The Mississippi River: Heart of the QC by Melissa Church

Some call it the Mighty Mississippi but we call it home. The Mississippi River bridges Iowa and Illinois, creating each state’s unique shapes, but also bringing each side closer together. In the Quad Cities, the Mississippi River is an integral part of our community. Bringing citizens outside to explore, strengthening neighborly bonds, and creating picturesque landscapes; the Mississippi River is the heart of the Quad Cities.

2,350 miles of a majority south-flowing current, the Quad Cities is the only area where the current flows east to west. That’s no problem for the nearly 12,000 ships that use the river to transport goods, agriculture, and people, across it. A great way to get on the river is on a river cruise. The Celebration Belle features dining and sightseeing cruises alongside their narrated tours and themed events. The Twilight Riverboat takes you on a journey north for sightseeing and overnight stays. The Channel Cat Water Taxi connects cities and states, ferrying guests between ports on both sides of the Mississippi. Sailing alongside local riverboats are Viking and American Cruise Lines. These ships bring visitors from all over the world to our region. Another way to ride the river is Floatzilla. Grab your kayak and float with hundreds of others as they all experience the bond the river brings to the Quad Cities. 

There are other ways to enjoy the Mississippi River outside of sailing. With the Quad Cities’ four distinct seasons, there is always something fun to do along the shore. Each side hosts beautiful paths to walk, then stop to enjoy the glistening lights shining off the river’s surface. Miles of riverfront trails take you through parks, hills, wetlands, and woodlands, to showcase the diversity of life neighboring the river. Slow it down with a picnic, searching for the perfect fall foliage, making snow angels, or painting the colors each season brings to the Quad Cities.

I grew up in the desert, far from the Quad Cities. Moving here in January, I was greeted by snow-covered lawns, bundled-up children, and the Mississippi River frozen in place. Crossing the Centennial Bridge, I saw a postcard-perfect scene: snowflakes twinkling as they fell, icy trees glistening from the night before.

Driving along the Great River Road, I admired the Mississippi’s strength and beauty, unaware of how it would soon shape my life. I met my future husband along its shores, got married by its banks, and taught my daughter to bike along its levees.

The river is our family’s backdrop, a source of memories and connection. Life flows from water, and here in the Quad Cities, the Mississippi is our heartbeat—binding us, shaping us, and making this place home.

Let the Quad Cities Destination Guide inspire your visit to this must-experience Mississippi River destination