Go See Do Explore

Avoiding Crowds While Traveling
Summary:
This episode of the travel podcast Go See Do Explore provides tips for avoiding crowds and still seeing the top sights when visiting popular tourist destinations. Ashleigh and Christopher share strategies like traveling off-peak, booking advance tickets, and exploring alternative sites.
Intro
Ashleigh and Christopher introduce themselves and the podcast's goal of providing travel inspiration and hidden gems.
Avoid Peak Times
Key tips:
Travel off-season when possible - avoid summer and major holidays
Visit during weekdays instead of busy weekends
Arrive early, take a midday break, and stay late to avoid peak crowds
Research and Planning
Strategies to beat the crowds:
Check destination's festival and cruise ship schedules to avoid extra crowds
Consult guidebooks for expert tips on avoiding crowds
Stay in less touristy neighborhoods
Buy tickets for major sights online in advance
Getting Around
Making transportation easy:
Use TSA PreCheck and Mobile Passport to speed airport lines
Pack light to avoid checked bag lines
Consider alternatives to busy public transit during peak times
Wine Break
Ashleigh and Christopher review a bubbly Michigan rosé wine from Fenn Valley Vineyards.
Visiting Sitka, Alaska
The hosts recommend three sights in Sitka:
Fortress of the Bear rescue center
Alaska Raptor Center rehabilitation facility
Sitka National Historical Park with its totem poles
Closing
Ashleigh and Christopher sign off and remind listeners to leave reviews.

Ep 21: Disney Parks Announcements
Teaser
This week Ashleigh and Christopher break down all the major announcements about upcoming attractions and expansions across Disney's theme parks and cruise ships from the recent D23 Expo event. Get the inside scoop on what's coming soon to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disney's cruise fleet.
Intro
Ashleigh and Christopher introduce themselves and the podcast. They share their passion for travel and exploring the stories that make each destination unique.
D23 Overview
Ashleigh explains that D23 is Disney's biennial fan convention where they make major announcements about upcoming movies, parks expansions, etc. She notes that everything announced is currently in production, not just ideas, so there's a good chance it will actually happen.
Magic Kingdom Announcements
Villains-themed land with 2 attractions coming behind Big Thunder Mountain  
Cars-themed area replacing part of Frontierland, including Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America
New nighttime parade in the style of Main Street Electrical Parade
New Pirates of the Caribbean tavern
Hollywood Studios Announcements
Monsters Inc.-themed land with a doors rollercoaster
Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run ride getting an update with a new Mandalorian mission
Animal Kingdom Announcements
Dinoland becoming tropical Americas area
Indiana Jones ride replacing Dinosaur, using same track layout as Disneyland version but new story
Encanto attraction coming
Epcot Announcements
Test Track reimagining opening in 2025
New lounge themed to Spaceship Earth opening in 2023
Disneyland Announcements
Tiana's Bayou Adventure opening where Splash Mountain was
First Walt Disney animatronic debuting for park's 70th anniversary
California Adventure Announcements
Avengers Campus expanding with new Avengers and Iron Man rides
Coco dark ride coming in 2026
Pandora
International Parks
Frozen land coming to new Disney Adventure Park in Paris
Lion King ride coming to Paris, new nighttime show debuting
Spider-Man rides coming to Shanghai and Hong Kong
Tokyo getting new nighttime show
Disney Cruise Line
4 new ships announced, bringing fleet to 13 total
2 newest ships will have Hercules and Mulan shows
Wine Break
Ashleigh and Christopher talk about finding budget wines at grocery stores like Aldi and Costco. They taste test an Aldi Prosecco.
Closing
Ashleigh directs listeners to Disney Parks Blog for more details on announcements.

Top 10 New Places
In this episode, hosts Christopher and Ashleigh each share their top 5 places they want to travel to for the first time. They discuss the unique aspects of each destination that call to them, from the beaches of Hawaii to the historic streets of Kyoto.
Christopher's Picks
Mendoza wine region and Buenos Aires, Argentina
Alaska interior
Northern Spain - Camino de Santiago route
Mexico City
Barossa Valley, Australia
Ashleigh's Picks
Hawaii
Scotland
Provence, France
Yosemite National Park, California
Kyoto, Japan
Bonus Destinations
Some other picks that came up in discussion:
Costa Rica
Istanbul, Turkey
Hong Kong
South Africa
Seoul, South Korea
Wine Break
Christopher and Ashleigh try Mawby Winery's Yarrow aperitif wine, chilled and in spritz cocktails. They discuss the flavor profile and best pairing options.
Travel Tip
Ashleigh recommends using Eater city guides to find top local restaurants in a variety of prices and cuisines when traveling. She creates a custom Google Map to easily see recommendations nearby.
Christopher looks up airport dining guides from Eater when traveling through airports.

