• Visitors to St. Louis can take a Mississippi riverboat cruise.Riverboat paddle wheel image by itsallgood from Fotolia.com
  
  St. Louis, Missouri is a vibrant, historic city located on the Mississippi River. Known for tourist attractions like the Gateway Arch and the Anheuser-Busch Brewery and professional sports teams such as the Cardinals and Rams, St. Louis is also home to Mississippi Riverboat Cruises. Gateway Arch Riverfront, as part of the National Park Service, offers sightseeing, dinner and entertainment cruises for groups of all sizes and visitors of all ages.
  
  

One-Hour Cruises

• Riverboats named for the famous Mark Twain characters Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher are the setting for one-hour historical tours of the St. Louis riverfront. Tour participants will hear about St. Louis' past from the tour captain and learn about the Mississippi River itself from a National Park Service ranger. The tour departs from the levee below St. Louis' Gateway Arch. Guests who make reservations for the tour have the option of selecting from a box or hot dog lunch.
  
  The Gateway Arch Riverfront
  707 North First Street
  St. Louis, MO 63102
  877-982-1410
  gatewayarch.com
  
  

Kimmswick Cruises

• Tourists looking for a bit of charm can enjoy a cruise on the Tom Sawyer Riverboat from St. Louis to the nearby town of Kimmswick, Missouri. Situated on the Mississippi River, the town is famous for quaint shopping, antiques, and its historic houses. Gateway Arch offers both two-hour and four-hour Kimmswick tours. Either tour gives participants time to visit the town and both include lunch at the Blue Owl Restaurant and Bakery.
  
  The Gateway Arch website notes that participants of the Kimmswick tours should expect stairs and gravel roads and paths while on the tour. It is not recommended for people who need wheelchairs or walkers, or for those with physical limitations or conditions. Gateway Arch recommends Kimmswick cruise participants wear comfortable walking shoes.
  
  

Skyline Dinner Cruise

• Visitors to St. Louis looking for a leisurely dinner cruise will enjoy Gateway Arch's Skyline dinner cruise. It offers cocktails and a menu of prime rib, chicken, Alaskan pollack, vegetarian manicotti, side dishes and dessert. Diners will enjoy live Mississippi River-style jazz while taking in the views of St. Louis at dusk. Children's meals are also available, and guests can pre-arrange for wine, Champagne, hors d'oeuvres or party favors for special occasions.
  
  To make the evening truly special, guests can also pre-arrange a horse-drawn carriage ride from the Gateway Arch Garage to the riverboat. Interested parties can arrange for private tours for events and outings.