the region when French-Canadian fur trader Julien Dubuque arrived in 1785. Hop-on/Hop-off bus stops will include the Historic Mill Work District, Dubuque Museum of Art, Fenelon Place Elevator, Julien Hotel, and Grand Opera House.

We’ll gather with our Study Leader for a presentation on topics relevant to the program.

At leisure.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Day 7 Bettendorf-Iowa, Hop-on/Hop-off Field Trip Bettendorf, IA

Getting on/off riverboat, Hop-on/Hop-off buses. Walking and standing at field trip sites.

We will step out and board waiting Hop-On/Hop-Off buses to explore Bettendorf. Nicknamed Quad City, it actually comprises five cities: Rock Island, Moline and East Moline in Illinois, and Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa. Hop-on/Hop-off bus stops will include the Figge Art Museum, German American Heritage Center, Quad City Botanical Center.

We’ll gather for a presentation by our Study Leader.

At leisure.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Day 8 Burlington-Iowa, Hop-on/Hop-off Field Trip Burlington, IA

Getting on/off riverboat, Hop-on/Hop-off buses. Walking and standing at field trip sites.

We will step out and board waiting Hop-On/Hop-Off buses to explore Burlington, originally part of French territory before being governed briefly by Spain. It was included in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, sold to the United States by France. Hop-on/Hop-off bus stops will include Snake Alley, the Des Moines County Historical Society Heritage Museum, and Garrett-Phelps House.

We’ll gather for a presentation by our Study Leader.

At leisure.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Day 9 Hannibal-Missouri, Hop-on/Hop-off Field Trip Hannibal, MO

Getting on/off riverboat, Hop-on/Hop-off buses. Walking and standing at field trip sites.

Founded in 1819, Hannibal flourished as a docking port for steamboats, flatboats, and packet steamers on the Mississippi River. It’s most famous “famous son” was Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known worldwide as Mark Twain. We will step out and board waiting Hop-On/Hop-Off buses to explore Hannibal. Hop-on/Hop-off bus stops will include Mark Twain’s Boyhood Home and Museum, Becky Thatcher’s House, Huckleberry Finn’s House, and the Mark Twain Museum Gallery featuring the Norman Rockwell Gallery.

We’ll gather for a presentation by our Study Leader.

At leisure.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Day 10 St. Louis-Missouri, Hop-on/Hop-off Field Trip St. Louis, Missouri

Getting on/off riverboat, Hop-on/Hop-off buses. Walking and standing at field trip sites.

St. Louis is known as the Gateway City. The gigantic Gateway Arch, completed in 1965, commemorates millions of explorers and pioneers who set out to settle the American West in the 19th century. We will step out and board waiting Hop-On/Hop-Off buses. Scheduled stops will include the Gateway Arch/Old Courthouse, Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, Missouri History Museum, and St. Louis Art Museum.

We’ll gather for a presentation by our Study Leader.

At leisure. Enjoy a presentation by the entertainment staff.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Day 11 Full Day Aboard the Riverboat Cruising the Mississippi River

Full free day.

We will gather for a presentation by our Study Leader.

Free time. This period is available to see and do what interests you most as the riverboat moves ahead.

At leisure.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Day 12 Memphis-Tennessee, Hop-on/Hop-off Field Trip Memphis, TN

Getting on/off riverboat, Hop-on/Hop-off buses. Walking and standing at field trip sites.

Native Americans had occupied the area before Spanish explorers arrived in the 1540s. Later, Americans including Andrew Jackson purchased vast tracts and Memphis was founded in 1819. After a complex, sometimes turbulent social history, Blues music became popular in the early 20th century and Elvis made it a capital of rock-and-roll. We will step out and board waiting Hop-On/Hop-Off buses to explore. Scheduled stops will include the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, Beale Street, Peabody Hotel, and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame Museum.

We’ll gather for a presentation by our Study Leader.

At leisure.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Day 13 Mississippi Delta, Terrene Landing, Hop-on/Hop-off Cruising the Mississippi River

Getting on/off riverboat, Hop-on/Hop-off buses. Walking and standing at field trip sites.

