Top 5 Charming Small Towns to Explore on U.S. River Cruises

Forget the big cities. It’s time to get out and explore some of America’s best small towns. And thanks to American Queen Voyages, you can do just that all from the comfort of a river cruise.

The cruise company is known for taking passengers through the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and along the Eastern Seaboard, the Gulf, and the western coast of Mexico and Central America.

You can also choose to hop aboard its river cruise and excursion options, which take passengers to delightful corners of the nation’s interior via the Mississippi River, the Ohio River, the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, and the Columbia and Snake rivers, as well as to remote corners of Alaska. Here are five adorable small towns you can discover on one of the American Queen Voyages journeys.

Charming Paducah, Kentucky

Paducah is as charming as they come. As a UNESCO Creative City, it’s a place where culture and art collide in the Midwest. Known for Southern hospitality, crafts, and a growing LGBTQ community, it’s a must-see destination for those looking to feel inspired. Via the cruise line’s Louisville to St. Louis journey, guests can stop in Paducah and meet with Miss Maggie at Hotel Metropolitan, which was known as a safe haven for traveling Black musicians in the early 1900s. Guests on the cruise can also take part in an included excursion to visit the town’s National Quilt Museum.

Historic Vicksburg, Mississippi

Travelers on the New Orleans to Memphis cruise can hop off the boat in Vicksburg, a small town known for its big history. Known as one of the significant battle sites during the Civil War, the port town carries a history unlike any other. Here, visitors can learn about the historic conflicts by visiting the Vicksburg National Military Park, created to preserve the infamous siege line. At the park, guests can also visit the USS Cairo Gunboat and Museum. For more cultural context, cruisers can visit the Lower Mississippi River Museum and Vicksburg Riverfront Murals, painted on Mississippi River floodwalls, which depict the past, present, and future of Vicksburg.

Scenic Astoria, Oregon

Stop by the adorable town of Astoria on the cruise company’s Round Trip Portland itinerary. In Astoria, guests will explore the stunning port city, well-known for its Victorian-era homes overlooking the Columbia River. The cruise company suggests guests make the most of the town’s majesty by visiting The Garden of Surging Waves, a beautiful park honoring Astoria’s relationship with China. Visitors can meander down the Astoria Riverwalk, seek out the Astoria-Megler Bridge, and visit the Maritime Memorial to round out their experience.

Quaint Petersburg, Alaska

American Queen Voyages’ Ocean Victory ship is one of the few boats that can access the quaint Alaskan village of Petersburg. On the company’s Sitka to Vancouver itinerary, guests will get the chance to stop in this village, home to just 3,100 year-round residents. Guests can participate in three premium excursions, including a jet boat ride through LeConte Bay to LeConte Glacier, a day of fishing for famed Alaskan salmon, or a visit to the United States Forest Service to mine for ruby red garnet, which they can keep after the trip.

Idyllic Bar Harbor, Maine

As one of New England’s most idyllic towns, Bar Harbor is a perfect stop on the Boston to Halifax cruise for those wishing to dive headfirst into lighthouses, lobster rolls, and public lands. During the stops, guests can explore Acadia National Park, soaking in its beautiful views that include pink granite and massive evergreen trees. Guests also have the opportunity to hike the Deer Isle Lighthouse Trail, spotting all eight lighthouses along the way and can even hop aboard a working lobster boat when excursions are available.