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On the Road: Upper Mississippi River Reflections — Historic Towns, Trails and Tales |
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Program Number: |
14948RJ |
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| Start
and End Dates: |
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| Duration: |
6 nights |
| Location: |
Minneapolis, Minnesota
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| Price starting at: |
$1,385.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city |
| Program Type:
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On the Road
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Activity Level: |
t (see description) |
| Meals: |
17;
6 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 6 Dinners |
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Journey through the rich history and quaint culture of the Upper Mississippi River. Navigate the river and its Great River Road to discover the explorers and storytellers who called the Mighty Mississippi their home. Three very different floating excursions reveal new insights into the commerce, historic towns and nature's foliage waiting around every bend. Enjoy experts, local residents and themed dining as they weave your overland and river excursions into an unforgettable adventure.
Highlights
• Enjoy three uniquely different river excursions on three different types of boats: a half-day excursion through the National Wildlife Refuge, an all-day cruise on a Victorian riverboat through locks & dams, and venture into backwaters with a clammer on his pontoon boat.
• Visit charming river towns in four states: Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois.
• Have "nose-to-beak" encounters with bald eagles at the National Eagle Center, then look for eagles in the wild.
Activity Particulars
Must be able to climb two flights of stairs on riverboats. Will need to tote own luggage between bus and hotels. Must be able to climb 4 motorcoach steps within 10 seconds and several times per day, and walk/stand up to one hour at a time with stops.
Date Specific Information
8-19-2012
Lead Instructors are Diane Van Wyngarden and Elaine Van Wyk. August offers warm sunny days with gardens in full bloom.
8-18-2013
Lead Instructors are Diane Van Wyngarden and Elaine Van Wyk. August offers very warm sunny days with gentle breezes on the river and gardens in full bloom. Hotel nights 8/20 and 8/21 (Tuesday and Wednesday) are in the historic Hotel Julien Dubuque, in Dubuque, Iowa. All program dates include all activities, but use different midweek hotels to accommodate changes in riverboat routes and city ports of boarding.
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.
9-8-2013
Lead Instructors are Diane Van Wyngarden and Tom Quinn. Mid-September orchestrates the change of seasons from summer into fall. Crops are being harvested, gardens are in full bloom, and we may see the first hint of autumn color. Hotel nights on 9/10 and 9/11 (Tuesday and Wednesday nights) are in the historic Hotel Julien Dubuque, in Dubuque, Iowa. All program dates include all activities, but use different midweek hotels to accommodate changes in riverboat routes and city ports of boarding.
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.
9-22-2013
Lead Instructor is Diane Van Wyngarden. Late September displays a dramatic change of seasons from summer to fall. Crops are being harvested, flowers are still blooming, and leaves start to change color. This is jacket weather. Overnight frost is possible, but days can be pleasantly warm. Hotel on 9/24 and 9/25 (Tuesday and Wednesday) is the historic DeSoto House Hotel in Galena, Illinois. All program dates include all activities, but use different midweek hotels to accommodate changes in riverboat routes and city ports of boarding.
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.
10-6-2013
Lead Instructors are Diane Van Wyngarden and Tom Quinn. This week is the best chance to see beautiful fall foliage along the Mississippi. Cool nights, warm days. The Mississippi is very active at this time. Hotel on 10/8 (Tuesday) is the historic DeSoto House in Galena, Illinois. Hotel on 10/9 (Wednesday) is the new Cobblestone Inn, overlooking the Mississippi in Marquette, Iowa. All program dates include all activities, but use different midweek hotels to accommodate changes in riverboat routes and city ports of boarding.
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.
Itinerary Summary
Arrival Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn., 1 night; coach to Onalaska, Wis., 1 night; boat to Dubuque, Iowa, 2 nights; coach to Galena, Ill; boat to LeClaire, Iowa; boat and coach to Onalaska, 1 night; coach to Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.; 1 night; departure.
Coordinated by Iowa State University Extension.
Wabasha
Wabasha promotes the stewardship of the local environment through programs at the National Eagle Center, a 15,000-square-foot facility opened in 2007 on the banks of the Mississippi River. Here visitors can learn about the hundreds of eagles that inhabit the Upper Mississippi River environment and meet the rescued eagles that reside at the center.
Onalaska
Onalaska is a city of 18,000 in western Wisconsin, near the Minnesota border. Built on the scenic, wooded bluffs above the Black River (a tributary of the Mississippi), it is an outdoor paradise, great for activities including cycling, birdwatching, snowmobiling and especially fishing. Onalaska is known as the “Sunfish Capital of the World.”
Prairie Du Chien
Established by French explorers in the 1600s, Prairie du Chien is Wisconsin's second-oldest city. It is situated near the confluence of the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers amid beautiful geologic formations and bluffs. The city abounds with fascinating Native American and fur trade history.
Dubuque
Dubuque is a Mississippi River city in the Tri-State Area of Iowa. This hilly city boasts Victorian architecture adorning its bluffs and the Fenelon Place Elevator, a short, steep funicular railway. Dubuque is working to become the “first integrated, smart city” in America, with interlocking systems connecting water, electricity and transportation.
Le Claire
A historic town of 3,765 on the scenic bend of the upper Mississippi River, LeClaire was home to brave river pilots who navigated the treacherous Upper Rapids. Also the birthplace of Buffalo Bill Cody, the town annually takes on Port Byron, Ill., in a tug of war across the mighty Mississippi and offers the best viewing of Bald Eagles in the U.S.
Guttenberg
Named after the inventor of movable type, the town of Guttenberg, Iowa, is situated between the Mississippi River and limestone bluffs. Guttenberg’s past is preserved today in the limestone buildings built by German immigrants in the mid-to-late 19th century.
McGregor
Nestled between towering bluffs on the west side of the Mississippi River, McGregor, Iowa, is a hamlet of 871 with a colorful history and downtown business district that has been preserved from its 1870s boom years. McGregor is renowned for its charm, bevy of antique stores and proximity to Pikes Peak State Park just south of town.
Red Wing
For its "impressive architecture and enviable natural environment," The National Trust for Historic Preservation added Red Wing to its Distinctive Destinations list in 2008. Overlooking the Mississippi River and with a vibrant manufacturing economy, Red Wing is the all-American idyllic town.
Upper Mississippi River
United by tributaries, river communities and a series of dams, the Upper Mississippi River has a unique landscape and character. From Lake Itasca, Minn., to Cairo, Ill., the Upper Mississippi flows through dozens of cities and 29 locks, providing habitat in three national wildlife refuges and hosting a rich natural and human history.
Minneapolis
The 24 lakes now contained within Minneapolis inspired Minnesota schoolmaster Charles Hoag to combine the Dakota word for water with the Greek word for city, resulting in today’s modern moniker. Once the global center of the timber milling industry, Minneapolis is the state’s largest city and adjoins twin city and Minnesota capital St. Paul.
Galena
Considered one of the best-preserved 19th-century towns in the Midwest, nearly 85 percent of this community near the Mississippi River bluffs is included on the National Register of Historic Places. Highlights include Ulysses S. Grant's stately home and the Vinegar Hill Lead Mine and Museum, featuring the industry that helped to build Galena.
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Accommodations
Three-star hotels. Special diets not available. Not wheelchair accessible.
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