Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Why Go
The sweeping scenery awes as you meander alongside America's longest river, from the
rolling plains of the north down to the sun-baked cotton fields of the Mississippi Delta.
Wind-hewn bluffs, dense forests, flower-filled meadows and steamy swamps are all part
of the backdrop - along with smokestacks, riverboat casinos and urban sprawl: this is the
good, the bad and the ugly of life on the Mississippi.
Small towns provide a glimpse into varying facets of American culture: there's
Brainerd, MN, as seen in the Coen brothers' film
Fargo;
La Crosse, WI, where the
world's largest six-pack pops its top; and Nauvoo, IL, a pilgrimage site for Mormons,
complete with gleaming white temple.
The southern section of the route traces American musical history, from rock and roll
in Memphis to blues in the Mississippi Delta to jazz in New Orleans. You won't go
hungry either, with retro Midwestern diners, Southern barbecue joints and smokehouses,
and Cajun taverns and dance halls in Louisiana.
