Rediscover the American West; Follow the route of Lewis and Clark on the Columbia and Snake River.

Experience the rich and colorful history of the American West on a fascinating weeklong voyage.  Sailing on one of four intimate cruise vessels, explore the entire navigable length of the Columbia and Snake rivers, from the crashing waves of the Columbia River Bar on the Pacific Ocean all the way to the jagged cliffs of Hells Canyon on the borders of Oregon and Idaho.  Along the way you’ll discover traces of earlier inhabitants; centuries-old petroglyphs carved on canyon walls and cavalry forts built in the frontier day of the 1800’s.

This 1,000-mile adventure begins and ends in Portland, Oregon.  On the first evening, you’ll cruise up the Willamette River toward Oregon City, the original end of the Oregon Trail.  You’ll also get your first taste of the outstanding cuisine, which takes full advantage of the Pacific Northwest’s best fresh specialties.

The next morning you’ll awake to the splendor of the Columbia River Gorge, a national scenic area that slices through the Cascade Mountains.  You’ll transit the locks of eight different dams, stopping to tour the Bonneville Dam.

After a leisurely day of river cruising under the bluffs of the Snake River and the rolling Palouse, you’ll board a large jet boat for an exhilarating excursion into Hells Canyon, the deepest gorge in North America.  This is the real Wild West— complete with spectacular whitewater rapids, Nez Perce Indian trails and historic ranch sites.

Other tour highlights include the historic Whitman Mission, site of an 1847 massacre on the Oregon Trail, a rail excursion through the lush apple and pear orchards below snowcapped Mt. Hood, a stop in cannon Beach, a winery tour and a visit to the maritime community of Astoria.

Give the experts at James TravelPOINTS a call 1-800-274-0436, www.travelpoints.com 

If you’ve ever thought about packing up the car and driving hundreds of miles to view fall foliage, we have a better idea: Let someone else take the wheel — the pilot’s wheel — and travel the rivers of America’s heartland aboard an old-fashioned paddlewheeler.

This fall, the steamboats Delta Queen, Mississippi Queen and American Queen are all offering Fall Foliage vacations — allowing you to experience the spectacular scenery of the Mississippi river, the rolling hills and manicured farmland of the Ohio Valley or the serene beauty of the Cumberland, Tennessee and Illinois rivers at one of the best times of the year.

A naturalist accompanies all Fall Foliage cruises, offering onboard lectures and pointing out the flora and fauna along the riverbanks.  Passengers have a “front row” view from the decks of the steamboats, and may borrow binoculars at no charge for even closer viewing.

Fall Foliage cruises on the three steamboats travel between St. Louis and St. Paul, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, Memphis and Nashville, Nashville and Cincinnati, and St. Louis and Cincinnati.  Most of the cruises are five or seven nights.  Pre- or post-cruise hotel stays are offered in all cities to give you additional time to explore America at the prettiest time of the year.  Cruise fares include four wonderful meals a day, award-winning entertainment, nightly dancing and port charges.  For more details call our cruise experts today, J

Looking for a Vacation that’s pure Americana?  Try Steamboatin’!  Come discover Mark Twain’s America…on board an authentic paddlewheel steamboat!

A Steamboatin’ vacation blends every element desired by the discerning traveler — comfortable and charming accommodations, award winning entertainment, the palate-pleasing pleasures of superb cuisine, and the meticulous attention of an all-American crew.

Beyond outstanding first-class amenities, Steamboatin’ also offers delightfully diversified pleasures.  The fun of meeting people from all over the country; the joy of making new friends; the excitement of exploring quaint rivertowns; the thrill of traveling along America’s great rivers; the tranquility of watching the sunset on the river; the romance of a moonlight stroll on deck; and the reward of pure relaxation.  From brisk early morning walks to late nights in the lounge, Steamboatin’ day are filled with fun and excitement.

Like a giant tree, Old Man River stretches its branches north, south, east and west, and for nearly three thousand miles along its course the landscapes eventually make a dramatic shift from craggy bluffs and deep woods to sleepy bayous and white sandy beaches.  And while man has left his mark in many places the rivers are just as they were when Native Americans plied them in birchbark canoes and when pioneers ventured froth in keelboats and flatboats.  To travel by water and gaze at the shore is always enjoyable, but on a Steamboatin’ vacation, you’ll be gazing at America’s heartland.  From her pristine, natural beauty to her bustling industry, you’ll see it all unfold before you.

