The Best Time to Cruise the Mississippi River
The best time to cruise the Mississippi River is during the months of spring (March, April, May) or fall (September, October, November) to avoid the extreme hot and cold temperatures in summer and winter. The Mississippi is so long that giving overall advice can be difficult, as the temperatures in Minnesota are much colder than those in Louisiana on the same day. Additionally, there is a higher chance of flooding in the spring and a potential need to reroute or reschedule.
The upper Mississippi region
Upper Mississippi
The Upper Mississippi refers to the portion of the river upstream/roughly north of St. Louis, Missouri. In this region, the summer heat is not as intense as further south, while early spring and late fall bring cooler temperatures. Winter is most definitely not advised, since the temperatures will reach extreme lows and there may be snow. Autumn tends to be a travelers' favorite, not only because of the great temperatures and low likelihood of rain, but also for the beautiful colors that paint the shores and bluffs of the Mississippi. If you are hoping to take a family vacation during summer when the kids are on a break from school, the upper Mississippi is a better option than the lower, since the temperatures will not be as extreme as in the south.
Lower Mississippi
The Lower Mississippi refers to the portion downstream/roughly south of the confluence of the Ohio River and Upper Mississippi at Cairo, Illinois. While cruising this part of the river, you can expect higher temperatures, so winter and even a holiday cruise are popular times to visit. Summertime is only for those who love the heat, since the temperatures will linger over 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day with high humidity. Spring and fall both provide more enjoyable temperatures and offer different scenery. The spring provides new life and flowers blooming across the fields as they get ready for summer, and during autumn, the leaves will begin to fall and change to beautiful colors.
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
Liz O
2 days ago
Adventure Life covered all the details in planning our trip to Ireland. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Any trip glitches, which always happen when traveling, were resolved immediately. There were no worries, just fun!
Kathleen Weller
2 days ago
It was an outstanding, up-close, educational vacation of nature, culture, history, animals and geology! It was everything they promised! Binoculars were plentiful on the boat, but I'm glad I brought my own. Food was excellent. Rooms had black-out shades. Pack/wear multiple layers of clothing (I carried a small backpack when off the ship). Crew were delightful and very accommodating! Remember to jump FEET FIRST first when taking the optional polar plunge! Spend as much time outdoors as you are able and ENJOY!!!
Janet Dutton
1 week ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 week ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.