Mississippi River Steamboat Cruise
Passenger steamboats hadn’t been running in these waters for four years—the longest break since the 1700s—until the American Queen Steamboat Company started running trips in 2012 on their namesake, the largest steamboat ever built. (It’s 418 feet long and can hold 436 guests and crew.) If future bookings are any indication, these cruises are making a comeback. Nights are spent onboard, where Victorian décor—flowery carpets, flag wallpaper—meets porch rockers and card games. By day, disembark to explore small towns, plantations, historic mansions, and museums. New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis, and Minneapolis are just some of the destinations offered, depending on which route you pick.

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