Mississippi River Rambler

Day 1 : Arrive in St. Louis

Have a pleasant fight to St. Louis, Missouri where we begin our vacation along the Mississippi River. We check-in to our hotel for a two-night stay.

Day 2 : The Gateway Arch

We start today at Gateway Arch National Park and view the famous monument with time to visit the observation deck and enjoy a documentary about the arch as we contemplate the place where Lewis & Clark started their epic expedition.

Find a tasty bite for lunch at Union Station.

Then come back together for a narrated tram ride around the lovely Missouri Botanical Garden, learning about the gorgeous displays filled with flowers and lush greenery while viewing famous buildings and sculptures along the way.

Tonight, we celebrate with a Holiday Vacations Welcome Dinner in St. Louis.

Day 3 : Arrive in Hannibal

We are en route to Hannibal, Missouri this morning, the boyhood home of classic American author Mark Twain. We get a tour of the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum. Located on the west banks of the Mississippi, consider his creative inspirations as you explore properties, artifacts, and exhibits that keep his literary legacy alive.

Then have a Mark Twain Riverboat Cruise, appreciating Mississippi River beauty and recalling the fun and wonder of Twain’s storytelling as we view the backdrop of many of his tales from the water.

Enjoy lunch and leisure time on your own in Hannibal before touring Rockcliffe Mansion. Built in 1898, this Colonial-Revival-Style home was built by lumber baron John J. Cruikshank, Jr. and sits on a rocky perch above the historic downtown district.

We stay in Hannibal for two nights.

Enjoy a scrumptious included dinner this evening.

Day 4 : Mark Twain's Hannibal

Before we continue our celebration of Twain, this morning explore the Karlock’s Cars & Pop Culture “must-see” collection! One of Hannibal’s newest attractions, the massive facility houses hundreds of artifacts for reliving your favorite pop culture moments.

We stop for photos at Lover’s Leap bluff before touring the Mark Twain Cave. This network of caves was discovered in 1819 and Twain played in them throughout much of his childhood and later were made famous through his writing.

After, enjoy Mark Twain Live, a delightful one-man performance that captures the essence of “The Wild Humorist of The West.”

Enjoy time at leisure in Hannibal tonight.

Day 5 : Mississippi River Dinner Cruise

We arrive in Nauvoo, Illinois for a guided tour of the little Mississippi Valley city, rich in history from indigenous Americans and early European explorers. In 1839, the Church of the Latter-day Saints led by Joseph Smith's prolific influence resulted in a city so large it rivaled Chicago until they were forced out west via religious persecution.

This evening, we arrive in Moline, Illinois and check-in to our hotel before an enchanting Mississippi River dinner cruise. Board the Celebration Belle, the largest riverboat of its kind in the Upper Mississippi River, and enjoy an evening of music and dance while savoring fine dining on the water.

Day 6 : Springfield: The Land of Lincoln

Start the day with a visit to the John Deere Pavilion where you can experience the famed machines firsthand. Climb into a cab to test your abilities with state-of-the-art simulators and witness some of John Deere's largest machines, appreciating world-class innovation.

Continuing our pleasant drive along the Mississippi, we stop for lunch in Peoria along the Illinois River before arriving in Springfield, Illinois.

We visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum which documents our 16th president’s life and the American Civil War. With its life-sized dioramas, traditional scholarship, and cutting-edge showmanship technology, it ranks among the most frequented U.S. presidential libraries.

We spend two nights in Springfield.

Day 7 : Illinois State Fair

Begin the day witnessing The Lincoln Tomb, his final resting place, followed by a visit to the Veterans Memorials at Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Spend the remainder of the day at the Illinois State Fair! Enjoy agriculture, arts, crafts, entertainment, and track down your favorite fair food. Enjoy a relaxing evening tonight.

Day 8 : St. Louis at Leisure

We return to St. Louis and the city is yours to explore! Your Tour Director will identify places you may want to visit such as the world-famous Anheuser-Busch Brewery, the St. Louis Aquarium, St. Louis Zoo, the Citygarden urban park and sculpture garden, Busch Stadium, the Moto Museum, Laclede's Landing, and Bottle District, once home to thousands of 1800s Irish immigrants and now a mixed residential and entertainment district.

Tonight, come together in St. Louis and celebrate our memorable Mississippi getaway in traditional Holiday Vacations style with a warm farewell dinner. For your convenience, we stay near the airport tonight.

Day 9 : Arrive Home

Fly home with terrific memories from our marvelous Mississippi vacation.