Cape Girardeau has a new Mississippi River Tales Mural.Comprised of 24 panels that depict scenes from the town’s history and connection with the Mississippi

River, it is painted on the 1,100-foot-long floodwall that stands 15 feet tall. The mural spans the entire length of the downtown shopping district and the stone arches of the mural create the illusion of looking through the wall to the historic scenes.

The Illinois Bureau of Tourism has new website to give group operators a more useful resource for planning group tours to the state.Attractions and accommodations can be researched by region. There are also a range of pre-planned itineraries categorized both by theme and by region. Links are

provided to the state’s DMOs, tour operators, motorcoach companies, state travel information centers and to www.enjoyillinois.com, the state’s consumer site. The Team Illinois Group Travel Planner can be downloaded from the site,which provides information on many of the state’s group-friendly

Mississippi Explorer Cruises operates eco-cruises on the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge that last from 1.5 hours to all day. The trips depart from

Lansing, Ia., Prairie du Chien, Wis., or Galena, Ill. The refuge is known for nesting bald eagles, as well as other exotic birds and plentiful wildlife. The pontoon boats accommodate 49 passengers and are restroom-equipped.The season runs from early May through the middle of November, when there are tens of thousands migrating birds, including tundra swans. The family-owned company has been in operation for three years and claims a growing group tour business, with

nearly all returning the next year.