River Heritage  [ View other REGIONS.]

Tall, wooded bluffs tower above the Mississippi River in this picturesque section of the state. Gently rolling countryside dips into valleys, where creeks wind through fertile farmland. River towns and quaint country villages charm guests with their turn-of-the-century architecture, antique shops and historical sites. Streams, rivers and trails wind their way through forested hillsides and scenic bluffs.  (Please click on the member CVB's name on the map or in this description for more detailed information.)

The first French settlers came to Ste. Genevieve in 1735. Today, this colonial village features roughly 50 historic buildings built in the French Creole style -- many are open for tours. See Indian artifacts and Civil War relics at the Ste. Genevieve Museum. Self-guided maps are available at the Great River Road Interpretive Center. Relax at the Ste. Genevieve Winery downtown, then stay over at one of the many historically restored bed-and-breakfast inns in town.

At Trail of Tears State Park in Jackson you can take in the solitude of the dark green forest or stand on limestone bluffs and embrace the majesty of the Mississippi. Walk a nature trail, camp or picnic. The park is part of the route that Cherokee Indians took on their forced march to a reservation in Oklahoma. Near Burfordville is Bollinger Mill with a four-story gristmill and covered bridge.

A little south is Cape Girardeau, the largest of these picturesque river towns, a city that treasures its historical roots. Visitors can share in this heritage at the Cape River Heritage Museum. You can see the flood gates downtown that have saved the town from the river's rampage numerous times.

In Sikeston-Miner, Lambert's Cafe, home of the famous "throwed rolls," will lure you off the interstate for a satisfying meal. One of the nation's best rodeos, the Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, is held here in August.

In New Madrid, visit Higgerson School, a restored one-room schoolhouse and the Hunter-Dawson Home State Historic Site, an antebellum mansion.

Enjoy gaming excitement aboard the Casino Aztar at Caruthersville, or visit Bloomfield, the birthplace of the military's Stars and Stripes newspaper during the Civil War.

The area from Fredericktown north to Bonne Terre was once the world's largest lead-mining district. At Bonne Terre, you can walk the wide passageways of the world's largest man-made caverns, or scuba-dive in its billion-gallon underground lake.

The mighty Mississippi River wanders past rich farmland and scenic river towns in Missouri's River Heritage Region, a land steeped in early-American history. It is a region of great beauty and quiet charm with plenty to enjoy... and plenty of surprises.

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