Category Archives: Minnesota

Why you should plan a Great River Road trip next year

Monday, November 25, 2024

Looking for a one-of-a-kind American adventure? Plan a road trip along the Great River Road, which follows the mighty Mississippi River for nearly 3,000 miles. The 10-state route offers a little bit of everything, from engaging historical sites to stunning scenery to delicious dining—here are four reasons to plan your road trip today.

It’s America’s greatest drive.

The Great River Road, which stretches from Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana, is a National Scenic Byway and an All-American Road, a designation given to only the most notable National Scenic Byways. All-American Roads offer a truly unique experience to travelers that they can’t find anywhere else.

The Great River Road was established in 1938 and has encouraged road trippers to discover the heart of America ever since. The Great River Road passes through big cities and small river towns, passing National Park Service sites, state parks, historic bridges, and locks & dams.

Taking the whole road in one trip is about 36 hours of driving, but most visitors spend 10 to 14 days if they’re doing the whole route (which isn’t mandatory—many travelers will just travel on one state’s section of the Great River Road or hope back and forth between neighboring states.

Learn more about the best drive in America.

There are lots of stunning sights along the way.

A trip along the Great River Road is a trip through some of America’s most beautiful scenery. Start your trip at the same place the Mississippi River does: Itasca State Park in northern Minnesota, where the river is so narrow you can walk across it (or roll up your pants and wade across in the summer).

The northern section of the road—especially Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois—are home to lots of scenic overlooks at state and local parks that offer outstanding views of the river and the surrounding scenery. Get your cameras ready and head to photo hotspots like Garvin Heights Park in Winona, Minnesota; Buena Vista Park in Alma, Wisconsin; Pike’s Peak State Park in McGregor, Iowa; or Aerie’s Resort in Grafton, Illinois, where you can take a chair lift or gondola from the river to the blufftops.

See more scenic spots on the Great River Road here and here.

You’ll learn a lot at our Interpretive Centers.

There are nearly 100 official Great River Road Interpretive Centers—museums, historical sites, and other attractions that tell the story of the river and its people. Interpretive Centers can be found up and down the Great River Road and cover everything from music history (the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi) to Mississippi River ecology (the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa) to some of the region’s earliest settlers (Cahokia Mounds State Historical Site in Collinsville, Illinois, and Poverty Point in Pioneer, Louisiana, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.)

Learn more about our Interpretive Centers.

You don’t want to miss the food.

From walleye in Minnesota to cheese curds in Wisconsin to catfish in Mississippi to… well, almost everything in New Orleans, the Great River Road’s outstanding local and regional cuisines are enough to fulfill almost any appetite. Diners will find a little bit of everything, from James Beard Award-winning restaurants to family-owned roadside stops that have been in business for generations.

And that’s not to mention the ice cream stands, sweets shops, and bakeries you’ll find all along the route, as well as the wineries, breweries, and distilleries that craft some of your favorite beverages with care.

Learn more about the flavors of the Great River Road.

Photo: Confluence of the Yazoo and Mississippi Rivers in Vicksburg, Mississippi/Lola McCrarey

All about our Interpretive Centers

Friday, November 01, 2024

Up and down the Great River Road, you’ll find special spots where you can learn about the history, culture, and natural wonders of the Mississippi River region. Here’s what you need to know about the Great River Road’s official network of Interpretive Centers.

What is an Interpretive Center?

The Great River Road’s Interpretive Centers include a wide variety of attractions, including museums, historical sites, state and national parks, and even UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These Interpretive Centers can be found in big cities and small towns all along the Mississippi River and tell the story of the river, its people, and the events—geological and otherwise—that have shaped life and culture here over the centuries. 

How many Interpretive Centers are there on the Great River Road?

The Great River Road’s official network of Interpretive Centers features nearly 100 sites across our 10-state region. Iowa’s stretch of the Great River Road has the most Interpretive Centers with 18, followed by Arkansas with 15.

