GREAT RIVER GAZETTE:
A Look at the Upcoming 2008 Season 

The Julia Belle Swain will begin another season of operations from La Crosse, WI in early June of 2008. Our home port and ports of call consist of some of the most scenic and historic cities on the entire Upper Mississippi River, the primary origin of our cruises.

La Crosse, WI, was a steamboat destination as early as 1823, and became a city in 1856. Located at the convergence of three rivers, it offers an abundance of historic homes, museums, and antique and specialty shops in the beautifully restored downtown area adjacent to the levee. Our vessel steams out on cruises throughout the week, from June through mid-October. We offer a varied schedule consisting of lunch and dinner trips, Sunday breakfasts, charters (weddings, receptions, reunions, etc.) and Day Trips. Motorcoach Groups and corporate activities are especially welcome. Entertaining theme cruises are our specialty.

 
Our northbound schedule includes excursions to Winona and Wabasha, MN, historic riverfront cities of great charm. Optional shore programs offer visits to local landmarks, with great shopping and sightseeing. You can enjoy the fine architecture, the delightful Marine Art Museum, and the panoramic view from Garvin Heights in Winona, and visit the wonderful National Eagle Center in Wabasha. There's nightlife and gaming at Treasure Island Casino in nearby Red Wing and we'll get you there if that's your desire. You can also come with us downriver to Prairie du Chien, WI, the second-oldest city in Wisconsin and a treasure trove of historic pleasures. Sightseeing opportunities include museums and the famous Villa Louis Victorian Mansion and grounds, only yards away from where the Julia Belle Swain docks at St. Feriole Island. Gaming and nightly entertainment are easily accessible across the bridge at the Isle of Capri, and we can set you up. As an added treat, on the southbound journey from La Crosse to Prairie du Chien, we often provide an intermediate stopover in Lansing, IA, where you can check out the little shops and galleries on Main Street before we resume our journey. And several times a season, we continue on even further south to Dubuque, IA, where the Julia Belle Swain was built and where we enjoy renewing our acquaintances with that scenic area. Take in the amazing National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, and all the historic sights in this great River city.  All of these day trips, northbound or southbound, will involve the unforgettable adventure locking through several times on the famous lock & dam system of the Mississippi River.

This season we will dock at our alternate ports a number of times, and we will usually offer cruises from that city during our stay. We try to incorporate the fun of local festivities into our visits. Our special extended cruises for 2008 are being finalized at this time: two five-day trips to Dubuque (in June and September) and a four-day trip to Wabasha in October.

 
As the only steamboat residing on the Upper Mississippi, we are delighted to have the opportunity of showing off our local beauty to the rest of the world. Whether we’re going upstream or downstream, our cruises glide past the majestic towering bluffs of one of the most picturesque sections of the Upper Mississippi River. As we chug along at a leisurely pace of seven to ten miles per hour, passengers have the luxury of enjoying the scenery and river activities along the route. 

Cruise the river while you enjoy narratives on river history, excellent live music, or simply relax in the sun. Remember that Day Cruises always include shuttle transportation back to your city of origin, or an optional land package including comfortable accommodations in first-class hotel properties, with dining and sightseeing available as well.

Advanced reservations are required and space is limited. Please contact our office to book your reservation. 

What’s happening?

We will update this section frequently, as we finalize arrangements for special theme cruises, annual events, and unique adventures.

Let's start with Special Events in June:

- On Friday, June 6, we will host the Midwest Riverboat Buffs, a group that certainly appreciates the authenticity of the Julia Belle Swain! Our own Lee Havlik will entertain with his rousing banjo and guitar music, plus great vocals (both cover tunes and his own intriguing compositions) and non-stop patter.

- Saturday, June 7: Hop on board with the famed Irish duo, Switchback, and some of their delightful fans and fellow musicians. Marty and Brian take their show on the road to Ireland several times a year, and we are pleased and flattered that they now visit the Julia Belle Swain every year, too. We welcome the chance to show off our boat and river their fans from across the country.

-June 11 will feature old-fashioned polkas and waltzes during a dinner cruise at 6 PM. Come join us if you want to spend a nostalgic evening with a great meal and a relaxing atmosphere.

