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Travel Talk
by Francine Brokaw
The Majestic Mississippi Queen
Are you tired of sitting in traffic? Are crowds and long lines becoming part of your everyday life? Are you stressed? Then why not get away from everything? The perfect remedy for all of those things is a relaxing cruise aboard the Mississippi Queen riverboat. This is the best place to unwind and get away from the trappings of civilization. Sure, you could go camping, but it wouldn’t be this much fun or delicious.
The Mississippi Queen is one of three steamboats in the newly formed Majestic America Line that casually cruise down and up the rivers of the South and Middle America. The Majestic America Line is America’s largest river and coastal cruise company. What a perfect way to simply get away from it all while seeing some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.
We enjoyed a trip through the Tennessee, Cumberland, and Ohio rivers while the stress of Southern California quickly melted away. There are no televisions in the rooms and the radio plays two stations – one is Headline News for those who simply must know what is going on in the world, and the other is relaxing music.
Think about life without traffic. Doesn’t that just make you envious? Life aboard the boat is peaceful. The only traffic you’ll encounter is the line of passengers waiting to get into the dining room at dinner time to devour the delicious meals. Trust me, the desserts are out of this world.
When docked, you’ll be able to go on shore trips or simply explore the town on your own. Or, you might simply want to stay onboard to take advantage of some of the fun and games. Bingo and trivia games are usually popular – at least with me. Not to toot my own horn, but I won several items playing trivia – and one of them was a horn.
The nightly entertainment is fun for everyone, but the last night I left the show and went out on the deck. I was standing there alone while we pulled into Chattanooga at dusk. It was, to use a popular word, awesome. That’s the only way I can describe it. I felt alone in the world, and at peace. It was a beautiful sight and a feeling I won’t soon forget.
So the next time you’re stuck on the freeway and longing for some peace and quiet, think about a cruise on the Mississippi Queen. If you bring your kids, the staff creates interesting and fun activities for them. As a matter of fact the hotel manager, Amy Wilkinson, told me about an 8-year-old boy named Charlie who sailed with them one time and a little 4-year-old boy named Ian and how much fun they had while on the boat. The staff gives personal attention everyone, whether they’re 2 or 102.
While you will see people walking around with cell phones, and some with laptops, cruising on the Mississippi Queen is basically an escape from civilization. And what a way to go.
© 2006 Francine Brokaw
All pictures ©Roy Brokaw
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