Here’s how many Interpretive Centers you can find in each of the Great River Road states:

  • Iowa: 18
  • Arkansas:15
  • Minnesota: 14
  • Illinois, Louisiana: 9 each
  • Mississippi: 8
  • Missouri, Wisconsin: 7 each
  • Tennessee: 3
  • Kentucky: 2

See a full list of Interpretive Centers by state here.

All the Great River Road Interpretive Centers are also included on our free 10-state map.

What kinds of things can I learn about at the Interpretive Centers?

The Great River Road’s Interpretive Centers educate visitors about a wide range of topics, from natural history to the Civil War and everything in between. Here’s a little taste of what you’ll discover:

The Mississippi River & more: Visit the headwaters of the Mississippi River and learn about the area’s ecology and history at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center at Itasca State Park. Further south along the river in Minneapolis, the National Park Service’s Mississippi River Visitor Center in St. Paul has exhibits about the river and its related recreational offerings. The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa, is home to dozens of species of fish and other animals that call the river home. 

History: See remnants from ancient Mississippi River cultures at Cahokia Mounds Historical Site in Illinois and Poverty Point in Louisiana, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Military history buffs can visit Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi and Columbus-Belmont State Park in Kentucky to see two important sites from the Civil War. Learn about the life of America’s most famous author at the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, Missouri.

Music: The Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi, is a must-visit for any music lover—visitors can see Muddy Waters’ sharecropper home, instruments played by blues legends like B.B. King and John Lee Hooker, and much more. Learn about the early life of country music legend Johnny Cash at the History Dyess Colony and Johnny Cash Boyhood Home in the Arkansas Delta.

Are there other attractions along the Great River Road?

Yes! The Great River Road is home to lots of interesting places to stop, including scenic overlooks and locks & dams. See a state-by-state list here.

Photo: Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism

Interpretive Centers to visit on the northern Great River Road

Monday, July 08, 2024

The Great River Road’s network of Interpretive Centers tells the story of the Mississippi River, its people, and its history at museums, historical sites, parks, and more. Here are some of the Interpretive Centers you shouldn’t miss in the northern Great River Road states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.

See more Interpretive Centers along the Great River Road here.

All about the Mississippi River

Looking to learn a little bit about the mighty Mississippi River as you follow it through the Great River Road’s northern states?  Start at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center at Itasca State Park (where the Mississippi River starts), where you’ll find exhibits about the park’s history, the local environment, and more—plus, the headwaters of the Mississippi are just a short walk from the visitor center. The Mississippi River Visitor Center in Rock Island, Illinois, overlooks Lock & Dam 15, and visitors can learn about the Army Corps of Engineers’ efforts to tame the river and how barges and other boat traffic navigate the waterway.

Discover the fish and other animals that make their home in and around the Mississippi River at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque. This popular attraction in northeastern Iowa is home to 14 acres of river animals, including ducks, turtles, otters, stingrays, fish, and even an alligator.

In Wisconsin, the Genoa National Fish Hatchery and Great River Road Interpretive Center features two aquariums filled with fish native to the Mississippi River and a stream aquarium including fish typically found int the state’s streams. The hatchery grounds are also a good spot for birdwatching.

Parks and natural areas

Explore everything the Mississippi River has to offer at the National Park Service’s Mississippi River Visitor Center in St. Paul, which includes exhibits on the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and river culture, biology, and history, as well as information on recreational opportunities like hiking, biking, boating, fishing, and more in the recreation area.

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Refuge—which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024—stretches from Reads Landing, Minnesota, to Princeton, Iowa, and the refuge’s visitor center can be found in Onalaska, Wisconsin. The visitor center has exhibits about the river region and its wildlife, as well as an overlook frequented by bald eagles, swans, and other birds.

Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton is one of Illinois’ most beautiful parks, offering outstanding views of the Illinois River—a tributary of the Mississippi River—and great trails for hiking, scenic campsites, and excellent fishing.  Located along the Mississippi River in southeastern Missouri, the Cape Girardeau Conservation Campus Nature Center can be found in the city’s North County Park and is a great place for birdwatching and hiking.

One of several National Park Service sites on the Great River Road, Effigy Mounds National Monument in Harpers Ferry, Iowa, features more than 200 earthen mounds, some of which were constructed 1,400 years ago. The 2,500-acre park also has 14 miles of trails, some of which offer breathtaking views of the Mississippi River and its surroundings.

A trip through history

The confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers has long been an important place of gathering, and St. Paul’s Historic Fort Snelling—situated at the meeting of these two waterways—tells a story that stretches back more than 10,000 years and includes Native American cultures like the Dakota, French fur traders, American soldiers, and many more.

Two iconic Interpretive Centers in Missouri take visitors through the history of the Mississippi River and America’s westward expansion: the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal honors one of the country’s most famous authors, and Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis includes not only the famous 550-foot-tall Arch but also the Museum of Westward Expansion, which includes artifacts from the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Speaking of iconic Americans, William F. Cody (aka “Buffalo Bill”) was born in LeClaire, Iowa, and fans of Western history can learn about his life at the city’s Buffalo Bill Museum and Lone Star Steamer, which is also home to the nation’s sole remaining wood-hulled steamboat. 

Learn about Wisconsin’s agricultural history at Stonefield Historic Site in Cassville, which is located on the former estate of the Dairy State’s first governor and boasts more than 30 restored historic businesses and Wisconsin’s largest collection of farm equipment and vintage tractors.

Did you know that Illinois’ section of the Great River Road is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site? Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville tells the story of the most sophisticated prehistoric native civilization north of Mexico, which once covered more than 4,000 acres and included more than 120 earthen mounds.

Photo: Itasca State Park/Peter Hawkins

Learn all about the northern Great River Road

Tuesday, April 09, 2024

The northern states of the Great River Road—Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri—offer an abundance of natural beauty (including the headwaters of the Mississippi River), interesting attractions, and much more to explore. Here’s a closer look at the Great River Road in each of these states—what routes to drive, what towns and cities you shouldn’t miss, and what Interpretive Centers you should visit.

Minnesota

The Great River Road starts (or ends, depending on which way you’re driving) at Itasca State Park in far northern Minnesota and travels through the beautiful woodlands of northern Minnesota as it heads north to Bemidji then south to the Twin Cities before reaching the southeastern corner of the state, where it follows the Mississippi River alongside stunning limestone bluffs.  

Notable Great River Road towns & cities in Minnesota:

  • Bemidji
  • Minneapolis
  • St. Paul
  • Red Wing
  • Winona

Notable highways that make up the Great River Road in Minnesota:

  • County Highway 75 (Beltrami County – Bemidji)
  • U.S. Highway 169 (Aitkin)
  • Interstate 494 (Twin Cities)
  • U.S. Highway 61 (Hastings to La Crescent)

Notable Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Minnesota: 

  • Itasca State Park, Park Rapids
  • Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, St. Paul
  • National Eagle Center, Wabasha

See more Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Minnesota here.

Wisconsin

On the eastern side of the Mississippi River, the Wisconsin Great River Road travels for 250 miles through 33 river towns on the state’s western border, offering great opportunities for recreation on and off the river, easy-to-explore historic cities and towns, and interesting attractions throughout the region.

Notable Great River Road towns & cities in Wisconsin:

  • Pepin
  • Onalaska
  • La Crosse
  • Prairie du Chien
  • Potosi

Notable highways that make up the Great River Road in Wisconsin:

  • State Highway 35 (Prescott to Dickeyville)

Notable Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Wisconsin:

  • Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge Visitor Center, Onalaska
  • Stonefield Historic Site, Cassville
  • Villa Louis, Prairie du Chien

See more Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Wisconsin here.