Ep 19: Venice & Italian Dining
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In this episode, Ashleigh and Christopher continue their Italy recap, focusing on Venice and dining in Italy.
Getting Around Venice
Venice is a series of islands connected by canals. Cars are not allowed except at the train station. The main ways to get around are:
Walking - Venice is very walkable. You can walk end to end in about 2 hours.
Vaporetto - Venice's water bus system. Be aware of pickpockets.
Water taxi - Expensive private water taxis.
Gondola - Mainly for tourists, expensive at 80+ euros.
Seeing Venice
Highlights in Venice:
Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs
Murano and its famous glass
Colorful Burano island
St. Mark's Basilica and Square
Rialto Bridge
Venice has a major overtourism problem, but crowds were smaller than normal when Ashleigh and Christopher visited.
The Food of Venice
Venice is known for seafood, but finding authentic Venetian cuisine is difficult. Most restaurants cater to tourists. Highlights include:
Spaghetti with anchovies
Salt cod
Shrimp dishes
Tiramisu - invented in Venice
Dining in Italy
Tips for dining in Italy:
Most Italians in the service industry speak English well.
Order coffee carefully - espresso vs. cappuccino vs. Americano.
Don't order cappuccino after lunch.
Expect amazing coffee everywhere.
Outdoor dining is common - food tastes better outside!
Make reservations, especially for popular restaurants.
Expect multi-course meals.
Ask for the check, it won't be brought automatically.
Tipping is less expected - round up the check or add a euro or two.
Gelato is delicious and available everywhere
Christopher & Ashleigh recommend the book Rick Steves Italy for Food Lovers for information about local cuisine in each region and tips for dining.
Ashleigh and Christopher enjoyed amazing food, wine, and dining experiences across Italy. Buon appetito!

Florence & Bologna
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Ashleigh and Christopher recap their time in Florence and Bologna during their trip through Italy. They discuss the sights, food, and wine in these two culturally rich cities.
Florence
The hosts stayed in the Oltrarno neighborhood, known for its hip, local vibe. They visited the famous Uffizi Gallery and saw Michelangelo's David at the Accademia Gallery. A highlight was a wine tour through Chianti Classico vineyards known for bold, full-bodied reds. For more information about the tour, check out Viator.
Quote: "Tuscany is known for full-bodied reds. That's really the main thing that they do." - Christopher
Food highlights in Florence included the famous Florentine steak, wild boar ragu, and gelato. Ashleigh recommends booking tickets for major sights like the Uffizi and Accademia in advance.
Bologna
The hosts discuss how Bologna is known as a foodie destination, with Emilia-Romagna cuisine that features Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, Parma ham, traditional balsamic vinegar from Modena, and mortadella.
They took a delicious food tour of Bologna, visiting markets and sampling local specialties. To book your own Bolognese food tour, check out Viator! The city is also known for its covered sidewalk porticoes. Ashleigh fell in love with the Emiliano Spritz cocktail featuring Lambrusco and apricot juice.
Wine Break
Christopher reviews a Nero d'Avola wine from Sicily, one of his favorite Italian red grapes. He notes it is fruit-forward with medium body, almost reminiscent of Malbec.

Ep 17: Sicily & Naples
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In this episode, hosts Christopher and Ashleigh recap their time in Sicily and Naples during their trip to Italy.
Sicily
Some highlights from Sicily:
They picked up a rental car in Catania which ended up being a larger SUV, making driving on narrow roads a challenge
They stayed near the towns of Aci Castello and Aci Trezza on the Mediterranean coast
They visited wineries on Mount Etna known for wines with volcanic minerality
The beaches were rocky due to the volcanic landscape
They saw the impressive Norman castle in Aci Castello built into the volcanic rock
Food highlights included pistachio everything, fried rice balls called arancini, fish dishes, and stuffed pizza unique to the region
They took a day trip to Taormina, a popular resort town with beautiful vistas and medieval architecture
Hiking Mount Etna and seeing the active craters was a highlight
To book your own tour of Taormina or a Guided Volcano Hike, check out Viator!
Naples
In Naples, they experienced:
Very crowded streets and a chaotic energy typical of the city
Walking tours of historic churches and areas like the Spanish Quarter
A pizza making class with a chef named Danielle where they learned techniques and enjoyed delicious appetizers
Tasting fresh San Marzano tomatoes, a key ingredient in Neapolitan pizza
Indulging in the cuoppo, a cone of mixed fried treats
Visiting the archaeological site of Pompeii and seeing a city frozen in time from 79 A.D.
Overall, Ashleigh and Christopher found Naples to be one of their favorite destinations in Italy with incredible food, fascinating history, and an authentic energy. To book your own Neapolitan Pizza making class, check out Viator!
Wine Break
They sampled Juculano, a light, floral sparkling Catarratto wine from Nicosia Vineyards in Sicily that perfectly embodied the island. Christopher provided background on the IGT designation in Italy and why it allows for expressive winemaking.

