Go See Do Explore

Top ten things to do in Puerto Rico besides the beach
In this episode, hosts Ashleigh and Christopher share their favorite things to do in Puerto Rico that get you off the beach and experiencing more of the island's culture, nature, food, and festivities.
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Old San Juan
The oldest part of San Juan with old buildings, forts, cultural attractions, and good food. Great place to spend time and hang out.
Bioluminescent Bays
Puerto Rico has three bioluminescent bays that glow year-round. Laguna Grande near Fajardo is the most accessible. Mosquito Bay in Vieques is the brightest in the world. For the best experience, go near the new moon.
El Yunque Rainforest
The only tropical rainforest in the U.S. national forest system. Features scenic drives, hiking trails with waterfalls and views. Expect rain even when dry elsewhere.
Rum Tours
Puerto Rico is known for rum. Recommended distilleries: Ron del Barrilito for small batch, Don Q for mixology class and tasting, Bacardi for a big brand experience.
Coffee Farms
Puerto Rico grows coffee in the mountains. Cafe Lareño is a top farm with tasting bar. Many only offer tours on weekends. Visit Discover Puerto Rico for additonal coffee haciendas to explore.
Airalo eSIM
Stay connected wherever you go with Airalo eSIM. Airalo's eSIMs are available in over 200 countries worldwide and are trusted by over 10 million users. Visit Airalo.com for more information.
Snorkeling and Scuba
Snorkel right from beaches in Rincon and Fajardo. The outlying island of Culebra is known for its snorkeling as well. See coral reefs and tropical fish away from the beach. Or learn how to Scuba!
Pork Highway
Visit the famous lechoneras (pork roast restaurants) like Lechonera Los Pinos along the Ruta de Lechon for whole roasted suckling pig and local sides.
Festivals
Experience Puerto Rican culture at festivals year-round across the island, like the San Sebastian Festival in Old San Juan, pineapple festival in Lajas, and more.
Handmade Crafts
Find handmade woodwork, textiles, and more from local artisans at craft fairs like the Rincon Art Walk or explore the many galleries in Old San Juan.
Art Museums
Top art museums include Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico in San Juan and Museo de Arte de Ponce with the island's largest art collection.
Kioskos at Luquillo Beach
40+ food stalls with Puerto Rican cuisine, international food, and more. Eat, walk around, and enjoy the beach scene without swimming.
Pina Colada Break
Instead of wine this week this week, Christopher and Ashleigh enjoyed a Pina Colada out of a pineapple. Check out the recipe from Don Q.

Top Ten Tips for Visiting Puerto Rico
In this episode, Christopher and Ashleigh share their top ten tips for visiting Puerto Rico after visiting the island multiple times.
Learn Basic Spanish Phrases
Christopher recommends learning basic Spanish phrases, especially for food service and driving. Knowing phrases like "please," "thank you," and numbers is helpful.
Understand Puerto Rico's Relationship as a part of the U.S.
Christopher emphasizes understanding Puerto Rico's unique relationship as a part of the U.S. as an American territory. Being informed about this complex relationship will help you interact respectfully with locals.
Consider Destinations Besides San Juan
While San Juan is a popular destination, Christopher encourages getting out and exploring other regions of Puerto Rico to see more sides of the island.
Engage with Local Culture
Christopher recommends engaging with local culture and supporting the local economy by trying local cuisine, visiting museums and festivals, and purchasing local art.
Explore Beyond the Beaches
Ashleigh suggests exploring beyond just the beaches to really experience what makes Puerto Rico special.
Book Car Rentals Early
Ashleigh recommends booking car rentals early, as they can be scarce around busy travel times. She suggests considering local companies like Aki Koki as an alternative to major rental chains.
Visit Culebra and Vieques
Ashleigh highly recommends visiting the smaller islands of Culebra and Vieques, which can be accessed via inexpensive ferry from mainland Puerto Rico.
Wine Break
Christopher talks about Bordeaux style wine blends and "meritage" wines during the wine break.
Stay Somewhere With Backup Power
Ashleigh suggests staying somewhere with backup power and water in case of outages, which are common in Puerto Rico.
Check Out DiscoverPuertoRico.com
Ashleigh recommends DiscoverPuertoRico.com as a great resource for trip planning.
Consider Alternative Airports
Christopher suggests considering flying into alternate airports besides just San Juan, like Aguadilla or Ponce, which may have cheaper flights.
Flighty App
Ashleigh and Christopher discuss Flighty, an app they've been using to track flights and flight history. They recommend it for getting flight delay notifications and tracking friends' flights.