Illinois

Illinois is home to the longest stretch of the Great River Road—over 500 miles—and road trippers will discover a lot to explore along the way, including Galena (a historic town that’s often named one of the top towns in America), Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (a UNESCO World Heritage Site that tells the story of the largest native civilization north of Mexico), and the meeting of the Great River Road and historic Route 66 in southwestern Illinois.

Notable Great River Road towns & cities in Illinois:

  • Galena
  • Quad Cities (Moline and Rock Island in Illinois)
  • Nauvoo
  • Quincy
  • Alton

Notable highways that make up the Great River Road in Illinois:

  • U.S Highway 20 (Galena)
  • State Highway 84 (Elizabeth to the Quad Cities)
  • State Highway 96 (Nauvoo to Kampsville)
  • State Highway 100 (Grafton and Alton)
  • State Highway 3 (Wood River to Cairo)

Notable Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Illinois:

  • Mississippi River Visitor Center at Locks & Dam 15, Rock Island
  • Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton
  • Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville

See more Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Illinois here.

Iowa

Motorists will find postcard-perfect historic towns and eye-catching riverscapes along Iowa’s section of the Great River Road, which passes through big cities and small towns alike. Stunning views abound as well—don’t miss the stunning vistas from Pike’s Peak State Park in McGregor or the views from the top of Dubuque’s Fenelon Place Elevator.

Notable Great River Road towns & cities in Iowa:

  • Lansing
  • Dubuque
  • Quad Cities (Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa)
  • Burlington
  • Keokuk

Notable highways that make up the Great River Road in Iowa:

  • County Road X52 (Lansing to Harpers Ferry)
  • State Highway 76 (Harpers Ferry to Marquette-McGregor)
  • U.S. Highway 67 (Sabula to the Quad Cities)
  • State Highway 99 (Wapello to Burlington)
  • U.S. Highway 61 (Fort Madison to Keokuk)

Notable Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Iowa:

  • Effigy Mounds National Monument, Harpers Ferry
  • National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Dubuque
  • Putnam Museum & Science Center, Davenport

See more Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Iowa here.

Missouri

A trip along Missouri’s Great River Road is a trip through history. Stop in Hannibal in the northeastern part of the state to learn about the life of America’s most famous author, Mark Twain—the Mark Twain Boyhood & Home is a must-visit, and the historic city is home to many other Twain-themed attractions and events. St. Louis’ Gateway Arch offers outstanding views and tells the story of America’s westward expansion, and the town of Ste. Genevieve was settled nearly 300 years ago.

Notable Great River Road towns & cities in Missouri:

  • Hannibal
  • St. Louis
  • Ste. Genevieve
  • Cape Girardeau
  • New Madrid

Notable highways that make up the Great River Road in Missouri:

  • U.S. Highway 61 (Hannibal)
  • State Highway 79 (Hannibal to St. Charles)
  • Interstate 70 (St. Charles, St. Louis)
  • U.S. Highway 61 (Herculaneum to Sikeston)

Notable Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Missouri:

  • Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, Hannibal
  • Gateway Arch National Park, St. Louis
  • Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center

See more Great River Road Interpretive Centers in Missouri here.

Photo: Mississippi River overlook at Buena Vista Park in Alma on the Wisconsin Great River Road/Travel Wisconsin

Spring recreation along the Great River Road

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Get ready to go outside as you explore the Mississippi River and its surroundings. There are great opportunities for outdoor recreation up and down the Great River Road in spring, from hiking and biking to birdwatching and paddling—here’s where to go.

Hiking

There are lots of places to enjoy a scenic stroll along the Mississippi River in the spring or find a more challenging hike with stunning overlooks that make the hike worth the challenge.  On the northern half of the Great River Road (through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, and into Missouri), many cities and towns along the river are home to scenic local and state parks that offer outstanding hiking opportunities along the limestone bluffs overlook the Mississippi River. The flatter terrain on the southern half of the river is no less impressive, as places like Mississippi’s Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge and Louisiana’s Barataria Preserve offer outstanding scenic walks as well.

