
BEST OF THE RIVER 2019
The 2019 Best of the River is focused on the best attractions, accommodations, food & drink, and trails & tours along the Great River Road from northern Minnesota down to the Gulf of Mexico.
Best Brewery
- Potosi Brewery (Potosi, WI)
- Green Tree Brewery (Le Claire, IA)
- Bent River Brewing Company (Moline, IL)
- The Old Bakery Beer Company (Alton, IL)
- Toppling Goliath Brewing Co (Decorah, IA)
Best Brewery Tour
- Anheuser-Busch (St. Louis, MO)
- Potosi Brewery (Potosi, WI)
- Budweiser Brewery Experience (St. Louis, MO)
- The Old Bakery Beer Company (Alton, IL)
- Pearl Street Brewery (La Crosse, WI)
Best Farmer’s Market
- Freight House Farmers Market (Davenport, IA)
- Alton Farmers Market (Alton, IL)
- Soulard Farmers Market (St. Louis, MO)
- Cameron Park Farmers Market (La Crosse, WI)
- Winona Farmers Market (Winona, MN)
Best Food Trail
- Driftless Wine & Cheese Trail (Wisconsin Driftless Region)
- Hot Tamale Trail (Mississippi Delta)
- Coulee Region Craft Beverage Trail (La Crosse, Wisconsin)
Best Wine Trail
- Great River Road Wine Trail (Upper Mississippi River Valley)
- Driftless Wine & Cheese Trail (Wisconsin Driftless Region)
- Mississippi Valley Wine Trail (Illinois River Road)
- Heartland River Wine Trail (Southern Illinois)
- Iowa Wine Trail (Upper Mississippi Valley Wine Region)
Best Winery
- Elmaro Vineyard (Trempealeau, WI)
- Wide River Winery (Le Claire, IA)
- Galena Cellars Vineyard & Winery (Galena, IL)
- Grafton Winery & Brewhaus (Grafton, IL)
- Villa Bellezza (Pepin, WI)
Best Winery Tour
- Grafton Winery & Brewhaus (Grafton, IL)
- Elmaro Vineyard (Trempealeau, WI)
- Eagles Landing Winery (Marquette, IA)
- River Ridge Winery (Scott City, MO)
- Danzinger Vineyards (Alma, WI)
Best Distillery
- Mississippi River Distilling Company (Le Claire, IA)
- La Crosse Distilling Co. (La Crosse, WI)
- The Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. (Galena, IL)
- Old Herald Brewery & Distillery (Collinsville, IL)
- Old Dominick Distillery (Memphis, TN)
Best Distillery Tour
- Mississippi River Distilling Company (Le Claire, IA)
- La Crosse Distilling Co. (La Crosse, WI)
- The Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. (Galena, IL)
- Bluestem Vodka (St. Louis, MO)
- Old Dominick Distillery (Memphis, TN)
Best Cultural Trail
- Great River Road National Scenic Byway (MN-LA)
- Effigy Mounds National Monument (Harpers Ferry, IA)
- RiverWay Trails (Quad Cities)
- Mississippi Blues Trail (MS)
Best Education Center
- National Eagle Center (Wabasha, MN)
- National Great Rivers Museum (Alton, IL)
- Delta Blues Museum (Clarksdale, MS)
- The Nature Institute (Godfrey, IL)
- Effigy Mounds National Monument (Harpers Ferry, IA)
Best Festival
- Tug Fest (Le Claire, IA)
- Twain on Main (Hannibal, MO)
- Juke Joint Festival (Clarksdale, MS)
- Mississippi Earthtones Festival (Alton, IL)
- Oktoberfest USA (La Crosse, WI)
Best Hidden Gem
- Alton, Illinois
- Bluestown Music (Clarksdale, MS)
- Potosi Brewery (Potosi, WI)
- River Pilot Homes (LeClaire, IA)
- Yellow River State Forest (Allamakee County, IA)
Best Historic Home
- The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum (Hannibal, MO)
- Villa Louis Historic Site (Prairie du Chien, WI)
- McPike Mansion (Alton, IL)
- Laura Ingalls Wilder Cabin (Pepin, WI)
- Oak Alley Plantation (Vacherie, LA)
Best Historic Site
- Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (Collinsville, IL)
- The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum (Hannibal, MO)
- Vicksburg National Military Park (Vicksburg, MS)
- Graceland (Memphis, TN)