Destination Spotlight: Old San Juan
In this episode, Christopher and Ashleigh share their love for Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. They discuss the history, attractions, challenges, and their favorite places to stay and eat in this beautiful, historic city.
History and Attractions in Old San Juan
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Founded in 1496, Old San Juan is the oldest European established city in the U.S. It was originally a walled, fortified city with the purpose of military defense. Many parts of the old wall and several iconic fortresses like El Morro remain today.
Top attractions include:
El Morro and San Cristobal forts - Offer great views and fascinating history
Paseo de la Princesa - Beautiful walkway with a light display at Christmastime
Calle Fortaleza - Street in front of Governor's Mansion with decorations throughout the year
Free walking tours - Great way to see hidden gems and learn history
Poet's Passage art gallery - Beautiful and colorful paintings of Old San Juan
Puerto Rican Arts and Crafts - Handmade local items
No beaches - Closest are outside the old city
Challenges of Visiting Old San Juan
Some difficulties travelers may encounter include:
Very crowded when cruise ships are in port
Extremely hot and humid in the middle of the day
Not car-friendly - Parking is limited and driving is difficult
Frequent power outages
Restaurants can get very busy
Tips: Book morning and evening activities to avoid mid-day heat. Have a backup quick meal option and make reservations for dinner. Rent a car only for non-San Juan portions of your trip.
Favorite Hotels
Christopher and Ashleigh love Hotel El Colonial in Old San Juan. It's adults only, has a free open bar, and is located in their favorite part of the city.
Other good options are Hotel El Convento or unique Airbnbs right in Old San Juan.
Favorite Restaurants and Food
Recommendations for breakfast/lunch:
Cafeteria Mallorca - Traditional Puerto Rican mallorca bread sandwiches
Chocobar Cortez - Chocolate-infused coffee, milkshakes, and more
Dinner favorites:
La Madre - Modern Mexican with great margaritas
La O - Tapas and Pizzas
El Viejo Almacen - Argentinian food near the governor's mansion
Classic Puerto Rican dishes to try: Churrasco steak, mofongo (mashed plantains), tostones (fried mashed plantains), Popsicles from Señor Paleta.
And be sure to try Puerto Rican coffee! Cafe Cuatro Sombras, Finca Cielitos, and Café Cola'o were recommended.
Let Christopher and Ashleigh know if you have any other Puerto Rico tips!

Our 2024 Travel in Review
links to add- vieques blog, spice house mulling spices, mowtown museum blog, new youtube channel
Join Ashleigh and Christopher as they recap their travel adventures of 2024 and look ahead to 2025.
First Segment
They recap their trips to Puerto Rico, New York City, Disney World, and a cross-country Amtrak trip. Highlights include San Francisco, Muir Woods, and Napa/Sonoma.
Wine Break
Christopher makes mulled wine using 2 Lads Rola Red, mulling spices, and a bit of brandy. He recommends using lighter, less tannic wines.
Second Segment
More trip recaps including 3 weeks in Italy, Michigan camping, Mackinac Island, Greenville SC, and more. They also took several weekend trips around Michigan and day trips to Detroit including visiting the Motown Museum for the first time. 
Third Segment
Looking ahead to 2025, they are excited for more camping trips including Canada. Christopher got a new truck for towing. They also hope to visit Mexico City and return to Europe.

Time Out's 21 Best Places to Go for Christmas
Ashleigh and Christopher discuss Time Out magazine's list of the 21 best places to travel for Christmas. They go through the list location by location, giving their thoughts on each destination. Locations include classic Christmas destinations like New York, London, and Vienna, as well as some more unique options like Thailand, Tokyo, Cape Town, and Guatemala City.
Wine Break - Chardonnay
Christopher discusses about Chardonnay. He talks about the differences between French and Californian styles of Chardonnay, oak vs unoaked Chardonnay, and cool vs warm climate Chardonnays. They taste a Michigan Chardonnay from Chateau Grand Traverse that Christopher loves.
Passport Renewal
Ashleigh talks about her recent experience renewing her passport online. She says it was very easy and only took 3.5 weeks. She gives tips for getting passport photos taken for free from AAA if you're a member. She also talks about using phone apps to take the photo yourself.