Where to go: Pike’s Peak State Park (McGregor, Iowa); Mississippi River State Park (Marianna, Arkansas); Columbus-Belmont State Park (Columbus, Kentucky)

Biking

Explore the scenery of the Great River Road and the Mississippi River region on two wheels. Many cities along the route—Minneapolis and Saint Paul in Minnesota, the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa, and St. Louis, just to name a few—offer scenic paved bike trails alongside the river, and local and state parks up and down the Great River Road provide mountain bike trails for more adventurous pursuits.

Where to go: Quincy Riverfront Trail (Quincy, Illinois); Mississippi River Levee Bike Path (Baton Rouge, Louisiana); St. Louis Riverfront Trail (St. Louis, Missouri)

Birdwatching

The Great River Road is a perfect place for avid and amateur birdwatchers alike, as the Mississippi River Flyway is the migration route followed by 40 percent of all waterfowl and shorebirds in North America. Spring is a particularly good time to catch migrating birds, as songbirds like warblers, gnatcatchers, and vireos head back north after the winter and swallows, swifts, and migratory woodpeckers return to the bluffs and forests along the Mississippi River

Where to go: Reelfoot Lake State Park, Tiptonville, Tennessee; Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Visitors Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin 

Paddling

Want to get off the Great River Road and onto the actual Mississippi River? There are plenty of places to do so in the 10 states along the Great River Road, including serene backwaters, massive lakes, and the main channel of the mighty Mississipp’ itself.

Where to go: Mississippi River State Water Trail, Minnesota; Quapaw Canoe Company, Vicksburg, Mississippi 

(Photo: Kayaking in Mississippi River State Park, Marianna, Arkansas/Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism)

Annual events on the northern Great River Road

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

There’s a lot more to explore along the Great River Road than just scenery and history—the cities and towns along the Mississippi River host engaging events that bring visitors back year after year. Here are some of the top recurring events you shouldn’t miss along the Great River Road in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.

Minnesota

  • Saint Paul Winter Carnival – Held in Minnesota’s capital city from the end of January to early February, the Saint Paul Winter Carnival has celebrated the season for more than 135 years. This 10-day festival features a wide array of events and attractions, including an ice sculpture garden, parades, kids’ activities and much more.  
  • Great River Shakespeare Festival, Winona – Enjoy the classic works of William Shakespeare under the Mississippi River bluffs in the charming river town of Winona in southeastern Minnesota every summer. The Great River Shakespeare Festival features three main stage shows during its seasonal run in June and July, as well as other activities, including free concerts and a sonnet competition.

Wisconsin

  • Potosi Brewfest – Beer lovers: Head to Potosi on the Wisconsin Great River Road, and you’ll find a historic brewery that dates to the 1850s. Potosi Brewing Company was once the fifth-largest brewery in the state and is now home to the National Brewery Museum, a restaurant and brew pub, an event space, and more. Every August, more than 60 vendors (craft breweries, distilleries, and wineries and specialty food vendors) come to the area for the annual Potosi Brewfest, which features games, live music, and food.
  • Oktoberfest, La Crosse – Celebrate German culture and the oncoming fall season at the Midwest’s longest-running Oktoberfest celebration in the Midwest every September in La Crosse. Feel the spirit of Gemütlichkeit (that’s German for friendliness and good cheer) as you enjoy traditional German food and beverages, dance along to German music, or catch some of the fun events like the wiener dog races.

Illinois

  • Great Galena Balloon Race, Galena – Look to the skies over the historic town of Galena in northwestern Illinois every June to marvel at the display of colorful hot air balloons. It’s all part of the Great Galena Balloon Race, an annual fundraiser that’s during the third full weekend of June and includes balloon races, kids’ activities, a car show, and live music.
  • Christmas Wonderland, Alton – When the holiday season rolls around, don’t miss this impressive light display, which starts after Thanksgiving and runs through the end of December at Rock Spring Park in Alton. The drive-through display features more than 4 million lights.