- Grandad Bluff (La Crosse, WI)
Best History Trail
- Great River Road (MN-LA)
- The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum (Hannibal, MO)
- Mississippi Blues Trail (MS)
- Underground Railroad Tour
- Trail of Tears (MS)
Best Interpretive Center
- The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum (Hannibal, MO)
- National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (Dubuque, IA)
- National Eagle Center (Wabasha, MN)
- National Great Rivers Museum (Alton, IL)
- Delta Blues Museum (Clarksdale, MS)
Best Kept Secret On The River
- Mark Twain Riverboat (Hannibal, MO)
- Buffalo Bill Museum (Le Claire, IA)
- Elsah, IL
- (Tie) Potosi Brewery (Potosi, WI) & Audubon Center at Riverlands (West Alton, MO)
Best Live Music Venue
- Music Under the Stars (Hannibal, MO)
- Ground Zero Blues Club (Clarksdale, MS)
- Wide River Winery (Le Claire, IA)
- Grafton Winery & Brewhaus (Grafton, IL)
- Liberty Bank Amphitheater (Alton, IL)
Best Memorial
- Lincoln and Douglas Debate (Alton, IL)
- Soldiers Walk Memorial Park (Arcadia, WI)
- Illinois Memorial (Vicksburg, MS)
- Veterans Memorial Park (Cuba City, WI)
- Fort Jefferson Memorial Cross (Wickliffe, KY)
Best Monument
- Gateway Arch (St. Louis, MO)
- Effigy Mounds National Monument (Harpers Ferry, IA)
- Elijah P. Lovejoy Monument (Alton, IL)
- Scott County Freedom Rock (Le Claire, IA)
- Soldiers Walk Memorial Park (Arcadia, WI)
Best Museum for Art
- Figge Art Museum (Davenport, IA)
- Minneapolis Institute of Art (Minneapolis, MN)
- Minnesota Marine Art Museum (Winona, MN)
- Jacoby Arts Center (Alton, IL)
- Brooks Museum of Art (Memphis, TN)
Best Museum for Children
- National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (Dubuque, IA)
- Children’s Museum of La Crosse (La Crosse, WI)
- The Science Museum of Minnesota (St. Paul, MN)
- National Great Rivers Museum (Alton, IL)
- LARK Toys (Wabasha County, MN)
Best Museum for History
- National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (Dubuque, IA)
- Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (Collinsville, IL)
- Buffalo Bill Museum & River Pilots Pier (Le Claire, IA)
- Lewis & Clark State Historic Site (Hartford, IL)
- Bell Museum (St Paul, MN)
Best Military Museum
- Rock Island Arsenal (Quad Cities)
- Vicksburg National Military Park (Warren County, MS)
- Fort Crawford Museum (Prairie du Chien, WI)
- Soldiers Walk Memorial Park (Arcadia, WI)
- Columbus Belmont State Park (Hickman County, KY)
Best Open-air Museum
- Vicksburg National Military Park (Warren County, MS)
- Soldiers Walk Memorial Park (Arcadia, WI)
- Minnesota Military Museum (Morrison County, MN)
Best Museum for Science
- National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (Dubuque, IA)
- The Science Museum of Minnesota (Saint Paul, MN)
- Minnesota Marine Art Museum (Winona, MN)
- Elmer’s Auto & Toy Museum (Fountain City, WI)
Best Toy Museum
- National Farm Toy Museum (Dyersville, IA)
- LARK Toys (Kellogg, MN)
- Children’s Museum of La Crosse (La Crosse, WI)
- Pink Palace Museum (Memphis, TN)
- Elmer’s Auto & Toy Museum (Fountain City, WI)
Best Native American Cultural Site
- Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (Collinsville, IL)
- Effigy Mounds National Monument (Harpers Ferry, IA)
- Wyalusing Effigy Mounds (Harpers Ferry, IA)
- Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site (Wickliffe, KY)
- Perrot State Park (Trempealeau, WI)
Best Nature Center
- Nahant Marsh Education Center (Davenport, IA)
- National Eagle Center (Wabasha, MN)
- Nature Institute (Godfrey, IL)
- National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (Dubuque, IA)
