Hannibal

For many, us included, you cannot get the real flavor of a destination without including visits to some of the local restaurants. Hannibal, Missouri has a distinct connection with the "Mighty Mississippi", so we certainly wanted to experience the river town tastes that can be found there. Obviously, we would want some variety  and knew that we would be dedicating our time to the downtown section of town. It is worth noting that our visit to Hannibal allowed us plenty of sights and tastes all within walking distance of their historic district. Mark Twain Dinette Driving into Hannibal from the north, one of [...]

Hannibal, Missouri is known far and wide for its connection to Samuel Clemens. Many of you know him best by his pen name of Mark Twain. His stories reflect the life and struggles of growing up in a river town in the mid-1800s. While many of his tales are based on moments and memories from his life, there are hidden history stories that are less well known. During our visit, we had the fortune to hear some of these stories and walk the sites where they may have occurred. This experience helped us feel like we were drawn into one of Twain's tales. [...]

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is an American classic that has been cherished by readers for generations. From its first publication, in 1876, this adventure into childhood has captured the imagination of Mark Twain fans. As we had already discovered, Samuel Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain) was a master of drawing from life, when creating his memorable characters. Tom Sawyer was one of his greatest accomplishments, as it appealed to a broad base of readers. While the youth find the exciting adventures captivating, adult readers will have moments of nostalgia for the days of their own youth. This particular tale brings to life Becky [...]

The cars we drive say a lot about us, and it is interesting to see how they have changed over the generations. We are sure the early automobile builders never imagined how much cars would change over time. Each new model seems to bring breakthroughs in comfort, style, and luxury. Of course, there are many who yearn for the autos of yesteryear, which brings a bit of nostalgia with them. During a visit to Hannibal, we stopped by Karlock's Kars to get a peek at some classics from days gone by. What we found was more than just a garage filled with automobiles, [...]

The mere mention of the town of Hannibal, Missouri evokes images of Mark Twain. It seems his iconic identity goes hand-in-hand with this river town. Most of us have grown up on the literary works of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, who penned the books we read in school. The characters he created kept us entertained with their riveting adventures. Many of the people in his books were fashioned from citizens he had known during his youth. One that stands out from the rest is Jim, the African-American slave of Miss Watson, who is a character in the "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". During our Hannibal [...]

Who was Samuel Langhorne Clemens? It has been noted that he was one of the greatest American humorists. Of course, there are many who upon hearing that name, are left with a puzzled gaze. When the name Mark Twain is mentioned, then they immediately picture the white suit and gray haired author. Still others, who have done a deeper dive into the writer's work, see the tie between this Missouri native and the character of Tom Sawyer. Clearly, Clemens was a man of many names. We want to thank the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum for hosting our visit. Rest assured all [...]