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Stories from the Field — Outdoor Taste & Tour Blog
Stories from the Field
Trails, backroads, shorelines, culinary finds, and gear worth carrying — dispatches from the places we explore.
177 posts
Hiking Shore Excursions: The Best Trails from Cruise Ports Around the World
The best hiking from cruise ships puts you on trails that most tourists never find -- volcano summits, rainforest paths, coastal cliffs, and mountain passes with views that justify every step. Here is where to find them.
How to Choose a Cruise Line: The Complete Comparison Guide for Every Traveler
Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity, Princess, MSC, Disney -- the cruise industry has more options than ever, and the differences between lines are real. Here is how to match the right cruise line to the way you actually travel.
Independent vs. Ship Shore Excursions: How to Decide What's Right for You
Booking shore excursions through your cruise line costs more but comes with guarantees. Going independent saves money but requires planning. Here is how to think through the decision at every port.
Juneau Glacier Hiking Guide: Walk on Ice at Alaska's Capital
Juneau is the only U.S. state capital you cannot reach by road, and it sits at the edge of the largest ice field in North America outside the polar regions. Here is how to make the most of a glacier day in Alaska's most dramatic port.
Kayaking Shore Excursions: The Best Paddling Experiences from Cruise Ports
Sea kayaking from a cruise ship puts you at water level in some of the most beautiful places on earth -- Caribbean bays, Alaskan fjords, Mediterranean coves, and Pacific island lagoons. Here is how to find the best kayaking excursions at every major cruise destination.
Ketchikan Shore Excursions: The Best Things to Do in Alaska's First City
Ketchikan packs more into a single port day than almost anywhere else in Alaska -- totem poles, rainforest hikes, sea kayaking, and some of the best salmon fishing in the world. Here is how to spend your time well.
New Orleans Cruise Port Guide: Jazz, Creole Food, and the Mississippi Before You Sail
New Orleans is one of the most distinctive cities in the United States, and the Port of New Orleans puts you right in the middle of it. Here is how to make the most of NOLA before and after your cruise.
Port Canaveral Cruise Guide: Space Coast, Kennedy Space Center, and Atlantic Beaches
Port Canaveral is the third-busiest cruise port in the United States, and it sits on one of the most interesting stretches of coastline in the country. Here is how to make the most of the Space Coast before and after your cruise.
Port of Galveston Cruise Guide: Everything You Need Before You Sail
Galveston is the Gulf Coast's most underrated cruise port -- Victorian architecture, barrier island beaches, and some of the best Gulf seafood in Texas. Here is how to make the most of it before and after your cruise.