Iowa

  • Snake Alley Art Fair, Burlington – This annual art fair (held every Father’s Day) has taken place for more than 50 years in the welcoming river city of Burlington. Artisans and crafters from across the Midwest set up their booths on the city’s famous Snake Alley—“the crookedest street in the world”—and the event also features art activities for kids, live music, and local food vendors.
  • Dubuquefest – This August festival celebrating music, art, and culture has been held in downtown Dubuque (where else?) every summer since 1979. The free event features live music, food from local restaurants, and a weekend art fair.

Missouri

  • Art in Bloom, St. Louis – One of St. Louis’ signature events, Art in Bloom is held every March at the Saint Louis Art Museum in Forest Park. Dozens of local florists use their creativity to reinterpret art from the museum’s collection, resulting in stunning arrangements that spark the imagination. In addition to displays, the festival features special events, family activities, and food and drink.
  • National Tom Sawyer Days, Hannibal – Head to Mark Twain’s hometown of Hannibal—about an hour’s drive north of St. Louis along the Mississippi River—over the Fourth of July holiday week to join the fun at this festival that’s been going strong since the 1950s. Tom Sawyer Days features and abundance of family-friendly events, from fence painting and frog jumping competitions to live music and a carnival.

Photo Credit: Travel Wisconsin

Unique shops along the Great River Road

Wednesday, December 06, 2023

Whether you’re looking for holiday gifts or just want to visit some of the country’s most unique retailers, you’ll find outstanding shopping opportunities up and down the Great River Road. Here’s a look at some of the distinctive shops you can discover as you travel along the Mississippi River.

Northern Great River Road

Minnesota is home to some one-of-a-kind retailers, and nothing is more one-of-a-kind than the Mall of America (located in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington), the country’s largest shopping and entertainment complex and one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world. The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul offer other outstanding local retailers, too, located in shopping districts like Nicollet, downtown Saint Paul, and the North Loop. Head further down the Mississippi to discover charming cities like Red Wing, where shoppers can explore the Red Wing Shoe Company store and museum and find Scandinavian gifts at Uffda Shop, or Winona, which is home to the Minnesota Marine Art Museum (which has an outstanding gift shop).

Galena is consistently cited as one of the most charming small towns in America, and this Illinois city boasts dozens of retailers in its historic downtown district. More than 125 storefronts offer a wide selection of clothing, jewelry, antiques, and more—don’t miss popular destinations like Galena Book & Paper Co. and Flashback. The Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa provide a memorable shopping experience at stores like Antique Archaeology (featured in the History Channel series “American Pickers”) in LeClaire, Iowa, and the John Deere Store (part of the sprawling John Deere Pavilion) in Moline, Illinois.

Central Great River Road

Historic Hannibal, Missouri, is not just the boyhood home of Mark Twain, it’s also a fun shopping spot—visitors can find retailers like the Dutch Country General Store, Mark Twain Book & Gift, and Mississippi Marketplace. Travel south along the river to St. Louis, where unique locales like City Foundry STL (a former foundry building that now houses a food hall and specialty retailers) and the Cherokee Antique Row shopping district await.

In Memphis, shoppers will find interesting souvenir shops all along Beale Street, including A. Schwab’s which was established in 1876 that carries everything from clothing to voodoo supplies. (The store’s motto is “If you can’t find it at Schwab’s, you’re probably better off without it.”) Speaking of iconic shopping spots, don’t forget Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid—a sprawling outdoors store that also features a 103-room hotel, a 600,000-gallon lagoon with more than 1,800 fish, and an amazing observation deck atop the 32-story building on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Southern Great River Road

Mississippi offers a unique shopping experience in historic downtowns all throughout the Delta region. Clarksdale—“the home of the Blues”—is home to the Delta Blues Museum (and its related gift shop) and one-of-a-kind stores like Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art. Vicksburg’s downtown and Washington Street hosts a wide variety of boutiques, antique shops, and more, including the Attic Gallery and the Levee Street Marketplace. Natchez, the oldest city on the Mississippi River, has a historic downtown filled with interesting shops like Silver Street Gallery & Gifts and Lower Lodge Antiques.