The Mississippi Delta — not to be confused with the Mississippi River Delta — is a hub of agriculture, music, and history. This slice of land situated between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers became one of the richest cotton-growing places in America before the Civil War. We will step out and board waiting Hop-On/Hop-Off buses to explore. Scheduled stops will include the Grammy Museum Mississippi and Martin & Sue King Railroad Museum.

We’ll gather for a presentation by our Study Leader.

At leisure.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Day 14 Vicksburg-Mississippi, National Military Park Vicksburg, MS

Getting on/off riverboat, Hop-on/Hop-off buses. Walking and standing at field trip sites.

We’ll gather for a presentation by our Study Leader.

We will take a field trip to the Vicksburg National Military Park, home to more than 1,300 monuments, tablets, and markers commemorating the decisive Civil War battle here in 1863. We will go on a 16-mile drive through the park and stop at the Illinois State Monument, dedicated to fallen soldiers and the USS Cairo gunboat. We’ll return to the ship in late afternoon.

At leisure.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Day 15 Natchez-Mississippi, Hop-on/Hop-off Field Trip Natchez, MS

Getting on/off riverboat, Hop-on/Hop-off buses. Walking and standing at field trip sites.

This was the home of Natchez Indians for a millennium into the period of European colonization. It is the oldest continuously occupied city on the Mississippi, dating back to 1716. The city survived the Civil War in surprisingly good shape and today is home to more than 1,000 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. We will step out and board waiting Hop-On/Hop-Off buses to explore. Scheduled stops will include the Old South Trading Post, Rosalie Mansion, William Johnson House Museum, Magnolia Hall, and the Museum of African American History And Culture.

We’ll gather for a presentation by our Study Leader.

At leisure.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Day 16 Nottoway-Louisiana, Bayou Field Trip Nottoway, LA

Getting on/off riverboat, on/off a motorcoach, on/off excursion boat. Walking and standing at field trip sites.

We will dock at Nottoway for a field trip by boat to explore a bayou where we’ll learn about local history, the lives of inhabitants, and the wildlife that inhabit these waters. Residents typically include American alligators, Ibis, turtles, herons, raccoons, egrets, and snakes. The cypress trees and lush vegetation make this an incredible eco-system.

We’ll gather for a presentation by our Study Leader.

At leisure. Prepare for disembarkation in the morning.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Aboard the riverboat.

Day 17 New Orleans-Louisiana, Disembarkation New Orleans, LA

Disembark riverboat. Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking and standing at field trip sites.

After completing disembarkation procedures, we will say goodbye to the American Countess and board a motorcoach for a city field trip with a local expert. Scheduled stops will include Lake Pontchartrain, City Park with its Sculpture Garden and Cemetery, and Louis Armstrong Park.

We will continue our exploration with a ride along historic Carrolton Avenue and St. Charles Avenue. We’ll then step out for a walking field trip in the Garden District. After the field trip, out motor coach will drop us off at the Hotel Monteleone for check-in. We’ll have some time to freshen up and relax before we walk to our dinner venue.

Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening is at leisure.

Aboard the riverboat.

At a local restaurant.

At the New Orleans School of Cooking, we’ll observe a cooking demonstration and then enjoy local specialties for dinner.

Day 18 Jazz Brunch, World War II Museum New Orleans, LA

Getting on/off a motor coach. Walking and standing at field trip sites.

We will board a motorcoach and ride to the World War II Museum that features immersive exhibits, multimedia experiences, and an expansive collection of artifacts and first-person oral histories. Upon arrival, we’ll view one of the introductory films followed by a self-directed exploration inside the story of the war that changed the world.

The motorcoach will depart from the World War II Museum and return to the hotel mid-afternoon. Those who wish to stay out and explore longer are welcome to do so and return independently.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

9:30 a.m. We will meet in the lobby and walk to the Court of Two Sisters for the iconic Jazz Brunch, a true New Orleans delight. The elaborate spread offers tasty hot and cold New Orleans favorites from eggs any style to Creole jambalaya, grillades and grits, gumbo, classic desserts, and much more. Tap your toes to the music of the restaurant’s resident Jazz trio.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Day 19 Program Concludes New Orleans, LA

Hotel check-out 12:00 Noon.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!

At the hotel. This concludes our program.