About Matt Long
Who am I? I am a typical Gen-Xer and recovering cubicle-dweller who has a passion for all things travel. My site brings a unique perspective that is hard to find online. I am not a backpacker, nor am I...
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Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Sites
11 April 2013 11:55 PM | 14 Comments -
20 Things Every Smart Traveler Should Know
11 March 2013 11:55 PM | 33 Comments -
Five Foods You Must Eat in Europe
12 November 2012 8:10 PM | 23 Comments -
Five Reasons to Stop Dreaming and Travel Now
16 April 2012 11:55 PM | 44 Comments -
So What’s Reykjavik Really Like?
28 February 2012 11:55 PM | 30 Comments
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South Africa Archive
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Meet South Africa Instagram Video
Posted on May 16, 2013 | No CommentsI returned just a few days ago from beautiful South Africa, where I was part of an exciting project designed to promote the country. The campaign included 15 international bloggers following a variety of different routes around the country in order to explore and share... -
Quick Thoughts on South Africa
Posted on May 13, 2013 | 6 CommentsAs I board a plane back home to Washington, DC today I find myself reflecting on my second experience traveling through South Africa. After my first visit last year to Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula I fell in love, but I wasn’t sure how... -
Meet South Africa: Adventure Travel Itinerary
Posted on April 30, 2013 | 12 CommentsLast week I received an unconventional invitation in my email inbox from South Africa Tourism. It was a video inviting me to return to South Africa and explore more of this wonderful country. In August 2012, I was part of a remarkable campaign to highlight... -
Sex, Slaves and Song: An Unusual Walk Through Cape Town
Posted on March 24, 2013 | 9 CommentsI’ve been on about 4,312,131 walking tours in my life. Well, maybe not that many but definitely close to it. I like them on the whole, but lately I’ve been very picky about which ones I book. No longer am I content for a run... -
Penguins Will Bite – A Visit to Boulders Beach Near Cape Town
Posted on February 14, 2013 | No CommentsOne of the things I remember most about Cape Town is the stunning natural beauty that exists in clear overabundance. I thought that I’d get over the amazing vistas at every turn but I never did, and one of my favorite places to visit combined... -
Five Not to Miss Cape Town Experiences
Posted on February 10, 2013 | 10 Comments1. Table Mountain – No visit to Cape Town can be considered complete with a visit to the city’s most iconic image, Table Mountain. Well, unless you’re me. When I visited the cable car to the top was out of service, so I sadly never... -
Five Things You Should Know Before Going on Safari
Posted on November 28, 2012 | 25 Comments1. Be prepared – Going on a safari is not your standard travel experience. First of all, it’s probably the result of a lot of planning and saving on your part and because of that you expect to get a lot out of the experience.... -
Cape Town’s Alcatraz – A Somber Visit to Robben Island
Posted on November 11, 2012 | 4 CommentsThe sign at the ticket office said that all tours for the next two weeks were sold out, weird for winter in South Africa. But sure enough, the ferry was packed with tourists and locals alike as we made the short trip to one of... -
Five Words To Know Before You Visit South Africa
Posted on November 4, 2012 | 15 CommentsEvery country has its own unique linguistic quirks and picking up on these is inevitable when you visit. I heard many new terms during my trip to Cape Town, but these are my five favorite South Africa words and phrases. 1. Pleasure – Pronounced [Pleeee-sure].... -
Politics and Prose: Some More Thoughts About South Africa
Posted on October 22, 2012 | 1 CommentThe other day during the Presidential debates a South African Twitter follower commented how she wished their elected leaders would debate each other. That made me pause for a second until I realized that most countries in the world don’t have debates per se as... -
Walking the Fringe in Cape Town
Posted on October 7, 2012 | 2 CommentsWhen I first heard that Cape Town had been named the World Design Capital for 2014, I didn’t fully appreciate what that really means. Images of Project Runway filled my brain and I weakly congratulated my Cape Town hosts when I heard the news, secretly... -
Exploring the Colorful Bo Kaap Neighborhood in Cape Town
Posted on September 24, 2012 | 11 CommentsWalking into the colorful Bo Kaap neighborhood in Cape Town is like going from black and white to amazing Technicolor. The sun peeked through the clouds compounding the dazzling effects of the bright colors gracing the homes and businesses; I felt like Dorothy waking up... -
Six Funny Signs I Found in Africa
Posted on September 18, 2012 | 9 CommentsI’ve seen a lot of strange, unusual and downright odd sign around the world, but for some reason I saw more than normal while traveling through southern Africa. I realize that most of these signs are funny to me because I don’t live there, but... -
42 Things I Love About Cape Town
Posted on September 16, 2012 | 18 Comments1. Being surrounded by natural beauty at every turn 2. Koeksisters and coffee 3. Visit to Robben Island, where Mandela was once imprisoned 4. Playing with kids during a biking tour of Masiphumelele Township 5. Jamming along at late night jazz clubs 6. Eating a... -
Finding Joy in an Unlikely Place – Exploring South Africa’s Cape Peninsula
Posted on September 10, 2012 | 7 CommentsThere are some places on this great planet that just resonate with our souls on a very base, almost instinctual level. There’s no rhyme or reason to this metaphysical travel experience, it can happen anywhere at anytime to anyone. I’ve been fortunate enough to feel... -
The Other Side: Biking Through a Township in Cape Town
Posted on September 3, 2012 | 4 CommentsGrowing up in the 1980s as an American had its advantages. I have fond memories of the Smurfs, shirts with iron-on decals and big hair. It was also an interesting time to grow up politically, and I remember first hearing about South Africa as a... -
Salt is Love and Other Lessons Learned From a Cape Malay Cooking Experience
Posted on August 27, 2012 | 7 CommentsI was a little worried walking into the house at #109 on the slopes of Signal Hill. Before my trip to Cape Town I’d never heard of Cape Malay; I knew nothing about the people or culture; and certainly had no idea what comprised a... -
Great White Shark Diving in South Africa
Posted on August 20, 2012 | 27 CommentsI’d like to think I’d try just about anything once, well except for watching the Spice Girls in concert. That I cannot do. But as far as adventurey, travely experiences go I’m willing to try it all. Jump off the wall of a gorge attached... -
Five Ways Cape Town, South Africa Surprised Me
Posted on August 14, 2012 | 29 CommentsI recently returned home from an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime journey exploring Cape Town and the surrounding region. I spent a week in the Mother City as the guest of Cape Town Tourism and it was my first time visiting both South Africa and Cape Town. I... -
The Big Reveal: My Next Trip is to…
Posted on July 22, 2012 | 15 CommentsOk, so if you follow me on Twitter then you’ve probably figured this out already, but I thought I’d make the announcement official. This Friday I leave for a once in a lifetime adventure in Cape Town, South Africa. It will be my first visit... -
Leopards and Luxury at Phinda Private Game Reserve
Posted on January 3, 2011 | 3 CommentsToday I am pleased to share a guest post written by the remarkable Dave Dean, the man behind What’s Dave Doing? - a terrific resource for travel information and inspiration. Dave was good enough to do this guest post about a country to which I...