- Effigy Mounds National Monument (Harpers Ferry, IA)
Best New Attraction
- Grafton Zipline (Grafton, IL)
- Driftless Area Education And Visitors Center (Lansing, IA)
- Vino Over The Valley (Arcadia, WI)
- Trempealeau Interpretive Path (Trempealeau, WI)
- National Pearl Button Museum (Muscatine, IA)
Best Public Art
- Minneapolis Sculpture Garden (Minneapolis, MN)
- Dickeyville Grotto (Dickeyville, WI)
- Yarn Bombing / The Riverbend Yarnbombers (Alton, IL)
- Public Art in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)
- Wall to Wall Murals (Paducah, KY)
Best Park
- Pere Marquette State Park (Grafton, IL)
- Riverview Park (Hannibal, MO)
- Pikes Peak State Park (McGregor, IA)
- Yellow River State Forest (Harpers Ferry, IA)
- Riverside Park (La Crosse, WI)
Best Preserve
- Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge (Onalaska, WI)
- Pere Marquette State Park (Grafton, IL)
- John M Olin Nature Preserve (Godfrey, IL)
- Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MN)
- Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary (Saint Paul, MN)
Best River Boat Tour
- American Queen
- Mark Twain Riverboat (Hannibal, MO)
- La Crosse Queen (La Crosse, WI)
- Riverboat Twilight (Le Claire, IA)
- Grafton River Tours (Grafton, IL)
Best River Event
- Fair Saint Louis (Louis, MO)
- Port Byron Tug Fest (Port Byron, IL)
- La Crosse Riverfest (La Crosse, WI)
- Potosi Brewfest (Potosi, WI)
- Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival (Clarksdale, MS)
Best Roadside Attraction
- Delta Blues Museum (Clarksdale, MS)
- Grafton Lighthouse (Grafton, IL)
- Dickeyville Grotto (Dickeyville, WI)
- Potosi Brewery (Potosi, WI)
- The Rock in the House (Fountain City, WI)
Best Scenic Overlook
- Lover’s Leap (Hannibal, MO)
- Pikes Peak State Park (McGregor, IA)
- Pere Marquette State Park (Grafton, IL)
- Buena Vista Park (Alma, WI)
- Grandad Bluff (La Crosse, WI)
Best State Park
- Pere Marquette State Park (Grafton, IL)
- Perrot State Park (Trempealeau, WI)
- Yellow River State Forest (Harpers Ferry, IA)
- Wyalusing State Park (Bagley, WI)
- (tie) Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site (Wickliffe, KY) & Wildcat Den State Park (Muscatine, IA)
Best State Trail
- Great River Road
- Mississippi Blues Trail (MS)
- Yellow River State Forest (Harpers Ferry, IA)
- Great River State Park Trail (Onalaska, WI)
- Columbus-Belmont State Park (Columbus, KY)
Best Tour
- Underground Railroad Shuttle Tours (Alton, IL)
- Galena Trolley Tours (Galena, IL)
- Delta Bohemian Tours (Clarksdale, MS)
- Potosi Brewery Tour (Potosi, WI)
- Spook Cave & Campground (McGregor, IA)
Best Visitor Center
- Alton Visitor Center (Alton, IL)
- Effigy Mounds National Monument (Harpers Ferry, IA)
- Gateway to the Blues Museum & Visitor Center (Tunica, MS)
- LeClaire Information Center (LeClaire, IA)
- Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site (Wickliffe, KY)
Best Walking Tour
- Alton Haunted Tours (Alton, IL)
- Galena Main Street Walking Tours with General Grant (Galena, IL)
- Clarksdale Walking App (Clarksdale, MS)
- McGregor Historic Walking Tour (McGregor, IA)
- Columbus-Belmont State Park (Columbus, KY)
Best Wildlife Refuge
- Audubon Center at Riverlands (West Alton, MO)
- Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge (Trempealeau, WI)
- National Eagle Center (Wabasha, MN)
- Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge (Brice Prairie, WI)
- Two River National Wildlife Refuge (Calhoun County, IL)
Best B&B Lodging
- Rockcliffe Mansion (Hannibal, MO)
- Castle La Crosse Bed & Breakfast (La Crosse, WI)