- On June 16, we depart on  one of the UWL-Elderhostel annual 5-day cruises to Dubuque. This is an exciting adventure that offers dramatic opportunities to see the river and its history in ways you'd never expect: through music, sightseeing, visiting authors and performers of all sorts. It's always heavily booked, so if you're interested in tagging along for a day or two - or for the entire five days - call us soon!

- June 23 is a "Meet the Artist" cruise. We travel from La Crosse to Winona with several local artists on board. They will have their work available for enjoyment and for sale, plus they will demonstrate their techniques, and do sketches/portraits on the spot. Combine this with good food and live music and you have a memorable way to spend a day on the River. Plus we'll shuttle you back to La Crosse.

- June 25 is the return portion of the Winona trip, and it is scheduled to be a Cajun Delight. Chef Tim Hall will be on board to share his delicious Cajun recipes - and to sign his delicious cookbook, too. We'll have real Cajun music to heighten the atmosphere. Guaranteed fun! And of course a shuttle for the folks who board in Winona.

- Now from June 26 through June 29, we will be offering a series of special cruises to celebrate the 50th anniversary of S & S Cycles, a premier company which designs custom parts for discerning motorcyclists and their suppliers across the country - indeed, around the world. Each day will start with a Breakfast Cruise, followed by Lunch, Sightseeing, Happy Hour, Cajun Dinner, and a Starlight Cruise to finish the day. VIP Special Guests will be on board many of these cruises, and you will have the opportunity of meeting some pretty dynamic, even famous, folks!  We anticipate many thousands of bikers from all over to be in the area for this first annual gathering, and we look forward to showing off our beautiful scenery and our unbeatable hospitality.

Great entertainment will continue to be part of the steamboat tradition. We will offer a variety of musicians and performers this season. Along with guitarists, pianists, and jazz combos, we will have traditional banjo-pickin’, some old-time polka and waltzes, plus lively steam calliope concerts. Big Daddy Cade will bring his incomparable B.B. King show aboard when we're in the mood for some real blues; we'll invite Colin O'Brien back with his John Hartford show when we want to celebrate the unique relationship between that great musician and our boat; Helen Hoskins. Mary Low, and Linda Manning will be here with their wonderfully extended repertoire of piano and calliope music, as they have been since we started our operation here in La Crosse; The Marion City Swing Band will bring their 17-piece Big Band sound to the annual Saturday night Red Carpet Dinner in Prairie du Chien on August 2; and that's just the pre-season listing of our performers. Some of our crew members - see Lee Havlik and his famous banjo! - are also talented musicians, and this is a delightful bonus to their fine services on board. Once again, the Historical Society will join us with presentations and reenactments a regular part of our cruises. Special projects now in the works include a program celebrating the history of music on the River, involving theatre, music, and community participation. We'll have several book-signings with local authors - history, cookbooks, personal adventures - and some more cruises with an "artist or two on board" - painters, photographers, and designers to meet and mingle with. More than ever, we have variety and excitement to offer our happy passengers.

Gift certificates are available for any of our cruises, and make wonderful presents for family, friends, and business associates. Simply call our office and we will have your arrangements made, complete with gift card or other special service, in no time at all.

Our kitchen staff looks forward to spoiling you again this season. Our home-cooked entrees are always very popular, and contribute to the ambiance of down-home comfort provided by all our crew members. Menus and arrangements for our charters, weddings, and business events are guaranteed special because of our flexibility and willingness to please each individual client.

Consider the Julia Belle Swain as a backdrop to your special occasion. We can customize any event from start to finish. A harpist for your wedding? German food and music for your senior citizen group? Forties-theme music for your class reunion? Ask us – we'll be happy to arrange it!

The business office and gift shop at 227 Main Street in downtown La Crosse is open year-round, and offers a good selection of gifts, souvenirs, and river-oriented art. We have recently become a gallery for the La Crosse Arts and Crafts Society and feature revolving displays of local artists' work.  Now there's always something new and interesting on our walls as well as on our shelves. Call or stop in soon.

 
The Julia Belle Swain Steamboat’s management and crew take pleasure in providing this newsletter for your enjoyment. Please write or call us at any time for more information: The Great River Steamboat Company, 227 Main Street, La Crosse, WI 54601. Call 1-800-815-1005 or if in the La Crosse area 1-608-784-4882  You may also email us at:  info@juliabelle.com