If you want a burger, you can go to Pete's, which claims to have served famous hamburgers since 1909. If you want some fare from the Mississippi itself, go to The Valley Fish Shop at the corner of Prairie and Iowa streets.

Mike Valley will cook you up some catfish, eel, sturgeon, salmon, turtle and other fish from the river. You can even bring your own catch to him. Valley was recently featured in the Lee Newspapers in the state.

If you want to venture a little farther Beyond Milwaukee, head west over the bridge to Iowa. You'll first come to Marquette, where the Isle of Capri Casino can be found on a docked riverboat.

This writer suggests you continue to head a few miles south to McGregor, a classic river town with quaint shops and friendly people. McGregor's Main Street was recently designated a historic district by the Iowa State Historical Society. You can learn more about Mississippi port towns at portsofdiscovery.com. When in the area, also check out a copy of The Tapestry, a fine monthly publication that features the Upper Mississippi area and culture.

If you want to get away from the "madding crowd," rent a canoe, paddleboat, pontoon or a boat and motor at Willie & Nellie's Place on St. Feriole Island or one of the many other boat rentals places in the general area, and explore the Mississippi. Several state parks are accessible on either side of the river. You'll find some of the best fishing in the country. Bird watchers and photographers also can have a field day.

As big as the Rendezvous has become, the Grand Excursion next year should draw even more attention. The event will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the original Grand Excursion of 1854, which brought worldwide attention to what was then America's wild frontier.

The Grand Flotilla, the largest steamboat flotilla in 100 years, will journey through four states from the Quad Cities to the Twin Cities from June 25 to July 5, 2004. The flotilla will stop in Prairie on June 29 next year. You can find out more at 222.grandexcursion.com.