A Twain-Inspired Girls’ Getaway to Hannibal, Missouri

Hannibal, Missouri, is both quaint and historical. It owes the latter to its former resident, American author Mark Twain. Many of his best-known stories were centered around this Midwest town.

This city is so ideal for a girls’ getaway; I did it twice. It’s easy to get lost in the author’s world as you see Twain’s story told in museums, statues, and on a riverboat heading down his beloved Mississippi.

The Basics

Hannibal is just about two hours northwest of St. Louis Lambert International Airport. There is also an airport 30 minutes away in Quincy, Illinois. If you are driving, it’s about four hours from Chicago.

I travel in a wheelchair and found Hannibal to be extremely accessible. There were few places I couldn’t get into and there were plenty of curb cuts so I could comfortably travel through the streets when we were going someplace within “walking” distance.

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About the Author

Mark Twain was an American author and travel writer who was born in 1835 in Florida and then moved with his family to Hannibal. He is best remembered for writing The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain’s real name was Samuel Clemens.

Many of the characters in his books can be associated with childhood friends and acquaintances. While the names have been changed, it all becomes clear after a visit to Hannibal.

Clemens was also known for his sense of humor, and he incorporated a lot of it into his novels. Many of his quotes have survived the test of time and you will find them along the halls of the museums and on restaurant walls.

Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.
Mark Twain

Interactive Experience at Boyhood Home

The Mark Twain Boyhood Home is located on a pedestrian street that recreates the town at the time Samuel Clemens was growing up there. It shows where he lived with his family, where he went to school with his friends, and where his father, Attorney John Clemens, had his law office.

As you go through the interpretive center and other buildings, it becomes clear that Samuel Clemens is Tom Sawyer in the books. You’ll also learn about his friends, including Laura Hawkins and Tom Blankenship, believed to be the characters of Becky Thatcher and Huckleberry Finn.

Within the Mark Twain Boyhood Home complex, you can also explore the Becky Thatcher House and Huckleberry Finn House. An interactive museum tells you more about how the characters evolved and the history of the time, including slavery.

I was surprised to find out that the Clemens family had a slave and did not see that it was a problem. In later years, the author would continue to apologize for not understanding that it was wrong to condone slavery.

Don’t Miss These Attractions

While the Mark Twain Boyhood Home is the star attraction, there are many other places to see in Hannibal. During my two trips, I was able to see it all at least once. I found the riverboat to be very informative and I loved the scenery of the Mississippi River.

• At the Mark Twain Museum, you will see many different artifacts from and about the author. I especially enjoyed the artwork created by Norman Rockwell depicting the characters of Mark Twain. Many of these were used on the covers of Life magazine and The Saturday Evening Post.
  
• The Mark Twain Cave is another historic spot. It takes you through what Becky and Tom experienced in the cave in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. The cave is the oldest in Missouri and the tour is guided and well-lit.
  
• Take a ride on the Mark Twain Riverboat. All of the voyages included a guided tour of the river and some include lunch or dinner.
  
• The Hannibal History Museum goes beyond the Mark Twain connection to this Missouri city. It includes information about its part in the Civil War, production of lumber, and Gilded Age, when the Victorian mansions here were in abundance.
  
• Rockcliffe Mansion is another historic site in Hannibal. It’s on a limestone bluff and is magnificent inside and out. Tours are available. It’s also now a bed and breakfast.
  
•  If you are interested in the supernatural, visit the Haunted House and Wax Museum and take the Haunted Hannibal Tour.
  
• The show Mark Twain Himself is a lot of fun. It’s hard to believe that the performer isn’t Mark Twain. You’ll hear him read some of Twain’s quotes and passages. The readings are different in every show.
  
  

  

• Before you leave town, take a ride to Lovers Leap. From there, make a stop at the Mark Twain Lighthouse, which was dedicated on the 100th birthday of the author. Although I was unable to go up this in a wheelchair, my friend did and said the view was spectacular along the Mississippi River.
  
• For kids of all ages, check out Big River Train Town and Karlock’s Kars and Pop Culture.

Can’t Miss Food & Drink

The obvious place to start your culinary journey in Hannibal is at the Mark Twain Dinette. You’ll find the usual diner eggs, burgers, and sandwiches, but it’s worth a trip for their homemade root beer alone. Of course, it’s even better with ice cream for a float. You can even make it a boozy treat.

Labinmah, which reversed spells Hannibal, is a European style bistro that looks a lot like the Paris cafes I’ve visited. You’ll love the artwork, but the food is even more special, with Mediterranean treats such as Dolmas and Baba Ghanoush, to Côtelettes d’agneau,a French style Lamb Chop. Don’t forget the house-made Baklava.

Rustic Oak Grill & Pub is a casual local favorite. Their specialty is Jack Daniels Pork Chops, but they also have many other items, including steaks, pasta, and sandwiches. Even though they are in Missouri, they got the Wisconsin cheese curds just right.

Cave Hollow West Winery offers some terrific wines, available in a large tasting area or outside on the relaxing patio. Be sure to try An Innocent Broad. While you are there, also pick up some of their cave-aged cheese to go with the wine.

Spend the Night

I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Hannibal. The rooms were large enough for three of us (I took two friends on my first trip to Hannibal, and one other on the second). They have wheelchair accessible rooms and a large breakfast buffet.

The city has a vast selection of hotels for all budgets. For something more fitting with history, there are also bed & breakfasts. Rockville Mansion is one that offers accommodations.