Today I’m talking about our trip we made to Hannibal, MO for our babymoon over a 3-day weekend. I’m sharing all the sights, food, and fun activities we discovered in this historic town on the river.
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In early August, we packed our bags and headed three hours away to a small town in Missouri. Historic Hannibal, MO is right on the mighty Mississippi River, known for its hustle and bustle since the 1800s when it was a main docking port for boats traveling the Mississippi. It is also known as the home of famous author Mark Twain, with the town itself inspiring many characters and settings in his writing.
Today, it is a popular attraction for tourists wanting a small taste of history and a little bit of adventure.
When we visited, we left on a Friday morning and headed home on Sunday afternoon. We were looking for somewhere affordable to visit for a weekend before our baby arrives.
I am so happy we decided to travel when we did. September is going to be a busy month, and I also did not want to travel in the last month of pregnancy either. I wanted to be safe, comfortable, and cozy in our own abode and not leave far from home during this time.
When we visited Hannibal, we were able to explore lots of shops and enjoyed a ghost tour the very first evening. The next day we explored the town by trolley, had fun in Mark Twain Cave, dined out, and had time for an afternoon movie at the theater. On our last day there we took a scenic tour of the Mississippi River on a steamboat before heading home.
We were also fortunate to have a reservation booked for a room at a bed and breakfast just on the outskirts of town on a beautiful property. It was located very close to town, but it was more private than some other B&B’s in the area. We were surrounded by lovely country scenery.
Hannibal, MO
Restaurants | hannibal mo
We absolutely loved the food here in Hannibal, MO. There were also plenty of options for me as a vegetarian. Most places were fairly easy to find a decent meal at. (By decent meal, I mean a meal that is not just fries and a side salad–no one wants that to be their only option while on vacation and trying out new restaurants.)
My husband really wanted to try the Mark Twain Dinette which is famous for their Maid Rite sandwiches (essentially, a dry sloppy joe). I loved eating at The Brick Oven, personally. They have lots of pasta and pizza dishes and the salad is phenomenal. We both enjoyed the gelato at Chocolaterie Stam, too.
Bed & Breakfast | hannibal mo
We stayed at the Garth Woodside Mansion nestled on the most gorgeous property. The room we stayed in was the Oden Rogers–it was full of Victorian charm. The colors and style were true to the time period and full of so much character. Complete with a fireplace, our own bathroom, and a roomy canopy bed, we felt right at home. Staying here was a luxury.
After a long day of driving, exploring, and walking we were happy to have free roam over the property. The grounds are beautiful, with a huge wraparound porch with stunning views, a patio for lounging, and more.
We enjoyed a full, hot breakfast (made with special accommodations to my husband’s allergies and my vegetarian diet) in the sunny breakfast room each morning. This was splendid because we didn’t have to leave the property to get some food in our bellies. We dined on quiche, muffins, fruit, salad, avocado toast, scrambled eggs, juice and coffee between both days.
Mark Twain Cave | hannibal mo
AJ knew he wanted to explore some of the caves while we visited Hannibal. Since we weren’t doing a lot of outdoor hiking exploration due to the heat and my being pregnant, we thought this would be a fun and much cooler activity to partake in.
The guided tour only lasted an hour, but it was absolutely amazing. I love the spooky vibes of caves and hearing about all the history. We loved getting to learn about the rocks and history of different explorers’ experiences through the caves. I would highly recommend this activity if you’re visiting Hannibal anytime soon.
Trolley Tour
One of the first things we did when we got to town was enjoy a tour of the entire place. I thought this was smart so we’d have a better idea about the layout of the town before exploring by foot. Plus, trolleys are just fun. We heard lots of facts about the town and had all the main points of interest pointed out to us. This was so helpful as we learned of some places we hadn’t found online. Seeing some of this helped us fill in free time between activities which was very welcomed.
Haunted Hannibal Ghost Tour | hannibal mo
We were really pleased with the ghost tour through historic Hannibal and the local cemetery. Lots of history on the darker past of the town with the opportunity to get out of the van to explore and investigate a bit. I was very glad it wasn’t a walking tour since it’s been a hot summer. I definitely appreciated that since I’m nearly in the third trimester. My husband really enjoyed the ghost hunt in the old, haunted cemetery. The route explores multiple locations throughout town, including the old jail, an old Catholic Church, historic mansions and B&B’s, and even a restaurant.
Riverboat Tour
On our last day, before heading home, we decided to take a scenic tour of the Mississippi on the Mark Twain Riverboat. We love getting out on the water during vacations and this was a great way to relax and see some beautiful sights. A wonderful tour of the river and Hannibal were given from the water and we got so many pictures to keep of this outing.
Shops | hannibal mo
Some of my favorite shops I’d recommend are: Dutch Country General Store, Mississippi Marketplace, and Savannah’s. These places offer foods, knickknacks, and souvenirs that are practical and aesthetic that are perfect for bringing home from a weekend getaway.
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I’m so happy you did this trip and it looks beautiful there. Now I want to go!