Natural water resources include the Mississippi River and nine other major river systems.

The Mississippi River begins at Lake Itasca, a small glacial lake in northern Minnesota, and flows southward for about 2,350 miles (3,782 km) until it reaches the Gulf of Mexico.

The major tributaries are the Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio and Red rivers. Given their flow volumes, major Ohio River tributaries like the Allegheny, Tennessee, and Wabash rivers are considered important tributaries to the Mississippi system.

Fun Facts

• The Mississippi River is 2,340 miles long.
• The Great River Road was created in 1938.
• The Great River Road runs through about 110 counties and parishes.
• In the year A.D. 1250, the ancient metropolis of Cahokia, Illinois, was home to more people than London.

Can You Travel the Whole Length of the Mississippi River? Yes, you absolutely can travel the whole length of the Mississippi river but it will require a kayak or rowboat for the top 482 miles. After those top 482 miles you can use pretty much any motor boat to travel the rest of the way down the river.

Complete Mississippi cruises are ideal for late spring and early fall. They avoid the hot and humid weather of New Orleans during the summer and the cold weather of Minneapolis during the winter. The average high temperature for New Orleans in April and May is in the upper 70s to mid 80s Fahrenheit.

10 Best Mississippi River Cruises for 2021-2022

• Southern Sampler.
• Gateway To The Gulf.
• Charms of the South.
• Bourbon – An American Spirit. Memphis to Louisville.
• Heartland Heritage. Roundtrip Minneapolis.
• Midwestern Passage. Louisville to St.
• The Mighty Mississippi. New Orleans to St.
• Creole Christmas. Memphis to New Orleans.

Mississippi River Cruises

Whereas gentlemen can leave the stuffy suits at home and bring slacks, khakis, polo shirts and/or dress shirts. A sport coat for dinner always adds a nice touch, but it most certainly is not required. One pair of comfortable dress shoes should be more than enough to get you through a week-long vacation.

Sail Queen of the Mississippi From $1,875 per person Built in 2015, Queen of the Mississippi offers an authentic paddlewheeler experience with all the comforts of home.

Jeans and baseball caps are not allowed in the restaurants for dinner. On informal nights, jackets (ties optional) for men are recommended, while women opt for dresses or pantsuits. Tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suits for men and gowns or cocktail dresses for women are suggested for formal nights.

In general, it’s safe to budget between $12 and $15 per person per day of the cruise. So, for a family of four taking a four-night cruise, bring at least $240 just for onboard tips. (It’s not necessary to tip on behalf of an infant.)

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Best Cruise Lines for the Money

• #1. Royal Caribbean International. #1 in Best Cruise Lines for the Money.
• #2. Celebrity Cruises. #2 in Best Cruise Lines for the Money.
• #3. Norwegian Cruise Line.
• #4. Princess Cruises.
• #5. Carnival Cruise Line.
• #6. Holland America Line.
• #7. MSC Cruises.
• #8. Costa Cruises.

The cheapest times to cruise are typically in the late summer and fall because of hurricane season, but you can often find patches of bargain sailings, especially during the early weeks of December and in the spring.

Cruise prices do not get cheaper closer to the sailing date in all cases. Cruise prices are usually the cheapest furthest from the sailing date when first launched or 60-90 days before the cruise sets sail. The prices of some cruises will decrease last minute but this doesn’t always happen.

Cruise lines don’t typically negotiate their prices, but that doesn’t mean that you cannot get a great deal on a cruise. Getting a good deal begins with understanding the industry and using that to your advantage.

Yes, there are differences between booking directly with the cruise line versus using a travel agent. Most specifically, travel agents are known for giving more personalized service than cruise lines, though some cruise sales representatives can be attentive and helpful.

Thursdays