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🌍 International Travel – Places to See and things to do
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items 🌍 A personal travel log highlighting international places to see and things to do I’ve personally visited — including cruise ports and full vacations. These are real experiences and recommendations, not bucket-list ideas.
Sections
5
🇨🇦 Canada
🇧🇸 Caribbean
🇪🇺 Europe
🚢 Cruise Ports (International)
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
🇨🇦 Canada
Simba’s Grill is a standout spot in Vancouver for African fusion cuisine. It’s casual, welcoming, and full of bold flavors you don’t find everywhere. A great choice if you enjoy trying local food beyond the typical tourist picks.
This is the kind of ...
Simba's Grill
Stanley Park is a must-see stop in Vancouver and a great way to experience the city before a cruise. It’s massive, scenic, and easy to explore by walking, biking, or public transit. We loved how quickly you can go from city views to peaceful greenery...
Stanley Park
🇧🇸 Caribbean
The Baths is one of the most unique natural attractions in the Caribbean. Giant granite boulders form caves, tunnels, and narrow passageways that you climb through before emerging onto a stunning beach. Crystal-clear water, dramatic scenery, and a tr...
National Parks Trust, The Baths National Park, Virgin Gorda
🇪🇺 Europe
Why it’s a must:
Bruges is incredibly walkable and perfect for a relaxed day trip. We took about an hour train ride from Brussels and spent the day just wandering—historic streets, beautiful architecture, and plenty to see without needing a tour.
Wha...
🇧🇪 Bruges, Belgium
Why Visit & What We Did
Brussels is a fun, walkable city packed with character, history, and amazing food. It’s a great stop if you love wandering city streets, sampling local specialties, and soaking in European culture without needing a packed ...
🇧🇪 Brussels, Belgium
Why visit:
A classic Dutch stop just outside Amsterdam with historic windmills, canals, and traditional crafts all in one walkable area.
What we did:
Walked the windmill village
Visited Henri Willig Cheese Farm and sampled goat, cow, and sheep cheese...
🇳🇱 Zaanse Schans, Netherlands
Why visit:
Known as the “Venice of the Netherlands,” this village is all about canals, boats, and peaceful scenery.
What we did:
Had lunch at Vishandel Gerrits en de Boer
Took a canal boat ride through the village
Watched boats, homes, and gardens pa...
🇳🇱 Girthoorn Netherlands
Why visit:
Amsterdam is lively, walkable, and packed with character. Between the canals, museums, quirky streets, and nonstop shopping, it’s a city that feels fun and a little unexpected around every corner.
What we did:
Walked the city and explored ...
🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Why visit:
Paris is packed with iconic landmarks, famous streets, and world-recognized museums. Even if you don’t go inside everything, the city itself is a sightseeing experience.
What we did:
Walked past the Eiffel Tower for photos
Saw the Louvre f...
🇫🇷 Paris, France
Why visit:
Absolutely worth the trip from Paris. The palace and gardens are massive, stunning, and feel very different from the city.
What we did:
Took the subway/train out to Versailles
Had breakfast at Ore (on-site), which included estate admission...
🇫🇷 Palace of Versailles, France
Why visit:
Fun spot for shopping and wandering, especially if you want something lighter after a long sightseeing day.
What we did:
Shopped around Disney Village
Scored some great deals, including a dress marked way down
Found a 30th anniversary Star...
🇫🇷 Disney Village
A fun and unique Disney park experience that feels very different from Disneyland in California or Walt Disney World. We watched Mickey and the Magician (performed in both French and English) and The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands, which was i...
Parc Walt Disney Studios
Disneyland Paris is a full-day experience and feels noticeably different from the U.S. parks. We spent open to close and loved how many rides are unique or upgraded compared to California and Florida. It’s a Small World is better here, Indiana Jones ...
Disneyland Paris
A dream stop for any Beauty and the Beast fan. This château inspired Disney’s iconic castle, and seeing it in person was absolutely magical. We toured both inside and out, and the famous double-helix staircase designed by Leonardo da Vinci is a stand...
🇫🇷 Château de Chambord, France
A great historical stop right in the heart of Blois. We explored the exterior of the Royal Château and nearby landmarks, including the Denis Papin stairs. Easy to walk, full of charm, and a nice contrast to the larger Loire Valley castles.
