You know about the paddlewheelers on the Mississippi but did you know there is also one on the Columbia/Snake River visiting Oregon and Washington State – here is the itinerary map below which follows along some of the Lewis & Clark Trail
I sailed on this wonderful itinerary onboard the American Empress sailing from Portland Oregon to Clarkston Washington. The landscape was ever changing and I was able to capture some stunning photos. This one of Multnomah falls is a favorite.
There is just something mesmerizing about watching a paddlewheel go around and around. Combine that with wonderful food, places to visit, people to meet adds up to a terrific trip. Most of the shore excursions were included and were very similar to a hop on hop off type where you could spend some time at each stop.
Here is a video of my trip on the American Empress:
In addition to the paddlewheelers on the Mississippi, the newest trend from both American Cruise Lines and Viking River Cruise Lines is to bring the European-like ship experience to the North American waters. Here is a quick 1 minute video showing Vikings new ship that will be launched in 2022
