Go See Do Explore

Go See Do Explore
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Weekly

Go See Do Explore is for travelers who make it work. We share stories, hacks, and perspectives from people who fit travel into everyday life—whether it’s weekend escapes or long-haul adventures. No fluff, no filters—just honest travel talk.

  1. 4d ago

    Asturias, Spain: Cider, Coastlines, and an Eclipse

    Most travelers heading to Spain think of Barcelona, Madrid, or the sunny Mediterranean coast. But along Spain’s northern coast is Asturias, a lush, green region with dramatic cliffs, beautiful fishing villages, distinctive food traditions, and a culture all its own. In this episode, Christopher and Ashleigh continue their Spanish adventure in Gijón, a coastal city on the Bay of Biscay, where they’ve traveled to experience a total solar eclipse and spend time with local friends. Their visit offers a different side of Spain, where cider is poured dramatically from overhead, hearty regional dishes are everywhere, and evenings unfold in lively neighborhood plazas. Along the way, they discover both the rewards and occasional frustrations of exploring a destination that sees relatively few American visitors. In this episode: Discovering Gijón: Exploring the beachfront, historic Cimavilla neighborhood, scenic coastal walks, and the everyday rhythm of northern Spain. Eclipse Travel on a budget: How booking a hotel well ahead of the eclipse saved more than $1,000, plus practical experiences using local buses and trains. A region devoted to cider: Visiting traditional sidrerías, learning the art of pouring Asturian sidra, and sampling regional specialties like cachopo and fabada. Chasing a solar eclipse: An improvised road trip through the Asturian countryside as changing cloud cover threatens their carefully planned eclipse experience. A day in Oviedo: Exploring Asturias’ capital, its historic streets, free museums, and a memorable lunch on a street filled with cider houses. The beauty of Cudillero: Visiting a picturesque fishing village built into the hills above the sea and enjoying a leisurely seafood dinner with local friends. Travel lessons learned: Why dinner timing matters, what to expect from hotels without air conditioning, and how personal connections can transform a trip. During the Wine Break, Christopher and Ashleigh open a bottle of Spanish cava, explain what distinguishes it from Champagne and Prosecco, and make the case for this often-overlooked sparkling wine. From an eclipse hidden behind the clouds to a spontaneous village picnic, this trip is a reminder that the most memorable moments aren’t always the ones you planned. Join us for an exploration of northern Spain and a conversation about traveling thoughtfully, finding good value, and discovering the places and experiences that make a destination special. Go See Do Explore: Travel more thoughtfully. Discover more along the way.

  2. Aug 30

    24 Hours Late to Spain: Flight Chaos, Barcelona, and Why We’d Go Back

    A trip to Spain gets off to a much rougher start than planned when a delayed LEVEL flight from New York to Barcelona turns into an overnight airport stay, a cancellation, and nearly a full day of uncertainty about whether the trip will happen at all. Some of the links below are affiliate links and as such, we earn a small commission from purchases that allow us to continue telling you our stories without costing you anything extra. We share the full story of getting stranded at JFK, what we learned about dealing with a canceled international flight, why being a “displaced passenger” matters, and how European passenger protections and travel insurance can change the equation when things go wrong. Then, finally, Barcelona. With our planned two-and-a-half days cut down to about a day and a half, we make the most of the time we have: Sagrada Família, a Gaudí walking tour, the Gothic Quarter, an excellent metro system, vermut straight from the barrel, Spanish wine, a memorable food tour, and plenty of reasons to come back. Next time, we head north to Asturias for a very different side of Spain.

  3. Aug 1

    Five Caribbean Ports, One Changed Itinerary, and a Return to Puerto Rico

    What happens when the port you booked a cruise for disappears from the itinerary? Christopher and Ashleigh continue their Rhapsody of the Seas trip recap with a port-by-port journey through the Caribbean. After Dominica is unexpectedly replaced with La Romana, they explore a mix of familiar islands, new destinations, excellent private tours, disappointing cruise-port experiences, and places that completely changed their opinions. In St. Thomas, they kayak through mangroves, learn about the dangerously poisonous manchineel tree, and confront the cost and limitations of getting around the island as a cruise passenger. Check out this excursion on Viator. St. Croix becomes an unexpected highlight thanks to a visit to Prosperity Farm Distillery, where sugarcane is being grown and transformed into unusual locally made spirits. They also explain why cruise-line excursions are not always the safest, easiest, or best-value option they appear to be. A private tour takes them around both sides of St. Maarten, from the planes at Maho Beach to Marigot, Grand Case, Orient Bay, local food, and handmade jewelry. For more information about this tour, check out Viator. Then Antigua delivers one of the best tours of the trip, with sweeping overlooks, island history, an excellent guide, and perhaps the best rum punch Christopher has ever had. Book your tour of Antigua on Viator. Their replacement port, La Romana, offers a very different experience: a heavily controlled cruise complex that leaves them wondering whether they can honestly say they have visited the Dominican Republic at all. After the cruise, a major water outage forces them to cancel their stay in Old San Juan and improvise a return to Luquillo. Along the way, they accidentally take a coffee plantation tour entirely in Spanish, eat lechón in Guavate, rediscover a revitalized side of Luquillo, get caught in a beach downpour, and navigate a stressful Frontier Airlines trip home. It is an honest look at what cruise travel can offer when the ports are the destination—and why flexibility, research, and realistic expectations matter just as much as the itinerary.