Italian Trains & Budget Transatlantic Flights
Travelers Christopher and Ashleigh introduce a new series of episodes detailing their recent 2.5 week trip to Italy. They start in Sicily and make their way north to Venice.
Getting Around Italy
The hosts took the train for transportation between cities in Italy. They found it convenient, inexpensive, and easy to book directly through the Italian train company, Trenitalia. Tips for booking:
Search city names in Italian
Understand the class of fare and refundability are separate options
Aim for Premium or Business class if traveling with luggage
They also discuss options for overnight trains and compare the sleeper cabins.
Flying to Italy on Budget Airlines
To get to Italy from the US on a budget, the hosts flew Spirit Airlines to New York, then connected to Paris on Norse Atlantic and then to Sicily on EasyJet. On the way back they flew EasyJet, French Bee, and United. Key discussion points:
Comparing premium economy on Norwegian vs French Bee
The convenience of a long Paris layover to see the city
Thoughts on Spirit, EasyJet, and bus gates
Overall they found budget airlines can offer more comfort with significant savings if you're flexible.
Brief Stopover in Paris
During their layover in Paris, the hosts walked 25,000 steps to see sights like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Much of the city was blocked off for Olympics preparation. They recommend getting a Metro ticket on your phone and having the latest OS version.
"Until next time, keep exploring, keep dreaming, and keep traveling by any means necessary."

Ep 15: Money Saving Tips
In this episode, Ashleigh and Christopher share their best tips for saving money while traveling so you can keep exploring the world without breaking the bank.
Be Flexible With Dates and Destinations
Don't get your heart set on one destination or timeframe. Being flexible allows you to find the best deals and values.
"We usually have a couple of places in mind...and a range of dates in mind. And we do some combination of airfare searching, hotel searching...to really zero in on the right place and the right time."
Use Patience When Booking Flights
Airfare fluctuates a lot. Watch prices and pull the trigger when the time is right instead of impulse booking.
"Just do some searching and know what you should expect to pay for that route for those dates."
Consider Alternative Accommodations
Vacation rentals through sites like Airbnb can save you money compared to hotels, especially for groups.
"We've had lots of great experiences in rentals and other kinds of non-traditional situations."
Read the Fine Print on Fees
Factor in all airline fees, hotel fees, etc. when comparison shopping to understand the real total cost.
Wine Break: Pignoletto from Emilia-Romagna
Pignoletto is a white wine grape native to the area around Bologna. It was recently discovered through DNA profiling to be the same grape as the Grechetto!
Rethink Rental Cars
In big cities, rental cars can be more hassle than they're worth. Consider public transit, walking, and ride shares instead.
Pack Light
Packing carry-on only saves money on fees and reduces the hassle of schlepping big bags around.
Consider Camping
Camping can put you steps away from destinations at a fraction of hotel prices. If you don't have camping gear, consider renting it from REI or borrowing from a friend or neighbor.
"We pay $35 a night instead of $350 a night in high season."
Take a Cruise
Cruises can be very cost-effective ways to see multiple destinations in one trip.
Set a Budget
Determine an overall budget and daily spending budget to understand costs and avoid overspending.
Key West, Florida
Key West is a historic and beautiful island destination with Hemingway and Truman history, beaches, and amazing seafood and Cuban food.
"It holds a special place in our heart and I would love to go back."

