THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER WITH AMERICAN QUEEN VOYAGES
Neatly dividing the continental U . S ., the mighty Mississippi is the second-longest river in North America at 2,340 miles . Easily one of the nation ’ s most , if not the most , iconic river systems , the Mississippi begins at Lake Itasca , Minnesota and flows through nine additional states — Wisconsin , Iowa , Illinois , Missouri , Kentucky , Tennessee , Arkansas , Mississippi and Louisiana — before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico .
Due to its impressive length , the Mississippi played an important role in U . S . history as the Ojibwa tribe and early U . S . settlers used the “ Great River ” to transport goods between bustling port towns . Eventually , those small port towns grew to become modern metropolitan cities like Minneapolis , Memphis and New Orleans , all of which hold a special sort of allure thanks to their proximity to the river ’ s powerful waters .
When it comes to experiencing those waters , it ’ s hard to beat American Queen Voyages ’ all-inclusive paddlewheel riverboats — stylish rigs painted in bright shades of white , gold and red . “ Touring the Mississippi by cruise offers travelers the opportunity to travel back in time to the Golden Age of Travel ,” said Cindy D ’ Aoust , president of American Queen Voyages . “ Only needing to unpack once , guests can explore numerous destinations with convenience and all-inclusive luxury .”
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