Enjoy your complimentary stay at the pre-cruise hotel. The evening is yours to become acquainted with the city. Our Hospitality Desk will be located in the hotel, and our friendly staff can assist with everything from general questions about your upcoming voyage to reserving premium experiences. Both American Queen Steamboat Company and local representatives will be readily available to provide you with dining, entertainment and sightseeing options to maximize your time here.

This authentically quirky port is a muse to artisans of mixed mediums – from sidewalk chalk to street fare – and home to the cultural diversity that quickly captivates the heart of its visitors. The local tradition that lives within images of Derby hats, Old-Fashioned cocktails, and the 120-foot Louisville Slugger that towers over the friendly city are better lived than seen. Explore the red penguin-peppered Main Street. Embrace oddity. Experience Louisville. 

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS: 
Louisville Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Museum Row  
Museum Row is home to nearly 10 local attractions in one historic neighborhood.
Suggested Visit: 30 minutes - 1.5 hours    

The Frazier History Museum  
With three floors of exhibit space, the Frazier History Museum is a world-class museum that provides an unforgettable journey through more than 1,000 years of history with ever-changing and interactive exhibits, daily performances by costumed interpreters, and engaging special events and programs.
Suggested Visit: 1 - 2 hours    

Mark Payton Glass Center  
Visit this glass-blowing studio and tour the amazing techniques and artwork created by professionals. The tour will pass by artists in action as they flamework, sculpt, cast, and blow glass. Make sure to stop in the gallery to explore finished products or the gift shop where you can purchase some unique and beautiful souvenirs. Suggested Visit: 15 - 30 minutes    

Cathedral of the Assumption  
The steeple rises 287 feet above the Louisville skyline, and the coronation window is one of the oldest surviving examples of hand-painted stained glass in the country. Suggested Visit: 30 minutes    

4th Street Live!  
Restaurants and entertainment venues in the complex include Gordon Biersch Brewing Company, Hard Rock Cafe, T.G.I. Friday's, Sully's Irish Pub,  The Sports & Social Club (bowling alley and restaurant), tavern on 4th street, The Fudgery, and the first-ever Maker's Mark Bourbon House & Lounge.  
Suggested Visit: 30 minutes - 1 hour    

Louisville Visitor Center  
The Louisville Visitor Center is a one-stop-shop for brochures, maps, experience itineraries, dining suggestions, coupons, and shopping for Louisville and Bourbon Country-themed items.  Also, attraction tickets are available for purchase and you can pick up and redeem Urban Bourbon and Kentucky Bourbon Trail passports. Find all the information you need for your day in Louisville.  Suggested Visit: 15 - 30 minutes

Louisville Museum Row Shuttle
Louisville's West Main Street, with its extraordinary collection of Victorian cast-iron historic facades combined with striking contemporary architecture, has experienced a dramatic renaissance over the past decade and has become one of the most creative arts-inspired cultural districts in the nation.


 

The essence of Kentucky radiates, from its bourbon traditions to a tableau of rolling farmland. Soul-stirring river views and Southern warmth welcome those who pursue relaxation. Mysteries of the Civil War enlist lifelong learners on the battlefield while sprawling parks and trails make way for recreation. The grass is bluer in Brandenburg and all the surrounding areas. 

The exuberance that pervades the sounds of folk music flows through the community of Owensboro. Each of its spaces is a lovely ballad that tugs at the heartstrings of visitors – from the notes of bourbon distilleries to bumbling butterflies in the botanical garden. The tawny banks of this river jewel extend a warm welcome and invite you to experience the beauty of bluegrass. 

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS: 
Owensboro Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Western Kentucky Botanical Gardens   
Enjoy the unique works of art, wind sculptures, a spectacular woven basket,  the Japanese Memorial Garden, and the Koi Pond.  From the Rose Garden to the Conservatory, from the Rain Garden to the Herb Garden - there is truly something for everyone.
Suggested Visit: 30 minutes    

Owensboro Museum of Fine Art  
In addition to its permanent collections, the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art presents traveling exhibitions from major museums, galleries, and private collections. The facility includes two structures listed on the National Register of Historic Sites: the 1909 Carnegie Library and the John Hampden Smith House, a pre-Civil War era mansion, which serves as a decorative arts wing.
 

