Tours & Excursions We’ve Actually Done

Real experiences, honest reviews, and how to book them. Every tour, excursion, food experience, and national park activity we’ve personally tried—organized in one place.

Some links may be affiliate links. We only recommend tours and products we’ve personally used and loved.

Book Tours With Our Trusted Partners

These are the platforms we personally use for nearly every tour we book:

City Tours & Day Trips

A simple list of the city tours, food tours, and day trips we’ve taken around the world.

Group by destination:

New Orleans

Doctor Gumbo Food Walking Tour – Full Review

Toronto

Nashville

France

California

Dublin

  • Book City Tours with Viator or GetYourGuide

  • Use CityPASS for bundled attractions

⭐ More Cruise Resources

These guides help you plan smarter, choose the right excursions, and know exactly what to expect in each region.

🌴 Best Cruise Ports in the Caribbean

A helpful overview of the most popular Caribbean ports — what to do, what to skip, and which ones are worth booking a tour for.

🚶‍♀️ Cruise Ports Where You Don’t Need an Excursion

Easy, low‑stress port days you can enjoy without spending a dime. Beaches, walkable towns, and what we personally did.

🛳️ How I Book Shore Excursions

My exact process for choosing between cruise‑line tours and independent tours, plus the trusted partners we use for nearly every trip.

How I Book Cruises (Step‑by‑Step Strategy)

Exactly how we save on cruises using sales, onboard credit, casino offers, and points—plus when I actually book.

🏨 Pre‑Cruise Hotel Guide

Every hotel we’ve personally stayed at before a cruise — organized by port. Includes points options, walkability notes, and who each hotel is best for.

🎒 Cruise Packing Lists

Packing guides tailored to each region we’ve cruised.

🧊 Alaska Cruise Packing List

Layers, weather tips, and what you actually need for glacier days.

🌄 Norway Cruise Packing List

Cooler temps, fjords, and the gear that made the biggest difference.

☀️ Mediterranean Cruise Packing List

Lightweight, comfortable outfits for hot days and historic sites.

🏖️ Caribbean Cruise Packing List

Simple, breezy, beach‑ready essentials.

🍁 Canada & New England Packing List (coming soon)

Perfect for fall foliage, coastal towns, and cooler mornings.

🌎 More Ways We Travel

Not every adventure happens on a cruise ship — here are the other types of trips we take.

🏞️ National Park Pass Review

How the America the Beautiful Pass works, how fast it pays for itself, and the parks we’ve visited using it.

🎒 National Park Packing List

Everything we pack for national park trips — layers, safety essentials, hiking gear, and the items that have saved us more than once.

Planning Your Trip?

Start with our main hubs:

Cruise Hub

Cruise Port Guide Hub

Trip Guide Hub

Beginner Guide

Points & Miles Hub

👋 About the Author

I’m Julie — a travel‑hacking mom who’s taken 25+ cruises, visited 30+ ports, and booked hundreds of tours using points, miles, and smart strategies.

Every excursion on this page is something we’ve personally done, photographed, and reviewed so you can plan with confidence.

When I’m not cruising, I’m helping families travel smarter through No Point Left Behind, where we turn everyday spending into unforgettable trips.

Want to see how we book tours, cruises, and flights for less? Start with my How I Book Shore Excursions or my Beginner’s Guide to Points & Miles.