TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: Fourth of July Mark Twain Riverboat Cruise

 

hannibal mark twain riverboat cruise

We were trying to think of something very special to do for the 4th of July this year and we found the perfect thing to do. From Kansas City, we drove over to Hannibal, Mo. (hometown of Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain) and took a cruise on the Mark Twain Riverboat on the mighty Mississippi River.

Captain Steve and his wife Sandy have owned the Mark Twain Riverboat for over 20 years and although we have taken other Riverboat cruises in the country, this one is the best and most professional one to take. The boat is immaculately clean and the crew is extremely professional and friendly. They all know what they are doing and they do it right! You can either take a regular sightseeing cruise or if you prefer you can take a 2 hour dinner cruise which includes a fine buffet dinner as well as live musical  entertainment.

The Captain gives a great narrative of the history of Hannibal, Mark Twain and a VERY interesting tale of Lover’s Leap which is located just downstream from Hannibal.  His story on Lover’s Leap gives a new meaning to the sign that you see on the highways around the country, “Watch For Falling Rock”.  We learned that Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain was a Riverboat pilot and that the name Mark Twain actually means two fathoms deep.

We thought that we heard upstairs at the front of riverboat Paul Robeson singing “Ol’ Man River”, however perhaps it was just our imagination. We were in “Movie Show Boat Heaven”!

You can sit anywhere on the 3 decks (both inside and outside) and watch out the windows as you view the riverbanks and walk to the top of the boat deck and get an eyeful of scenery. Both cruises take you to two States, both Missouri as well as Illinois. BE sure and take your camera / smart phone and take plenty of photos.  For those people that are really into Riverboats, this boat is not a paddle-wheeler, but a diesel prop. The Riverboat has a 400 passenger capacity and it was build in 1964.  It is  120 feet long and 33 feet wide.

For more information, check out: https://marktwainriverboat.com/ You can also email them directly at info@marktwainriverboat.com or give them a call at  573 . 221 . 3222. They are located right downtown Hannibal at the Center Street Landing.  The Riverboat runs 7 days a week. They have a huge FREE parking area right in front where you enter.

If you have never been on a Riverboat cruise, be SURE and go to Hannibal, Mo. and take this Mark Twain Riverboat  cruise. You will be glad that you did.  We certainly enjoyed ourselves as well as our traveling companions, Jan, Roy and Margye.
Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone!

Don and Ray

TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married).

Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

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