Capture your inner artisan in the home of James Audubon and W.C Handy. Hospitality flows freely through a vibrant downtown that kisses the rolling river. Wide streets welcome guests and showcase historic preservation that awakens a classic ambiance in storefronts and homes. Discover nature fingerprinted with humanity in the many parks and trials that showcase artistry throughout the town. Greetings from Henderson – a walkable community wrapped in warmth. 

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS:
Henderson Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
The Depot Community Room  
The Depot is a replica of the original 1901 train depot and stands as an example of the city's commitment to preserving the past while embracing Henderson's future. 

In the hands of artists, modern Paducah was thrown into form. Fingertips muddied with passion and eased by the vision of river water glided along the surface to pull up the community and create the National Quilt Museum. Residents backstitch past into present, then bind appreciation for culture – ensuring that the seams of history will not soon come undone. The people of Paducah have taken great care to orchestrate every crevice of its community into a symphony of craft and color. Life is a work of art, and the town of Paducah certainly is alive and well. Feast in this foodies’ fantasy. Uncover mastership. Catch a glimpse of Paducah. 

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS:
Paducah Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
The National Quilt Museum  
Celebrating 30 years in 2021, the National Quilt Museum is the largest of its kind in the world. It is the portal to the contemporary quilt experience and features exhibits and workshops by renowned quilters who implement creative approaches to fiber art.
Suggested Visit: 30 minutes - 1 hour

Cape Girardeau has shown hospitality to the likes of Mark Twain, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, and now greets our guests in the same vein. Peeking through the long-standing architecture and handsome panoramas are moments that will mature into golden memories. They say sometimes the little things make the biggest impact, and here, a million little things have built an empire. Take time to dance among the light of day or pedal along the sliver of bike lanes that strip along city streets. Embrace legends, discover a simpler time and relive the wonders of the past. Here, exploration of young America is at your fingertips. 

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS: 
Cape Girardeau Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
Mississippi River Tales Murals  
The Mississippi River Tales Mural is the largest and most dramatic of Cape Girardeau's murals and is located on a portion of the downtown floodwall. The Missouri Wall of Fame Mural features 47 individuals who were born in Missouri or achieved fame while living in the state. View this beautiful artwork and be sure to stop at the descriptive markers that provide an explanation of each panel.
Suggested Visit: 15 - 30 minutes     

Red House Interpretive Center  
The Interpretive Center commemorates the life of community founder French-Canadian, Louis Lorimier, as well as the visit of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in November 1803.
Suggested Visit: 15 - 30 minutes     

Old St. Vincent's Church  
The Renaissance architecture, referred to as the English Gothic Revival style, is not only beautiful but also extremely rare, as very few churches of this style exist in America today. 
Suggested Visit: 30 minutes     

Glenn House  
Completed in 1883, the Glenn House is a fully restored historic museum in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It is a prime example of the Victorian period lifestyle including the architecture, furnishings, clothing, and décor.
Suggested Visit: 30 - 45 minutes    

Crisp Museum  
Located inside Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus, the Crisp Museum collects in three thematic areas: archaeology, history, and fine art. The museum's historical collections cover a wide range of artifacts with strengths in the areas of militaria, firearms and their accessories, clothing, and hand tools. Suggested Visit: 45 minutes - 1 hour     

Cape River Heritage Museum  
Since its founding in 1981, the Cape River Heritage Museum has focused on local history while preserving a historic building at the corner of Frederick and Independence streets.
Suggested Visit: 30 - 45 minutes

Strategically placed above our docking area on the Chickasaw Bluffs is Fort Pillow – where rest the silenced voices of the Civil War. The smoke has cleared to shed light on the pogrom that transpired in this decisive point. It is here that the Fort Pillow Massacre took the lives of 221 Confederate soldiers, and experienced historians resurrect stories misplaced in the tumult of war.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS:
St. Louis Hop-On Hop-Off
Old Courthouse / Gateway Arch
Embrace this prime example of mid-19th-century federal architecture. The Old Courthouse is known not only for its classic architecture but also for the notable cases presented in the courthouse, such as Dred Scott, who sued for his freedom from slavery. The Gateway Arch is symbolic of St. Louis. This iconic structure was completed in 1965 and has since provided millions of visitors with stunning views of up to 30 miles from east to west.  Please note: Admission inside the Gateway Arch is additional. Suggested Visit: 30 min  –  2 hours

As the journey concludes, there are other opportunities for you to take in the town. Enjoy the city at your leisure, or consider an airport transfer.