The southern end of the Great River Road travels through Louisiana, which is home to can’t-miss retailers in cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Perkins Rowe in Baton Rouge has a mix of retailers, restaurants, and entertainment spaces, and the city’s massive Mall of Louisiana, which features nearly 200 stores and the world’s third-largest indoor carousel. New Orleans is an iconic shopping destination, whether you’re exploring the French Market, Magazine Street, or the French Quarter.

Photo Credit: Explore Minnesota

Holiday events along the Great River Road

Monday, October 30, 2023

There are plenty of ways to celebrate the holiday season along the Great River Road, from winter festivals and markets to light shows and parades. Here’s a look at the kinds of events you’ll find this winter in communities up and down the Mississippi River.

Light shows & festivals

Every winter in Dubuque in northeastern Iowa, motorists take a scenic drive through stunning holiday light displays at Reflections in the Park, an annual event held at Louis Murphy Park, which sits atop a limestone bluff and overlooks the city and the Mississippi River. See more holiday attractions in Dubuque here.

There are plenty of reasons to visit New Orleans any time of year, but there’s a particularly special event that welcomes guests right around Christmastime. NOLA ChristmasFest is held at the city’s Ernest N. Morial Convention Center over the last two weeks of December, and highlights include New Orleans’ only skating rink, carnival rides, a Gingerbread Village, and more.

Head to the Memphis Zoo for their annual Zoo Lights display, which dazzles visitors with more than a million holiday lights, an LED Ferris wheel, Santa’s workshop, live reindeer, holiday events and more. Zoo Lights runs on select nights from after Thanksgiving to early January.

The GLOW Holiday Festival in Minnesota’s capital city of St. Paul runs from mid-November to New Year’s Eve. The event, held at CHS Field—home of the St. Paul Saints baseball team—is a family-friendly event where you’ll find everything from a tubing hill to a zip line.

Christmas & holiday markets

For nearly 60 years every November, the city of La Crosse on Wisconsin’s section of the Great River Road has hosted its annual Holiday Fair, which is home more than 100 arts and crafts vendors who sell seasonal wares, from ornaments to home décor to apparel. (While you’re in La Crosse, don’t miss the Rotary Lights display in Riverside Park, which attracts more than 100,000 people a year.)

Belleville, a city of 42,000 in southwest Illinois—just on the other side of the river from St. Louis—holds its annual Christkindlmarkt, an open-air German Christmas market, in the public square every weekend from late November until just before Christmas. Visitors will can shop for unique European and handcrafted items and enjoy food, beverages, and live entertainment.

Other events

Natchez, Mississippi—the oldest city on the Mississippi River—rings in the holiday season every November and December with its Christmas in Natchez celebration, a monthlong event that features a tree lighting ceremony, weekly caroling and other events.

The charming town of Galena, Illinois, offers a full calendar of holiday events in November and December, including its annual holiday parade through the historic downtown, the Holiday Fire in the Sky fireworks show, and the Night of Luminaria and Living Windows, where more than 5,000 candelit luminaries light up the street and Main Street businesses display their holiday-inspired Living Windows.

Photo Credit: Travel Wisconsin

Summer events along the Great River Road

Thursday, May 04, 2023

Summer Fun on the Great River Road logo

Summer is just around the corner, and that means it’s a great time to drive the Great River Road. You’ll find a lot to see and do along the Mississippi River, from exploring parks to visiting museums and unique attractions, but there are also a lot of great summer events you shouldn’t miss—here’s a closer look.

We’ve asked organizations up and down the river to share some of their best summer events; see a searchable listing here.