🇫🇷 Royal Château of Blois, France
One of the most beautiful castles we visited. Built over the river, it feels elegant and romantic inside and out. The wine cellar tasting was a highlight, and touring the château made this stop extra special. This was a bucket-list moment and truly u...
🇫🇷 Château de Chenonceau, France
Rainforest Cafe at Disney Village is just like the locations in the U.S., with the same jungle theme, animatronic animals, and familiar menu. It’s a solid, easy dinner option after a long travel day or park day when you want something predictable and...
🇫🇷 Rainforest Cafe, France
Livorno (Florence & Pisa Day Trip), Italy
We ported in Livorno and took a bus tour through Tuscany, visiting Florence and Pisa in one day. In Florence, we explored historic piazzas, walked past famous landmarks, shopped, and grabbed massive local...
🇮🇹 Tuscany & Florence (from Livorno Port)
We ported in Naples and took a bus to Sorrento, then continued on to Pompeii. Sorrento was beautiful and great for shopping and wandering on your own. Pompeii was a bucket-list stop for me, but the guided portion was short and didn’t allow time to se...
🇮🇹 Naples, Sorrento & Pompeii (Italy)
We ported in Mykonos and took a boat tour to Delos Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the mythological birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. Delos is packed with ancient ruins and history, though it gets extremely hot, so be prepared. Back in Mykon...
🇬🇷 Mykonos & Delos Island (Greece)
Santorini is absolutely stunning and one of our favorite cruise ports. We did an all-day tour that included the ancient Akrotiri archaeological site, beautiful lookout stops, wine and beer tasting, lunch in Fira, and time in Oia for photos and shoppi...
🇬🇷 Santorini, Greece – Akrotiri, Oia & Wine Tasting
Athens is an absolute must if you love history, iconic landmarks, and walkable sightseeing. We did a guided selfie-style city tour that hit all the highlights without feeling rushed. Stops included the Olympic Stadium, Royal Gardens, Parliament, and ...
🇬🇷 Athens, Greece
We ported in Sicily and took a bus up to Mount Etna, one of the most famous active volcanoes in the world. We were able to climb down into the crater area and walk around before heading back up — a really unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
After ...
🇮🇹 Sicily (Mt. Etna & Taormina), Italy
We explored Rome with a mix of walking and guided tours. Visited the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon (inside), Piazza Navona, Roman Forum (view), Trajan’s Column, and the Colosseum. Also stopped by the Garden of the Oranges for rooftop views and saw Castel ...
🇮🇹 Rome, Italy
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, yet packed with some of the most important art, history, and religious landmarks on Earth.
What We Did
Visited the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel
Explored St. Peter’s Basilica
Walked S...
🇻🇦 Vatican City
📍 Venice, Italy — What We Did & Why You Should Visit
Why visit Venice:
Venice is unlike anywhere else — canals instead of roads, endless stairs and bridges, historic palaces, colorful islands, and small magical moments everywhere you turn. It’s ...
🇮🇹 Venice, Italy
We arrived in London running on no sleep and jumped straight into exploring. Even exhausted, the city was incredible. We walked past so many iconic landmarks in one day — Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the London Eye, t...
🇬🇧 London, England
🚢 Cruise Ports (International)
Cruise port stop — easy to explore in a short amount of time. I reccomend doing an excursion. We got massages on the beach and walked the shops
🇲🇽 Progreso, Mexico – A Disney Cruise Port That Just Doesn't Work (Opinion) : r/dcl
Disney’s private island is one of our favorite cruise stops. Beautiful beaches, clear water, family and adults-only areas, included food, walking and biking paths, and plenty of relaxing or active things to do. Always a highlight of a Disney cruise.
🇧🇸 Disney Castaway Cay | Ports of Call - Disney Cruise Line
St. Thomas is a beautiful island known for crystal-clear water, boat excursions, snorkeling, and incredible ocean views. There’s so much to enjoy on and in the water — from snorkeling and exploring marine life to relaxing boat rides and soaking in th...