- Jail Hill Inn (Galena, IL)
- Honey Hill Bed and Breakfast (Clarksdale, MS)
- Point of View Bed & Breakfast (Harpers Ferry, IA)
Best Boutique Lodging
- Cracker Factory (Alton, IL)
- The Charmant Hotel (La Crosse, WI)
- Irish Cottage Boutique Hotel (Galena, IL)
- Lofts at the Five & Dime (Clarksdale, MS)
- Historic Trempealeau Hotel (Trempealeau, WI)
Best Cabin
- Pere Marquette State Park (Grafton, IL)
- Shack Up Inn (Clarksdale, MS)
- The Cabin (Trempealeau, WI)
- Pine Point Lodge (Potosi, WI)
- Grumpsters Log Cabins (McGregor, IA)
Best Campground
- Pere Marquette State Park (Grafton, IL)
- Yellow River State Forest (Harpers Ferry, IA)
- Columbus-Belmont State Park (Columbus, KY)
- Grant River Recreation Area (Potosi, WI)
- Perrot State Park (Trempealeau, WI)
Best Farmstay
- Bonne Terre Louisiana (Breaux Bridge, LA)
- Arcadia Farm & Inn (Arcadia, WI)
- Rainbow Ridge Farms (Onalaska, WI)
- Briggs Outdoors (Winona, MN)
Best Glamping
- Camp Holiday Resort and Campground (Deerwood, MN)
Best Hostel
- Little Bluff Inn (Trempealeau, WI)
- Auberge Hostels (New Orleans, LA)
- Old Wilson School (La Crosse, WI)
- Mississippi Headwaters Hostel (Park Rapids, MN)
Best Hotel
- The Charmant Hotel (La Crosse, WI)
- Hotel Julien Dubuque (Dubuque, IA)
- Travelers Hotel (Clarksdale, MS)
- Historic Trempealeau Hotel (Trempealeau, WI)
- The Saint Paul Hotel (Saint Paul, MN)
Best Inn
- Jail Hill Inn (Galena, IL)
- Shack Up Inn (Clarksdale, MS)
- Clarksdale White House (Clarksdale, MS)
- Inn on the River (Trempealeau, WI)
- Little Switzerland Inn (McGregor, IA)
Best Lodge
- Pere Marquette State Park (Grafton, IL)
- Historic Trempealeau Hotel (Trempealeau, WI)
- White Deer Lodge (Arcadia, WI)
- Arrowwood Lodge Baxter (Baxter, MN)
- Kinni Creek Lodge & Outfitters (River Falls, WI)
Best Lodging for Families
- Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark (Dubuque, IA)
- Chestnut Mountain Resort (Galena, IL)
- Best Western on the River (Hannibal, MO)
- The Charmant Hotel (La Crosse, WI)
- Historic Trempealeau Hotel (Trempealeau, WI)
Best Lodging for Romantic Getaway
- The Charmant Hotel (La Crosse, WI)
- Aerie’s Resort & Winery (Grafton, IL)
- Goldmoor Inn (Galena, IL)
- Hotel Julien Dubuque (Dubuque, IA)
- Old Mill Guest House (Le Claire, IA)
Best Luxury Lodging
- The Peabody (Memphis, TN)
- The Charmant Hotel (La Crosse, WI)
- Hotel Julien Dubuque (Dubuque, IA)
- Four Seasons Hotel (St. Louis, MO)
- Jail Hill Inn (Galena, IL)
Best Mom & Pop Accommodations
- Old Jail and Firehouse (McGregor, IA)
- Little Bluff Inn (Trempealeau, WI)
- Potosi Inn (Potosi, WI)
- Carriage House Inn (Stockholm, WI)
- Waller House Inn (Little Falls, MN)
Best Motel
- Inn On the River (Trempealeau, WI)
- Up Town Motor Inn (Clarksdale, MS)
- Best Western (Prairie du Chien, WI)
- Fountain Motel (Fountain City, WI)
- Grandview Motel (Ferryville, WI)
Best Parks to Stay
- Pere Marquette State Park (Grafton, IL)
- Yellow River State Forest (Harpers Ferry, IA)
- Perrot State Park (Trempealeau, WI)
- Natchez State Park (Natchez, MS)
- Itasca State Park (Park Rapids, MN)
Best Resort
- Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa (Galena, IL)
- Aerie’s Resort & Winery (Grafton, IL)
- Grand Harbor (Dubuque, IA)
- Historic Trempealeau Hotel (Trempealeau, WI)
- Monmouth Historic Inn & Gardens (Natchez, MS)
Best Vacation Rental
- Great River Houseboats (Alma, WI)
- (Tie) Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa (Galena, IL) & Galena Territory (Galena, IL)
- Carriage House Inn (Stockholm, WI)
- McGregor Manor (McGregor, IA)
- Iowa Cabin Rentals (Lansing, IA)