Iowa is, quite literally, shaped by rivers: the Missouri River to the west and the Mississippi on the east. And although a trip across these rivers used to require an up-close-and-personal experience of them (by raft or ferry or horseback, etc.), it is now over in a matter of a few moments via an interstate bridge. While there are so many advantages to good roadways, they do often disconnect us with the geography that used to be an unavoidable aspect of any travel. In some ways, connecting with the land can provide a sense of knowing and belonging.
Maybe that is what is so alluring about getting out in person on the Mighty Mississippi and seeing up close and personal the history and nature of a region that shaped Iowa and the United States as a whole.
This isn’t a pre-canned, recorded speech that blares over the loudspeakers. This tour is led by real people who have spent a lifetime on the river - and are willing to share their lifetime's worth of stories of fishing, clamming, and trapping. They'll even share musical river folklore.
Maiden Voyage offers multiple tours. On Friday and Saturday night local musicians serenade the tour with songs about the river and the stories of the area. Go on a clear evening and become enveloped in the sunset that shines in the sky above and is then mirrored on the Mississippi below.
Call to check hours before you go as the tour departs an hour earlier in the fall to allow more time before sunset. Typically the music tours run from mid-May to mid-September and usually depart at 7:00 p.m.
Birders, this tour is a great opportunity to view birds such as bald eagles and migratory species who use the river as a flyway. Bring your own cooler as you venture out on Big River for $25 per person.
The Eco Tour typically departs at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. various days of the week depending on the season. This tour is very interactive and you can do your best to stump the captain with your river questions! Willow the dog is also a charmer. Children six and under are free, children seven to fifteen are $8, and adults are $23 per person.
Call Maiden Voyage Tours at 563-880-8970 to check on hours and tour availability. You can also learn more on their website. And if just a day on the water isn’t enough, try a night or two!
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