🇻🇮 St. Thomas Cruise Port and Terminal Information
Tortola is a beautiful Caribbean cruise port with easy access to beaches, island tours, snorkeling, shopping, and excursions to nearby Virgin Islands like Virgin Gorda. It’s a great jumping-off point for exploring the British Virgin Islands and choos...
🇻🇬 Tortola, British Virgin Islands | Ports of Call - Disney Cruise Line
Disney’s newest private island with bright Bahamian colors, themed spaces, and family areas. The island is still being developed, so experiences may vary depending on weather and what’s open at the time. We’re excited to revisit in the future as more...
🇧🇸 Disney’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
A well-known Caribbean cruise port that’s easy to revisit. Nassau has a lively port area with colorful streets, shopping, local food spots, and access to beaches and excursions. It’s a destination that works differently each visit depending on weathe...
🇧🇸 Nassau & Paradise Island Bahamas | Official Site
Late-night cruise port stop required for international sailing.
This was a short evening stop in Victoria, British Columbia, made by Norwegian Cruise Line. Because the cruise departed from and returned to the United States, maritime law requires at l...
🇨🇦 Victoria, British Columbia – Cruise Port Norwegian.
Ketchikan is actually a great port and one I’ve visited twice. When you disembark, you walk through a large store, then load onto a bus that takes you to the main port area. It’s very easy to navigate and well organized.
This is a port where you don’...
🇺🇸 Ketchikan Cruise Port
Glacier Bay is a stunning cruise-day experience where you stay onboard the ship and sail through the park. The glaciers are absolutely breathtaking, and if you’re lucky, you can spot wildlife like seals, whales, or birds right from the deck. There’s ...
🇺🇸 Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
I’ve been to Skagway twice, and it’s one of those Alaska cruise ports that’s easy to enjoy whether you book excursions or not. The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway is absolutely worth doing — I’ve ridden it both visits and would do it again. The ...
🇺🇸 Skagway Alaska Cruise Port
I’ve been to Juneau twice and it’s one of my favorite Alaska cruise ports. The Mount Roberts / Goldbelt Tram is an easy must-do right from port — amazing views at the top, hiking trails, and great photo spots without needing a long excursion. Afterwa...
🇺🇸 Juneau Alaska Cruise Port
Viewing Dawes Glacier from the ship was one of the most memorable moments of our Alaska cruise. The ship slowly cruises the fjord, giving you incredible glacier views right from the deck without needing to leave the ship.
It’s peaceful, dramatic, and...
Dawes Glacier
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
Monkeyland Punta Cana is an interactive wildlife experience where visitors can spend time with friendly squirrel monkeys in a natural setting. The excursion also includes coffee and cocoa tasting, adding a local cultural element to the visit. It’s a ...
Monkeyland
Iberostar Punta Cana is an all-inclusive beachfront resort located along Bávaro Beach in the Dominican Republic. The resort features expansive free-form pools surrounded by palm trees, direct beach access with palapas, and a laid-back tropical atmosp...
Iberostar's Resorts in Punta Cana
This cigar factory tour offers a look at how Dominican cigars are hand-rolled, along with opportunities to sample cigars and learn about the process. The experience also includes rum tasting, with guides explaining flavor notes and traditional method...
Cigar Factory Tours - Explore the Art of Cigar Making
Scape Park is an adventure park offering a full day of outdoor activities, including ziplining, dune buggies, cave exploration, waterfalls, and the famous Blue Hole jump. The park combines adrenaline experiences with natural scenery, making it one of...
Scape Park
Mundo Auténtico is a cultural experience in Punta Cana that brings together several Dominican traditions in one stop. Visitors can learn about rum production at the Oliver & Oliver Rum Museum, explore cacao and chocolate making at the Kokoa Choco...
Mundo Autentico
Saona Island is a tropical island excursion known for its white sand beaches, palm trees, and crystal-clear water. The experience typically includes a speedboat and catamaran ride, time to relax on the island, and a lunch buffet. Many tours also stop...
Saona Island
Parasailing in Punta Cana is a scenic experience offering wide views of the turquoise water and palm-lined coastline from above. This activity was offered directly through our resort, making it easy to book and coordinate without leaving the property...
Parasailing in Punta Cana