The largest river in North America, the mighty Mississippi has played a pivotal role in the history of the United States, serving as a nexus for transportation, trade, and commerce. Its hold on the American imagination has been captured in words of literature and music ranging from Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn to Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein’s Showboat. With the Mississippi River as our highway, we cruise to some of the loveliest sites in America. We’ll walk below the boughs of ancient oak trees to the colonnaded porticos of Oak Alley Plantation, wander among the lush gardens of Houmas House, and discover street after street of sublime antebellum architecture in the historic towns of St. Francisville and Natchez. We’ll also explore the lovely town and fascinating battlefield of Vicksburg—the surrender of Vicksburg in 1863 gave the Union control of the Mississippi and marked a turning point in the Civil War.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-3
New Orleans, Louisiana / Laura Plantation / Oak Alley Plantation / Houmas House

After arriving in New Orleans, we embark on the Yorktown and cruise to the historic Laura Plantation, where Alcée Fortier recorded the trickster tales of Br’er Rabbit from Senegalese slaves in the 1870s. We explore the homes of the owners and the slaves, as well as the lovely grounds, which boast multiple gardens. We also visit Oak Alley Plantation, with its breathtaking one-quarter-mile canopy of live oaks that lead from the Mississippi to the entrance of this elaborate 1839 Greek Revival mansion, and the elegant Houmas House Plantation and Gardens, once the largest sugar plantation in Louisiana.

Days 4-5
St. Francisville / Natchez, Mississippi

Founded by Spanish Capuchin monks and named for their patron saint, the tranquil town of St. Francisville retains more than one hundred of its 18th and 19th century houses and buildings, including grand and small plantations, built in the popular architectural styles of the antebellum period. In Natchez, the oldest city on the Mississippi River, we visit some of its magnificent antebellum buildings and explore its fascinating history.

Days 6-8
Vicksburg / Helena, Arkansas / Memphis, Tennessee

As we continue along the Mississippi, we explore historic Vicksburg, whose position on a bend in the river made it a bustling trade port and a prime target during the Civil War. After visiting some of its lovely plantations and mansions, we call at the quaint port town of Helena, whose historic Carriage Square boasts some of the town’s loveliest historic structures, including the elegant Pillow-Thompson House designed by architect George Barber. Disembark in Memphis on Day 8 and fly home.

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What the Trip is Like

The trip is rated Level 1, Easiest. There are shore excursions featuring walks, and it is appropriate for anyone in good health who is physically active.

Explanation of Trip Levels