Mississippi Palisades State Park in Savana
Long before America reached her ocean shores to the west, the banks of the Mighty Mississippi River marked its jagged western edge. This untamed frontier, known as Mississippi River Country, was a magnet to Native American tribes, fur traders, French explorers, and river pirates. It was a world as unpredictable as the river itself, one steeped in adventure that left an undeniable mystique in its wake that is still felt today.
Now pulsing through America’s heartland, the Mississippi River has reinvented itself once again. Worlds old and new collide along the Great River Road, a scenic byway that hugs the river’s edge in Illinois. Here, you can explore ancient civilizations and new world discoveries. Sip wine in a vineyard. Stay in a governor’s mansion turned bed & breakfast. Or explore a 19th century mining town now home to artisans and specialty shops. Between towns, take in mile after mile of sweeping vistas set against a symphony of steamboat whistles and paddle boats from the river below.
