[FatherofFive]

And where the countryside and cities one passes are a bit more picturesque. There aren’t any castles or almost vertical hillside vineyards along the Mississippi, and downtown Memphis doesn’t exactly compare all that favorably with Paris or Köln.

Exactly. It will be like driving on the interstate. This is one of the reasons why passenger trains don't work here in the States.

[driftless2]

Depends where you are on the Mississippi. As you get closer to Wisconsin, the bluffs get larger, and it is actually very scenic. No castles though...or vineyards....maybe a few apple orchards.