Drive: Great River Road -- Mississippi River

Great River Road

Like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, the Mississippi and the Great River Road are bosom buddies, ever inseparable as they wander about in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa.

from The Most Scenic Drives in America

Length: About 470 miles.

When to go: Popular year-round, but best in summer because of river activities, and in fall for spectacular foliage.

Not to be missed: Riverboat excursions from several cities, including LaCrosse, Prairie du Chien, and Dubuque.

Nearby attractions: River Museum, a group of six museums focusing on Mississippi River history and lore, Dubuque, IA. Field of Dreams baseball diamond, setting for the popular motion picture, Dyersville, IA. The Mall of America, the country’s largest shopping mall, Bloomington, MN.

Further information: Mississippi Valley Partners, P.O. Box 610, Stockholm, WI 54769; tel. 715-442-2900, www.mississippi-river.org.