A cruise from San Juan offers something most departure ports cannot: the chance to turn embarkation into a Puerto Rico vacation of its own.

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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!

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

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.