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Orchards
and Farmers Markets
The abundance of local
orchards, pick your own operations, roadside stands, and local
farmers' markets of the Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway
region provide fruits and vegetables have traveled less than 50
miles or might have been grown on the spot. The first fruits make
their appearance in mid June. Apples and pumpkins are available into
October. |
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Fall
Colors
Beginning in late
September and lasting until early November the region comes alive
with spectacular fall colors. A variety of ways to view nature's
beauty awaits visitors that traverse the Great River Road that
travels over the bluffs and through the river towns.
The regions abundance of parks and natural areas
offer breathtaking vistas from scenic overlooks
and hiking trails.
The
fall season is also the busiest season in the area for festivals and
other activities. There are harvest festivals, reenactments,
scarecrow contests, guided nature hikes, and more. |
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Bald
Eagles
From the middle of December to the middle of March the Middle Mississippi
River Valley hosts the second largest overwintering Bald
Eagle population in the continental United States. Peak number of eagles
occur in January and February. A number of organizations and
communities host entertaining and educational programs that allow
visitors to get up close and personal with our national symbol as
well as see them in their natural habitat. |
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Spring
Blossoms
Beginning in late March the first wildflowers of the season start to
bloom. April and May is the season for the area's flowering trees. |
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Ferries
of the Middle Mississippi River Valley
There are 5 ferries, 2 free and 3 toll, that cross the Mississippi River
in the Middle Mississippi River Valley. 4 are located in Jersey and
Calhoun counties and another provides service between Ste. Genevieve, MO
and Randolph County, IL. |
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Visitor
Centers
The region has numerous Visitor Centers designed to enhance your
experience. |
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Water Activities
The Melvin Price Locks and Dam near Alton, Illinois creates a 36-mile
stretch of the Mississippi River up to Lock and Dam #25 near Winfield,
Missouri where the width of the river can reach as wide as a mile. The
Illinois River flows into this 36,000 square acres body of water called
Alton Lake. Alton Lake entices all types of boaters to ply the waters of the
mighty Mississippi. Many marinas and other businesses rent motorboats,
personal watercraft, and sailboats so that people can experience the river
as it flows below 100-foot limestone river bluffs. The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers offers an abundance of recreational areas. |
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Public Boat
Launches
The Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway Area has a number of boat
launches that are open to the public that allow boaters access to both the
Mississippi And Illinois Rivers. |
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Living
History Events
History is “alive” and well in the Middle Mississippi River Valley.
The region is host to a number of annual "Living History" events as
reenactors take on personas and cover the French Fur Trapper, the
Civil War, and early settlers eras that played important parts in
shaping the way things are today. |
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Bird Watching
Although the area is best known as a winter haven for the Bald
Eagle, the area is rich in diversity of birds with approximately 300
species having been sighted in the area. There are three premier
bird watching sites in the area - Pere Marquette State Park, the Two
Rivers National Wildlife Refuge and the Riverlands Environmental
Demonstration Area near the Melvin Price Locks and Dam. |
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State Historical Markers
Descriptions of
the regions State Historical Markers. |
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Maps
Index
to maps of the area. |
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Up
and Down The Middle Mississippi River Valley
Explore the history, attractions and outdoor activities of the different
regions that make up the central section of the Great River Road
system. |
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