It’s an unhurried, carefree world, where you’ll feel refreshed in spirit, and physically renewed.  No matter which cruise you choose Explore the Mississippi, Columbia and Snake rivers or Alaska, every moment will be memorable on the floating palaces, it’s a cruise that’s as unique as the steamboats themselves.  So come on along, experience Steamboatin’ for yourself, James TravelPOINTS cruise experts to answer all your questions 1-800-538-7461/303 442-2340, www.travelpoints.com.

Exploring the undiscovered wonders of Eastern Europe was a great way to relax and have Europe come to us.  And here is my, Toni Barnett of James TravelPOINTS experience.

The 5-Star MV Frederic Chopin is a beautiful vessel with original works of art and great attention to detail.  The lounge was a perfect place to enjoy a drink and good company before dinner, and in the evening entertainment on the Piano.  We also had the pleasure of enjoying Opera and a fun night of Chantey tunes on the accordion.  We spent as much time as possible on the sun deck enjoying beautiful scenery, reading a good book and conversing with the international passengers.  I will always remember the mist of the river with the glow of the moon as we sipped champagne on the deck.  And oh the food…Deilmann Cruises is known for its exceptional cuisine, the service was just as grand as the food.

We traveled on the Upper Oder into the Baltic Sea, visiting Eastern Germany and a stop in Poland.  Small ports, lovely countryside and Bath Resorts were on our agenda.

The Oberbruch of Germany a marsh area from which the hand of man created fertile arable land, meadows, dikes and river stimulated the imagination with its beauty in every direction.  We also took in the former Cistercian Monastery of Chorin.

Our stop in Poland was the city of Stettin (Sczcecin) a major port even though it is more than 40 miles from sea, it serves both ocean going vessels and river traffic.  Stettin was the capital of Pomeranian duchy and in 1673-1713 was overrun by the Swedes (a similar situation in other cities we visited).   The city was severely damaged during World War II; post-war restoration has been confined to its more important structures such as the Castle and several Baroque buildings.

Stralsund, Germany a beautiful Hanseatic town with remarkable examples of architecture, it is currently an UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The old Market Square affords the best view of the filigree façade of the town hall, beyond the vast edifice of St. Michael’s church.

Peenemünde (on the Island of Usedom) this interesting stop is where Werher von Braun and thousands of other scientists laid the foundations for space flight.  The launching-site of the world’s first major rocket, which reached outer space in 1942 and a model of the V2 rocket, can be found here.  Braun and many other scientists where later wooed to the United States where they were responsible for the Apollo missions.

Pat Jeske is a travel consultant at James TravelPOINTS and has been chosen by American Express as a River and Barge Cruise expert. 

After a couple of exhilarating days in Amsterdam, we embarked MS AMADAGIO, our home for the next two weeks, and began the journey down the Rhine River.  Cologne (Köln) was our first glimpse of Germany’s Rhineland with the twin spires of its enormous Gothic cathedral.  Sailing towards Rüdesheim we passed dozens of ancient castles, all rich in history and easily viewed from the sundeck of our 150 passenger ship.

Miltenberg and Wertheim are charming neighboring villages with narrow cobblestone streets, and classic half-timber houses.  Wertheim is famous for glassblowing, and we were treated to a demonstration by a 5^th generation craftsman. The city of Würzburg is a highlight of the Rhine Valley with its elegant Residenz, the baroque palace, home to Franconia’s prince-bishops.  We visited Nuremberg, with its storybook 900 year-old ramparts, Imperial Castle and Justice Palace where the War Tribunals sat in 1946.

We finally reached the Danube River in the Bavarian town of Regensburg, where we enjoyed a walking tour guided by an ex-pat from St Louis who has been teaching at the university for 20 years.  After strolling the winding cobblestone streets, crossing the stone bridges and absorbing the old world feel, we understood why he’s still there!

The Danube soon led us into Austria.  We visited the extraordinary Melk Benedictine abbey situated atop a cliff, enjoyed local apricot brandy in Dürnstein, and then sailed into the capital, Vienna.  St. Stephan cathedral was spectacular, as were the young Lipizzan horses of the renowned Spanish Riding School.  On one special evening we were blessed with a private performance by the world famous Vienna Boys Choir, who charmed us with songs from around the world.

After a short visit to enticing Bratislava, we moored in Budapest which was once two cities, Buda and Pest,  one on each side of the Danube, until they were united by an enormous stone bridge in the late 1800’s.  Buildings and bridges along the river are lit up at night, giving Budapest a magical, inviting essence.  Modern boulevards, intriguing side streets, and romantic riverside walkways make Budapest a dynamic city and the final mooring for our two-week river cruise adventure.  

Pat Jeske, River and Barge Expert 1-800 549-2575/303 444-2799