  4. Jul 11

    Fajardo Before our Cruise and an Honest Look at Rhapsody of the Seas

    A cruise from San Juan offers something most departure ports cannot: the chance to turn embarkation into a Puerto Rico vacation of its own. Some of the links below are affiliate links and as such, we earn a small commission from purchases that allow us to continue telling you our stories without costing you anything extra. Christopher and Ashleigh are back from their sixth trip to Puerto Rico in four years and their second cruise sailing from San Juan. Before boarding Royal Caribbean’s Rhapsody of the Seas, they spent several low-key days in Fajardo, working remotely, cooking at their condo, enjoying the ocean view, and returning to some favorite Puerto Rican food experiences. They share why Fajardo works so well as a relaxed home base, along with stops at Monte Brisas Bakery for enormous local sandwiches and La Estación for Puerto Rican barbecue. Christopher also offers an unexpectedly detailed guide to grocery shopping in Puerto Rico, including why Ralph’s has become a favorite. Then they board the 1997-built Rhapsody of the Seas for an honest look at the advantages and limitations of cruising on a smaller, older ship. They discuss the limited activities and entertainment, excellent service, plentiful live music, traditional dining, dated cabin features, and why choosing a cruise for its itinerary can require some compromises onboard. In this episode: • Why they enjoy sailing from San Juan • What it is like to spend a quieter week in Fajardo • Local food finds worth seeking out • The benefits and drawbacks of a small cruise ship • Their ocean-view cabin experience on Rhapsody of the Seas • Dining, entertainment, trivia, and live music onboard • An uncomfortable English-only rule in the Schooner Bar • Blustone Vineyard’s Ad Lib red wine Listen for a practical, candid look at building a Puerto Rico stay around a cruise and deciding whether an older, smaller ship is the right tradeoff for the trip you want. Be sure to check back for the next episode, where they talk about the ports they visited!

  5. Jun 20

    Milwaukee Weekend Getaway + A Moving New Greenfield Village Experience

    In this episode of Go See Do Explore, we’re recapping two recent close-to-home adventures: a Memorial Day weekend in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a visit to the newly relocated Jackson Home at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. Milwaukee surprised us in the best way. It’s walkable, easy to enjoy over a long weekend, and full of good food, interesting architecture, river views, and low-pressure things to do. We stayed downtown at the Drury Plaza Hotel and discovered just how much value can come with a stay there, from hot breakfast to the evening “Kickback.” We also took an architecture walking tour, explored Third Street Food Hall, tried a Wisconsin old fashioned, went urban kayaking on the Milwaukee River, visited Milwaukee Public Market, had a big German dinner at Mader’s, and made the required stop at Mars Cheese Castle on the way home. Then, during the wine break, we talk about one of our favorite warm-weather wines: Vinho Verde, including a very budget-friendly Aldi find. We also share our experience visiting the Jackson Home at Greenfield Village before its public opening. Originally located in Selma, Alabama, the home of Dr. Sullivan and Mrs. Richie Jean Jackson served as an important planning and refuge space during the Civil Rights Movement, including during the Selma to Montgomery marches. The Henry Ford’s restoration brings the home back to its 1960s setting and creates a powerful, personal connection to a major moment in American history. Some of the links below are affiliate links and as such, we earn a small commission from purchases that allow us to continue telling you our stories without costing you anything extra. In this episode: Why Milwaukee is worth considering for a relaxed weekend getaway What makes Drury Hotels a surprisingly good value A budget-friendly architecture walking tour in downtown Milwaukee Third Street Food Hall, Milwaukee Public Market, and casual food stops The Wisconsin supper club experience we’re still chasing Wisconsin old fashioneds: sweet, sour, or press Urban kayaking on the Milwaukee River Boone & Crockett, Mader’s, and Mars Cheese Castle Our house summer wine: Vinho Verde Visiting the Jackson Home at Greenfield Village How the home connects Selma, the Civil Rights Movement, and Michigan history Tips for reserving a timed entry and preparing for a summer visit Places mentioned: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Drury Plaza Hotel Milwaukee Downtown Historic Milwaukee architecture tours The Pfister Hotel Milwaukee Art Museum Third Street Food Hall Discourse Coffee Buckatabon Tavern & Supper Club Brew City Kayak Milwaukee Public Market Penzeys Spices The Spice House Boone & Crockett Mader’s Mars Cheese Castle Greenfield Village Jackson Home

  6. Jun 6

    Updating Disney’s Carousel of Progress: Nostalgia, Walt, and What Comes Next

    Christopher and Ashleigh welcome back their friend Mark, a familiar voice from the old Generation Mouse days, for a conversation about Disney’s announced update to Walt Disney World’s Carousel of Progress. Read all about the announced updates here.  The episode starts with a fun throwback before diving into why this attraction matters so much to Disney fans: its 1964 World’s Fair roots, Walt Disney’s direct connection to it, and its long history as one of Magic Kingdom’s classic attractions. They talk through what appears to be changing, including a new timeline that begins in the 1960s, later scenes in the 1980s and 1990s, a future-focused finale, and the addition of a Walt Disney audio-animatronic. The conversation explores the tension between preserving classic Disney history and allowing an attraction about “progress” to actually progress. The group also discusses what Disney needs to get right: keeping the carousel format, preserving the spirit of the attraction, avoiding an overreliance on screens, and making sure the update feels worthy rather than watered down. They compare Carousel of Progress to other Disney updates, including Journey Into Imagination, Frozen Ever After, Spaceship Earth, Test Track, Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster, and Guardians of the Galaxy. Along the way, they ask a bigger question: who is Walt Disney World for? Is it a museum for longtime fans, or should it keep evolving for new generations? Christopher, Ashleigh, and Mark consider how technology, nostalgia, business realities, and Disney’s optimistic view of the future all collide in one rotating theater.

  7. May 16

    Travel Rules We Changed Our Minds About

    In this episode of Go See Do Explore, we’re talking about the travel opinions we’ve changed over time. Not necessarily dramatic reversals, but the kind of practical shifts that happen after enough trips, mistakes, surprises, and “we are never doing that again” moments. We each brought five things we’ve changed our minds about, without comparing lists ahead of time. Topics include: Why we’ve become more committed to carry-on travel, especially when flying airlines where carry-ons are included How TSA PreCheck changed our airport arrival strategy Why cruising can still make sense in the Caribbean, but may not be our favorite way to experience Europe Rethinking how much public transit we actually want to use on a trip Why private or small-group tours can completely change the experience  The kind of itinerary that leaves room for slowing down, wandering, and actually thinking Cooling a bit on Disney-focused travel, without rejecting Disney entirely Why we’re more open to third-party cruise excursions now, but much less interested in big bus tours Whether visiting all 50 states still feels like a meaningful goal How beach time finally became more appealing with shade, swimming, and better timing We also take a wine break with a 2023 rosé of Pinot Gris from Two Lads, a spring-friendly Michigan wine that sits somewhere between rosé and orange wine. The big takeaway: travel preferences are allowed to change. The point is not to follow someone else’s perfect travel formula. It is to notice what actually makes a trip better for you and plan accordingly.

  8. Apr 18

    Back to Mexico City: Murals, Markets, and Our Favorite Repeat Stops

    We’re back in Mexico City — this time returning with family and revisiting many of our favorite spots while mixing in a few new experiences. Some of the links below are affiliate links and as such, we earn a small commission from purchases that allow us to continue telling you our stories without costing you anything extra. We talk through what it’s like flying a low-cost airline internationally, navigating delays and airport chaos, and why private tours made a big difference on this trip. From there, it’s a deep dive into one of the best cities in the world for museums, food, and culture. We revisit iconic Diego Rivera murals, explore the National Palace, and compare two very different approaches to touring the Anthropology Museum. We also share a few lesser-known stops that most visitors would completely miss. Food-wise, we hit some repeat favorites (and one we almost skipped), from courtyard dining to street tacos to churros that were a long time coming. We also spend time in Chapultepec Park, including a cable car ride, hidden public art, and a museum experience that may or may not have been too much in one day. Finally, we wrap up with a return to Xochimilco — but not the party version — and why it’s still one of the most meaningful experiences in the city if you do it right. Just like last trip, we did several tours with our good friend Laila of Pies Descalzos. You can learn more about her tours on TripAdvisor. If you’re planning a first trip or thinking about going back, this episode should give you a good mix of must-sees, strategy, and honest takeaways. Mentioned in this episode: Hotel Fontán Reforma (budget-friendly, great location) Museo Nacional de Antropología Palacio Nacional Chapultepec Park & Castle Carcamo de Dolores Museo Soumaya Xochimilco Tip: If you’re visiting during Holy Week or the week after Easter, expect crowds — but also some unique cultural experiences you won’t see at other times.

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About

Go See Do Explore is for travelers who make it work. We share stories, hacks, and perspectives from people who fit travel into everyday life—whether it’s weekend escapes or long-haul adventures. No fluff, no filters—just honest travel talk.

Information

  • Creator
    Go See Do Explore
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    96
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Go See Do Explore

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