There’s a way to travel a stretch of western Wisconsin that you might not have heard of. The Celebration Belle, a Quad Cities-based riverboat, takes travelers on a three-day excursion from the far southwest corner of the state up to historic Prairie du Chien. It’s a trip like no other and it’s an incredibly scenic and timeless way to see a side of Wisconsin that few get to experience. Here’s what you can see on the Celebration Belle.

The boat is a 750-passenger paddlewheel that’s specifically designed to navigate the waters of the Mississippi River. It looks like it's from the 1800s, but it was actually built in 1986 by Patti Shipbuilding of Pensacola.
Facebook / Celebration Belle
The Celebration Belle is based in the Quad Cities. It also offers trips around Iowa and Illinois.
Facebook / Celebration Belle
The Wisconsin excursion departs from Dubuque, which has a long history as a river town. On the first day of the cruise, the Celebration Belle will take you about 60 miles upriver to Prairie du Chien. All meals are included on the boat, and there’s also entertainment on board.
Facebook / Celebration Belle

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The boat company takes care of everything – in Praire du Chien, you’ll ride an arranged shuttle to a nearby hotel.
Facebook / Celebration Belle
The second day of the trip is spent exploring Prairie du Chien, including Fort Crawford Museum, which chronicles the history of the fort that stood guard over the city from from 1816 until 1856.
Facebook / Fort Crawford Museum
The scenic and relaxing return trip takes you back down river. It’s about an eight-hour cruise, and it travels through some gorgeous stretches of river country.
Facebook / Celebration Belle

People travel as far as 1,000 miles to take a trip on the Celebration Belle. It even once hosted the king and queen of Sweden! Learn more about the Wisconsin excursion and other Mississippi River trips here. If you can’t swing a three-day cruise, upriver in La Crosse, there’s another riverboat that serves passengers pizza on the water!

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Prairie du Chien, WI 53821, USA