• Steamboats can be see on Mississippi River.steamboat image by Larry Roberg from Fotolia.com
  
  The mighty Mississippi River winds its way from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, traveling through the states of Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Steamboats ruled the Mississippi River during the early 1800s as boats were central to trade along the waterfront. Mark Twain wrote about steamboats in his book, "Life on the Mississippi." Now dinner cruises, parties, weddings and daily trips to observe the natural beauty and city skylines take place aboard the steamboat replicas and river boats on the Mississippi.
  
  

Padelford Riverboats

• The Padelford Riverboats have welcomed more than four million passengers since starting on the Mississippi River in 1969. The company operates out of Harriet Island Regional Park in St. Paul, Minnesota. In addition to daily public cruises from June through September, the paddle boat features a dinner cruise on Sunday, Tuesday and Friday evenings. The family can come aboard for a meal and entertainment. The menu is different each evening but features entrees such as ham, pasta and pot roast. Side dishes include roasted vegetables, potatoes, Caesar salad, bread, dessert and coffee. From the deck, guests enjoy the scenery of the Twin Cities skyline, the wooded banks of the river and the sun set in the Minnesota sky.
  
  Padelford Riverboats
  Padelford Packet Boat Co., Inc.
  Harriet Island
  St. Paul, Minnesota 55107
  800-543-3908
  www.riverrides.com
  
  

Gateway Arch Riverboats

• Hop aboard the Tom Sawyer or Becky Thatcher Riverboat for a dinner cruise on the Mississippi at St. Louis, Missouri. The 19th-century replica steamboats take guests on a Skyline Dinner Cruise from March through November. The sit-down dinner offers varied menu choices, including red meat, seafood and chicken with side dishes of vegetables, potatoes, bread and desserts. Live music rounds out the evening's entertainment.
  
  The Gateway Arch Riverfront
  707 N. First St.
  St. Louis, MO 63102
  877-982-1410
  gatewayarch.com
  
  

Steamboat Natchez

• Enjoy the sights and sounds of the New Orleans, Louisiana, area aboard the Steamboat Natchez. The nightly dinner cruise menu features several entrees, including a selection of seafood, chicken, carved meats and pasta. Vegetables, salad, potatoes and bread round out the side dishes. A selection of desserts also is served. Guests can dine indoors or outdoors and enjoy the view of the city of New Orleans. The "Dukes of Dixieland" provides the spirited, live jazz.
  
  Steamboat Natchez
  400 N. Peters St., Ste. 203
  New Orleans, LA 70130
  800-233-2628
  steamboatnatchez.com