Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1481670
O P T I O N A L S H O R E E X C U R S I O N S O N Y O U R J O U R N E Y F O R T M A D I S O N , U S A J O H N D E E R E H A R V ES T E R WO R K S , I L L I N O I S , U S A L A CROSSE QUEEN STEAM BOAT La Crosse Queen is a replica of a 19th- centur y paddle wheeler and it will take you on a 1.5-hour cruise along one of the most scenic stretches of the Upper Mississippi. Keep your eye out for eagles and other wildlife as your captain shares stories about your surroundings and the histor y of steamboating. IOWA FARM VISIT & JOHN DEERE HARVESTER WORKS Meet a local farming family, explore their farm and hear about the daily work required to raise Jersey cows, beef cat tle and hogs. Later, visit the John Deere Har vester Work s — a fac tor y where large farm machiner y is manufac tured, including trac tors and har vesters. L A CROSSE FISHING ADVENTURE Go fishing in an angler's paradise — the Upper Mississippi region, home to more than 120 fish species. Your experienced guide will take you to where the Mississippi sprawls well beyond its main channel, creating hundreds of tiny islands, distributaries and deep pools. Get ready to catch walleye, sauger, bass, blue catfish, perch and more. OLD FORT MADISON Established in 1808, For t Madison was the first permanent US militar y for tification on the Upper Mississippi. Learn about the for t's dramatic histor y during the War of 1812 and the impac t it had on the set tlement of the Louisiana Purchase. Hear stories of native chief tains, set tlers and soldiers, and see the for t's cemeter y and other ar tefac ts. FL AVOURS OF THE MIDWEST Tour the Park side Brewing Company's facilities and sample their unique range of craf t brews, from light wheat beers to full-bodied por ters. Nex t, visit Lindon Wines, a company that uses only Iowa- farmed grapes to produce their wines. Later, tour the Wildlife Lakes Elk Farm before sit ting down to a delicious, locally sourced lunch. NATIONAL BLUES MUSEUM At this acclaimed interac tive museum, a local ar tist will introduce you to the sounds of blues while explaining the displays of rare instruments, photos and memorabilia. A s you connec t the dots bet ween the blues and other genres like R&B, rock 'n' roll, countr y and funk, you will gain a deeper appreciation of them all. 178 For complete itinerary details and videos, visit viking.com/rivers