Ep 14: Top Ten Travel Meals
In this episode, hosts Ashleigh and Christopher share their top 10 favorite meals from all their travels. They each countdown their personal top 5, and also discuss some honorable mentions that didn't quite make the top 10 list.
Ashleigh's #1 - Jäger Schnitzel at Auslander in Fredericksburg, TX
Ashleigh's #1 pick is the Jäger schnitzel at Oslander, a German restaurant in Fredericksburg, TX. She describes it as pork schnitzel covered in a hunter style bacon and mushroom red wine sauce. She says it's one of the best things she's ever eaten.
Christopher's #1 - Lolita in Boston, MA
Christopher's #1 pick is Lolita, a modern Mexican restaurant in Boston. He talks about the fun atmosphere, good food and drinks like the complimentary granita they bring you.
Ashleigh's #2 - Ramen Tatsuya in Austin, TX
Ashleigh's #2 pick is Ramen Tatsuya in Austin, TX. She says it was her first time having real ramen, and it's still the best she's ever had. She describes the rainy day they went there when visiting Austin.
Christopher's #2 - La Parrilla at the Kiosks in Luquillo, Puerto Rico
Christopher's #2 pick is La Parrilla, a restaurant located at the Kiosks in Luquillo, Puerto Rico. He describes the outdoor food stall setting right on the beach. La Patrona had great Puerto Rican food like mofongo and other dishes served in pineapples.
Ashleigh's #3 - Ponto Final in Lisbon, Portugal
Ashleigh's #3 pick is Ponto Final, a restaurant in Lisbon located right on the Tagus River with views of the 25 de Abril Bridge. She made a reservation there for her birthday. The seafood was great but the ambiance is what really made it memorable.
Christopher's #3 - Japadog in Vancouver, Canada
Christopher's #3 pick is Japadog in Vancouver, which serves Japanese-inspired hot dogs. He explains the fusion of Japanese flavors on hot dogs, and how it was started by Japanese immigrants to Vancouver. They went there because of a reference to it on the TV show Psych.
Wine Break
They take a break to talk about the Carignan wine from Texas they are drinking. They discuss the warm weather appropriateness of certain lighter red wines.
Ashleigh's #4 - Monteverde in Chicago, IL
Ashleigh's #4 pick is Monteverde, an Italian restaurant in Chicago. She raves about the in-house made pastas and pistachio pesto gnocchi. She mentions it's hard to get a reservation there.
Christopher's #4 - Terry Black's BBQ in Austin, TX
Christopher's #4 pick is Terry Black's BBQ in Austin. He talks about their delicious brisket and sides like mac and cheese. It's one of their go-to spots whenever they visit Austin.
Ashleigh's #5 - Ja Se Sabe in Furnas, Azores
Ashleigh's #5 pick is Ja Se Sabe, a restaurant in Furnas, Azores where they cook traditional stews in the volcanic thermal springs. She describes the incredible experience of eating there after touring the hot springs.
Christopher's #5 - Suerte in Austin, TX
Christopher's #5 pick is Suerte in Austin. He describes it as Mexican-inspired but with its own modern twist. He mentions dishes like pistachio guacamole that demonstrate the clever fusion going on there.
Honorable Mentions
They discuss some other favorites that didn't quite crack the top 10 lists, like the Terra Restaurant at Frenchman's Bay in Maine, Moderno Churrascaria, and more.
Travel Tip
Locate your passport and make sure it's valid several weeks or a month before any big trip. Christopher almost couldn't find his passport right before a trip they had planned to Canada.
 

Ep13: Carry On Only
Travelers Ashleigh and Christopher dive into the benefits of traveling with only a carry-on bag and share tips for packing light. They discuss clever packing strategies, minimizing liquids, and how doing laundry on the can help get the most out of a small bag. The hosts also spotlight their recent trip to San Francisco, where they rode cable cars, ate Mission-style burritos, and stayed at the tech-forward Citizen M hotel.
Packing Light
Checking bags takes more time at the airport and makes transportation like trains more difficult.
Pack clothes that can be mixed and matched, and plan to do laundry on your trip.
Use packing cubes, roll clothes tightly, and wear bulky shoes and coats on travel days.
Look for travel-specific and quick-drying clothes. Shoes are often the hardest to pack lightly.
Liquids
Find dry versions of toiletries when possible.
Use TSA-approved bottles and tubes to consolidate liquids.
Buy large quantities of toiletries like sunscreen once you arrive.
San Francisco
Rode the cable cars and walked along Fisherman's Wharf.
Visited the aquarium and got ice cream at Ghirardelli Square.
Took a boat tour around the Golden Gate Bridge.
Explored the Mission District and historic Mission San Francisco de Asís.
Stayed at the modern, tech-focused Citizen M hotel.
Wine Break
The hosts try Ooba, an experimental "brut red" wine from Modales winery in Michigan's small Fenville AVA. Made from native grapes, it has funky, natural flavors that would pair well with club soda in a spritzer.