Go See Do Explore

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.

November 2024 Travel News
Airline News
5 Airports with Longest TSA Wait Times for Thanksgiving 2023
Delta Suing Crowdstrike Meltdown
Delta working towards Adaptive Wheelchair Seats
American airlines begins using TSA's Touchless ID Program
Spirit and Frontier Merger Back on the Table
Cruise News
Royal Caribbean plans Perfect Day Mexico
Legionnaires outbreaks linked to cruise ship hot tubs
MSC Cruises adding Alaska itineraries in 2026
EPA fines Royal Caribbean $475,000 for waste reporting violations
U.S. Travel News
Boeing workers end 7-week strike
North Carolina DOT sets January 1st opening for damaged stretch of I-40
Disney introduces skip the line plan that can cost over $450 per person per day
News from Europe
British Airways suspending London Gatwick to New York flights
Venice doubling day trip fees in 2025 to address overcrowding
Wine Break
Christopher and Ashleigh try the 2018 Silhouette red blend from Chateau Grand Traverse and discuss proper wine storage techniques for aging wine at home.

Destination Spotlight: Austin, Texas
Ashleigh and Christopher dive into all the reasons why they love visiting Austin, Texas, from the music scene to the food trucks to outdoor spots like Zilker Park and Lady Bird Lake.
Introducing Austin
The hosts reminisce about their first cheap flight to Austin in February 2020 and how they quickly fell in love with the city. They've returned many times since.
Top Attractions
Some of their favorite things to do in Austin include:
Texas State Capitol
Austin Public Library
South Congress area for shopping and murals
Yeti Flagship Store
LBJ Presidential Library
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool
Mount Bonnell hike
Lady Bird Lake for paddling
Bats under South Congress Bridge
The city is also a great home base for visiting the Texas Hill Country wineries, San Antonio, and other surrounding areas.
Live Music Scene
Christopher talks about Austin's famous live music venues, including Austin City Limits, 6th Street, Antone's, and his personal favorite Rainey Street historic district.
Food Trucks and Barbecue
Ashleigh highlights Austin's incredible food scene, from the barbecue joints like Terry Black's to the fusion flavors at Loro to the breakfast taco trucks all over town.
Tips for Visiting
Some of their tips for getting the most out of an Austin trip include looking at vacation rentals, relying on rideshares or scooter rentals for transportation, and sampling from the variety of restaurants through small plates and food tours.

Christopher's First Travel Memory
Chris's first real travel memory is a trip to the Smoky Mountains with his family when he was very young. This trip stood out because it was his dad's first paid vacation ever. His mom emphasized how special it was, which opened up his love of travel and realizing how special it can be. He also remembers his mom making him practice walking a lot for the hiking they would do. This instilled a lifelong love of walking in Chris.
Christopher's First Backpacking Trip
Christopher chooses a week-long backpacking trip in the Porcupine Mountains in 2002 to represent his early travels. This was his first multi-day "in the woods" experience of hiking and camping. It led to many similar trips and defined his main travel style in his late teens and twenties. He remembers how remote and rugged it was, having to carry everything and cook all your own food. The park is beautiful and started his love of travel via hiking and camping.
Ashleigh's First Trip To Europe
In high school, Ashleigh went on a summer exchange program and visited four countries and six cities in Europe over three weeks. This showed her she loves traveling to multiple places and not just sitting in one spot. After the trip, a host family asked if she'd come back to Europe soon. She said she wanted to see more of the U.S. first, naming places like the Grand Canyon and California she hoped to visit. This inspired her to see more of America before going back overseas.
Maine Inspires a Career Change
On a 2019 trip to Maine, Christopher had a pivotal moment while hiking alone on the coast as the rain poured down. He realized he was unhappy with his career and wanted more freedom and flexibility. This travel moment sparked major career changes just two years later, proving to Christopher the clarity travel can provide. He wishes to return to Maine  to complete the full circle.
Finger Lakes Wine Adventure
Ashleigh shares a late 2019 trip to the Finger Lakes region of New York. They visited wineries, bought a lot of wine, and really got into learning about small production, boutique wines. After COVID hit, those same wineries they discovered started offering great deals. Wine became a bigger part of their life and travels after this trip.
Yellowstone National Park Workcation
In 2021, Ashleigh and Christopher took their first "workcation" with an extended 3-week trip. A highlight was managing to get a room at the famous Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone with just a couple weeks notice. Being able to watch the sunset and Old Faithful erupt right from their balcony was a memorable moment only possible because Christopher could work remotely.
Christopher's Clarity in Naples
On a summer 2022 trip to Italy, Christopher had a pivotal moment while looking out over Naples and Mount Vesuvius. Despite stresses earlier that week, taking in the incredible view gave him perspective that his problems were small in the grand scheme of things. This Neapolitan clarity has stuck with him through challenges since and reminds him what's important.
Ashleigh's Return to Europe
For her last pick, Ashleigh chooses their 2023 transatlantic cruise because it represented a return to Europe after many years. She loved getting back to the continent in such an unusual way - by cruise ship! It was an amazing three weeks at sea and exploring Portugal, showing Ashleigh's love of non-traditional travel.
The Wine Break
Christopher and Ashleigh enjoy a glass of white port from Vieira de Sousa winery which they visited on their trip to Portugal. They reminisce about the floral flavors and woman-owned winery. While slightly oxidized after a year, the balanced sweetness still shines through.