Farmers’ markets & foodie events

The Great River Road cuts through some of the most fertile agricultural land in the county, so it’s no surprise that the 10 states along the Mississippi are home to outstanding farmers’ markets, food festivals, and more. Food Truck Fight comes to three Great River Road destinations this summer and fall (Galena in Illinois and Bettendorf and Muscatine in Iowa) and offers tasty food from local food trucks. In mid-May, the annual World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest takes place as part of the annual Memphis in May celebration in Tennessee. (The event also includes the Beale Street Music Festival and the Great American River Run.)

During growing season, Great River Road travelers will find delicious offerings from local producers at farmers all along the river from the La Crosse Farmers Market in Wisconsin to the Crescent City Farmers Market in New Orleans.

Festivals & other fun events

Visit the charming river towns along the Great River Road on the weekend in the summer, and you’re likely to find some sort of fun festival or community celebration. Take the upcoming Mayfest in historic downtown Blytheville, Arkansas, which features a chicken wing competition, live music, and more. Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi is celebrating the 160th anniversary of the famous Civil War siege this year with lectures, cannon firing demonstrations, and walking tours. Or, head to Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site in Kentucky in September to celebrate Kentucky Archaeology Month.

Live entertainment

A trip along the Mississippi River is a trip through America’s musical history, and you’ll find plenty of options for live music pretty much everywhere you go. Many of the river towns along the Great River Road offer free concerts during the summer—for instance, you can pull up a chair outside the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, Missouri, and take in live music at the museum’s Music Under the Stars series. There are also music festivals aplenty, like Weekend at the Cave in Murphysboro, Illinois, where you can enjoy live music in an open air, natural rock-formed amphitheater in the Shawnee National Forest

But it’s not just music—keep your eyes peeled for arts fairs and other events. Theater lovers shouldn’t miss the annual Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona, Minnesota, which offers performances of The Bard’s work throughout June and July.

(Photo: Shawnee Cave Amphitheater)

4 historic sites you should visit on the Great River Road

Wednesday, April 05, 2023

The Great River Road’s network of nearly 100 Interpretive Centers shares the history of the Mississippi River, its people, and its cultures at museums, Civil War battle sites, national parks, and more. Here are four you shouldn’t miss on your next road trip.

Mill City Museum, Minnesota

This might be the best-smelling museum along the Great River Road. Located along the Mississippi River in Minneapolis—in the ruins of what was once the world’s largest flour mill—this unique museum tells the story of the Mississippi River and how it shaped the people and industry of Minneapolis through multimedia exhibits, hands-on displays, and yes, even baking classes and demonstrations. 

Gateway Arch National Park, Missouri

Initially founded in 1935 as a national memorial to commemorate Thomas Jefferson’s dream of westward expansion, this iconic St. Louis attraction—which includes the Gateway Arch, the Old Courthouse, and the park grounds along the Mississippi River—was dedicated as a National Park in 2018. Take a tram ride to the top of the Arch to get a bird’s-eye view of downtown St. Louis and the river or visit the Museum at the Gateway Arch to learn about the city’s role in westward expansion.

Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi

Another National Park Service in west-central Mississippi highlights one of most consequential campaigns in Civil War history. Vicksburg National Military Park commemorates the battle of Vicksburg, which took place from March 29 to July 4, 1863, and was a key event in determining control of the Mississippi River between Union and Confederate forces. The park includes the largest burial site for Union soldiers and sailors, historic monuments, a museum, a cannon display, battle fortifications, and more.

Louisiana Great River Road Interpretive Center and Museum

Drive west of New Orleans along the Great River Road, and you’ll come to the Great River Road Interpretive Center and Museum, located on the grounds of the Houmas House Plantation and Gardens in Darrow. The museum educates visitors on what life was like along the Mississippi River through the centuries, from native tribes and early explorers to enslaved peoples to wealthy plantation owners. Exhibits include information on ships and steamboats, river folklore, Civil War and Reconstruction, and more.

(Photo: Chris Hardy/Unsplash)