Ep 37: December 2024 Travel News
Airline News
United to begin using airtags to find lost luggage
Woman stowed away on flight from New York to Paris 
Passenger arrested after trying to divert Mexican flight to US 
Delta partnering with Shake Shack 
FAA extends ban on US Flights to Haiti
Proposed tunnel from New York to London in one hour would cost $20 Trillion 
Cruise News
Mexico Cruise Tax Delayed 
Virgin Voyages Offering Unlimited Year Long Pass 
Carnival’s Half Moon Cay gets upgrades and a new name 
US News
Waldorf Astoria New York accepting reservations for first time since 2017
Ramsey Cascades Trail Reopened in Great Smoky Mountains
National Park Service Protecting 101 acres of Civil War Battlefields in Tennessee and Virginia 
Biden signs Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument in Pennsylvania as the 432nd NPS site 
Disney announced closure of Muppet Vision 3D and retheming Rock n Rollercoaster to Muppets 
Global News
Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris Reopened
Short term rentals in Italy no longer allowed to use keypads or lock boxes 
Underground Trains open in Thessaloniki, Greece
China expanding visa-free travel to 9 more countries 
Wine Break
Sparkling rosé Pinot Noir from Two Lads Winery in Michigan

Destinations to Visit in 2025
Travel and Leisure recently released their list of the 50 best places to visit in 2025. In this episode, we discuss some of the destinations that stood out to us across 7 categories: big city thrills, cultural immersion, adventurous travel, moments on the water, food and drink, beach vibes, and nature lovers.
Big City Thrills
Some noteworthy big city destinations include:
Detroit, MI - The NFL draft was recently held here and drew record crowds. The city is undergoing major revitalization.
Portland, OR - Known for its vibrant culture and natural beauty
Rome, Italy - 2025 is a Jubilee year, which only happens once every 25 years. Expect big crowds of Catholic pilgrims.
Cultural Immersion
Top picks for cultural immersion include:
Budapest, Hungary - The former grand capital of the Austria-Hungarian empire.
Charleston, SC - Home to important African-American history and culture. A new museum recently opened here.
Lisbon, Portugal - Known for its sunshine, food, fado music and southern charm. United launching direct flights from Newark to Faro in the Algarve region.
Adventurous Travel
Some adventurous and remote destinations on the list:
The Caucasus Mountains - Spanning Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia
Greenland - Visitation was up over 70% in 2022. New flights from United Airlines makes it more accessible.
Philippines - Known for beautiful blue waters and island hopping. New direct flights from Seattle on Philippine Airlines.
Oddly, Universal Orlando also made this adventurous list thanks to a new high-tech theme park opening called Epic Universe.
Moments on the Water
Top water destinations include:
Apostle Islands, WI - Sea kayaking destination on Lake Superior
Barbados - Beautiful Caribbean island famous for its rum
French Riviera, France - Iconic Mediterranean coastline with glamorous towns like Nice, Cannes and Saint-Tropez
Nova Scotia, Canada - Know for its national park with wild horses and gray seals. Easier to reach thanks to new American Airlines flights.
Food and Drink
Can't miss destinations for food include:
Colorado's Western Slope - Up and coming wine region
Crete, Greece - Becoming popular as an alternative to overcrowded Santorini and Mykonos
Osaka, Japan - Famous for its culinary scene and electric nightlife
San Antonio, TX - Great Tex-Mex food and culture
Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico - Mexico's top wine region located in Baja California
Beach Vibes
Best beach spots include:
Costalegre, Mexico - New luxury hotels opening up
Grenada - In the Caribbean
Sanibel Island, FL - Recovering after Hurricane Ian devastation
Santa Monica, CA - Celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2025
Turks and Caicos - Year-round average temperature of 80°F. New flights from Miami on American Airlines.
Nature Lovers
Top nature destinations:
Anchorage, AK - Opportunity to see the Northern Lights
Bhutan - Home to Mt. Everest base camp
Fiji - Fiji Airways launching first flights beyond the West Coast to Dallas-Fort Worth
Yukon, Canada - See the Northern Lights and dog sled across ice fields
Be sure to check out the full list of 50 places for even more travel inspiration!

