Tuesday, April 21, 2015

AtoZ Challenge: R - Riverboat






Greetings from Hannibal, MO, Mark Twain's boyhood hometown, my theme for this year's AtoZ Challenge.

Mark Twain Riverboat:

Twain's Town wouldn't be complete without the riverboat. The Mississippi River is one of our main attractions. I highly recommend the hour long cruise aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat. Bring your sunscreen. Last time I went, my face matched my hair. You'll learn more history about Twain and Hannibal in one hour than you ever thought possible. A dinner cruise is available later in the day.




Glascock's Landing:

If you can read the fine print on the sign below, you can see that Hannibal was known as Glascock's Landing named after Stephen Glascock.


The American Queen:

The American  Queen (along with the Mississippi Queen and Delta Queen) pulls into Hannibal several times a year. These humongous steamboats are not to be confused with our small riverboat. Some of these cruises start in St. Paul and end in St. Louis. Whether you board the local attraction or hop on the big boat for a week long excursion, be sure to pack your camera and sunscreen. Even though the Mississippi isn't the Caribbean, you'll still embark on a first-class Mark Twain adventure.



Have you ever ridden on a steamboat? Taken a real cruise? Have no idea what to post for the last few days of the challenge?

29 comments:

  1. Hi Jennifer - I'd love to do both sometime .. and see that part of the States .. the Mississippi always fascinates me and yes I need to know more about Mark Twain .. love the photos and snippets of information .. cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've never been on a riverboat or ferry before. In my old city, where I lived a month ago, I used to always see one docked. I wondered why it never was taken out on he water. And no, I haven't ever been on a real cruise either.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would love to go on a real cruise. I've been on the Mystic Blue, harbored at Navy Pier in Chicago. But I long for the Caribbean!

      Delete
  3. I've never been on a riverboat or ferry before. In my old city, where I lived a month ago, I used to always see one docked. I wondered why it never was taken out on he water. And no, I haven't ever been on a real cruise either.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've been on a steamship down in Somerset and along the Bristol channel and the same line had a paddle steamer, but it was out of commission when we went. I'd love to take a dinner cruise along the Mississippi :)
    Tasha
    Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've been on river cruises (and on big ferry boats in the North Atlantic) but never an old fashioned steam riverboat. Last year we took our 2-year old on a river cruise and 30 seconds in he tossed his pacifier over the side and into the river.

    "Mommy, go get it."

    Needless to say it was a long trip.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha! That's one way to get rid of it. My hubs threw my son's out the window. It worked.

      Delete
  6. I've been on a small ferry on the Erie Canal. We went through a lock (which is basically a huge cage that either lifts the boat up or lowers the boat down depending on which way your heading). Never been to the Mississippi River though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've been through the locks in Sault (Soo) Saint Marie in UP Michigan. Fun!

      Delete
  7. I've been on a small ferry on the Erie Canal. We went through a lock (which is basically a huge cage that either lifts the boat up or lowers the boat down depending on which way your heading). Never been to the Mississippi River though.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ooh! That sounds fun. We're cruisers and actually planning our next one now. We want to go to Australia, but the airfare... Anyhow, we talked about a river cruise a long time ago. Maybe that's worth revisiting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Australia! I have friends there but have never visited. Sounds like a plan!

      Delete
  9. That sounds so cool!! I would love to do a river cruise sometime.

    ReplyDelete
  10. These photos remind me of the riverboat at Disneyland, which takes you to Adventure Island (or something like that). It's really fun. I live no where near anything like that. Thanks, Jennifer, and thanks so much for the follow. Eight letters to go. Ugh. =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooh, i didn't know Disney had a riverboat! 8 days. We can do this.

      Delete
  11. I love Riverboats. Sooo Mark Twain.

    Good luck with the A to Z Challenge!
    A to Z Co-Host S. L. Hennessy
    http://pensuasion.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, we like to capitalize on the famous author here as much as we can:)

      Delete
  12. I've been on both riverboats and cruise ships. I think a cruise down the Mississippi would be a lot of fun.

    ReplyDelete
  13. One of my fondest memories is travelling down a Riverboat on the Mississippi back when I was in 8th grade. It was so cool. I have been a Twain fan all my life and that was really something.

    --
    Tim Brannan, The Other Side Blog
    2015 A to Z of Vampires
    http://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/

    ReplyDelete
  14. I definitely want to ride on a riverboat one of these days. I've never been on a real cruise, but I have been on boats. (The trip to Catalina Island.)

    ReplyDelete
  15. That cruise ship looks like a giant hotel, I never tend to think of them sailing on rivers, only out at sea. Pretty impressive!

    Do you still have those old paddle steamers on the Mississippi? I'd like to see them.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I have yet to take a river boat down the old Miss. But it's on my list of things I am going to do. You've moved it up a couple of places with your post.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oooo. That is something I would love to do. I like doing touristy things like that.

    ~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
    Member of C. Lee's Muffin Commando Squad
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

    ReplyDelete
  18. I always mean to take a dinner cruise when I visit places and we never quite make it on one!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I've never been on a cruise ship, but I think an excursion on a river boat would be fun. If I ever make it to the Mississippi, I'll have to give it a try.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I always loved the romance novels that took place on these boats! So much drinking and card playing and kisses under the moonlight!

    Heather

    ReplyDelete

February #IWSG: Just Do It

                  Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs...