Ohio Cruise Holidays: Experience a Bygone Era
Steamboats have been traveling the rivers of middle America since the
early 19th century. For those who lived in small towns along
the
banks of the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland Rivers,
sternwheelers have been a common site since 1811. Today,
travelers can still experience the beauty of these majestic ships and
experience what those early settlers must have felt as they made their
way along the Midwestern rivers. A trip down the nearly
one-thousand-mile-long Ohio River is especially breathtaking and Ohio
cruise holidays provide travelers with a chance to explore everything
from old-fashioned river towns complete with log cabins to fine
Southern mansions that boast of a proud, bygone era. You’ll
even
find bustling cities that grew to their size thanks to their location
on the mighty Ohio River.About Steamboat Holidays
Cruising down the Ohio is a lot different than cruising the Caribbean or the Mediterranean. Steamboat cruising moves at a different pace - a more leisurely speed that allows passengers to take in every inch of the scenery that surrounds them. If slow and steady is your preference, steamboating is for you.
When it comes to amenities, steamboats have plenty, but they can be quite different from the ones you’ll find on an ocean liner. While the newest cruise ships boast rock climbing walls, huge theaters, and even ice skating rinks, a steamboat’s amenities cater to a different sort of taste. While you may find a pool and exercise room onboard, you’ll also be treated to such facilities as a fully-stocked library, reminiscent of those in stately Southern homes; intimate dining rooms trimmed in wood and brass; and grand saloons reminiscent of days-gone-by.
You’ll probably also notice that the crowd tends to be a bit older on a steamboat holiday. While some steamboat lines do offer special family-oriented Ohio cruise holidays at certain times of the year, others cater to the mature set that’s looking for a slow-paced, quiet trip down the river. No raucous pool parties here! Entertainment is sophisticated and ranges from jazz and blues to Big Band and Broadway.
The other advantage of sailing on a steamboat is that these vessels are highly maneuverable and scenery can be enjoyed close up. Often times, to disembark, passengers need only walk down the ship’s ramp onto the banks of the river. Shore excursions on Ohio cruise holidays take you to Civil War sites, scenes of Indian raids, and towns that were once home to famous figures like Davy Crockett.
Itineraries for Ohio Cruise Holidays
Formed by the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers at Pittsburgh, the Ohio River is often considered to have been America’s passage for commerce and settlement. Through the Ohio River valley, you’ll find such cities as Cincinnati, Louisville, and Paducah. Wonderful cities to explore, visitors are treated to an abundance of museums – like the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville or the Quilt Museum in Henderson, KY; trips to galleries and antique shops; chances to explore historical neighborhoods, and much more. You might even travel the Wabash, the Green, the Kentucky, the Kanawha, the Cumberland and the Tennessee rivers, all of which join the Ohio at some point along its many miles.Ohio cruise holidays allow you to experience Americana at its best. Regardless of which itinerary you choose, you’ll surely catch the pioneer spirit as you float peacefully down one of the country’s most important and historic bodies of water.