2024 Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers
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In this episode, Ashleigh and Christopher share their recommendations for the best gifts for travelers in 2024. They cover everything from luggage to travel apps to help make travel easier and more enjoyable. Including:
Hardsided Luggage
Personal Item Backpack
Noise Canceling Headphones
Portable Battery Bank (corded or Magsafe)
Travel Fan
Portable Luggage Scale
Packing Cubes (regular or compression)
Collapsible Water Bottle
Travel Pillow (adjustable or inflatable)
Travel blanket
Airplane Footrest
Hanging Toiletry Bag
Comfortable Travel Clothing
Travel Shoes (Sanuk or Tieks)
Travel Scarf/Vest
Anti Theft Purse
Airplane Seat Organizer
Nice Luggage Tags
Smart Tracker
Travel Coffee Maker
Travel Air Fryer
Other Travel Gift Ideas:
Language Learning App
Travel Magazine Subscription
Airport Lounge Pass
Stocking Stuffers 
Travel First Aid Kit
Travel Pill Organizer
Multi-Charging Cable
USB Charging Hub
Universal Outlet Adapter
Reusable Toiletry Bags & Bottles
Travel Wine Protection

Greenville, SC and Missed Connections
In this episode of Go See Do Explore, Ashleigh and Christopher share about their recent trip to Greenville, South Carolina. They discuss where they stayed, the restaurants they visited, and their experience at the Fall for Greenville festival.
Staying in Greenville
Ashleigh and Christopher stayed at two hotels during their trip - the Holiday Inn Express and Home2 Suites. The Home2 Suites had more hot breakfast options. They recommend checking out the Grand Bohemian Hotel if you want a luxury hotel experience in Greenville.
Exploring Greenville
Some highlights of Greenville include the Falls Park on the Reedy, a nice green space downtown with a waterfall, and the many local restaurants located downtown. Christopher was especially impressed by Greenville's food scene. The city has a surprising number of high quality, locally-owned restaurants packed into the small downtown area.
Fall for Greenville Festival
Ashleigh and Christopher ended up being in Greenville during the annual Fall for Greenville festival. The festival features live music on multiple stages and food from local restaurants. They tried food from the Green Laundry, an upscale laundromat cafe. The wine garden was a bit disappointing with mostly mass market wine options.
Notable Restaurants
During their visit they ate at Sassafras, a Southern restaurant that's the #1 on TripAdvisor; Sum Bar; Tandem Creperie; and Between the Trees, located in the Grand Bohemian Hotel.
Getting Out of Town
They recommend renting a car if you want to explore outside of Greenville. They visited Caesar's Head State Park and Bald Rock Heritage Preserve.
Wine Break
They discuss buying wine at grocery stores and things to look for, like avoiding mass-market brands, reading the label, and looking for wines with high ratings. They try a Rioja Reserva from Spain that Christopher found at Costco. See the Bon Appetit article for more ideas.
Missed Flight Connections
Ashleigh and Christopher share tips for dealing with missed flight connections, based on their own recent experience and advice from Samantha Brown. Key takeaways are to book early flights, call the airline as soon as possible to rebook, and know the flight numbers of later options.

Travel Trends for 2025
In this episode, Ashleigh and Christopher discuss some of the top travel trends predicted for 2025 based on recent reports. With overtourism and crowding issues at many popular destinations, travelers are looking for lesser-known destinations for a more local experience. Slow travel, smaller destinations, and trips outside of peak season are forecasted to rise in popularity.
Lesser Known Destinations Rising in Popularity
According to Expedia flight search data, interest is rising in lesser known destinations like Reims, France; Brescia, Italy; Cozumel, Mexico, Santa Barbara, California; Waikato, New Zealand; Girona, Spain; Fukuoka, Japan; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Krabi, Thailand; and Canmore, Canada.
Booking.com accommodation search data also shows trending interest in alternative destinations like Sanya, China; Trieste, Italy; João Pessoa, Brazil; Tromsø, Norway; Tignes, France; San Pedro de Atacama, Chile; Naha, Okinawa, Japan; Vejer de la Frontera, Spain; and Houston, Texas.
Shift from FOMO to JOMO
Rather than fear of missing out (FOMO), travelers are starting to embrace the joy of missing out (JOMO) on overcrowded tourist spots in favor of unique off-the-beaten path destinations.
Recent Trip to Mackinac Island
Ashleigh and Christopher share about a recent fall weekend getaway to Mackinac Island, Michigan. They discuss staying at a boutique hotel, biking around the island, and visiting some great restaurants including Gate House, Mary's Drafthouse, Kingston Kitchen Jamaican restaurant, and more.
Wine Break: Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream
The hosts chat about Buffalo Trace's delicious Bourbon Cream liquor, a nice alternative to Bailey's and eggnog. They recommend visiting the historic Buffalo Trace distillery in Kentucky.