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 | 15 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 America Archive
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Antarctica in Five Words
Posted on May 7, 2013 | 3 CommentsAntarctica isn’t your normal travel experience; it’s extreme in just about every way imaginable from how you get there to what you see during the trip. There are a lot of ways to describe and share this experience, but these five words encapsulate it for... -
Ice and Muck: Hiking Experience in Antarctica
Posted on April 16, 2013 | 10 CommentsIt’s easy to lose perspective in Antarctica. Well not personal perspective, that’s heightened; no it’s physical perspective that is hard to maintain. Everything is just so massive and white and seems to go on forever. So when I walked out onto the deck of the... -
March of the Penguins – Can You Handle the Cute?
Posted on April 7, 2013 | 11 CommentsEver since I returned from Antarctica on my Adventure Life sponsored trip, one of the first things people have asked to see are my penguin photos. I’ve already included quite a few in my coverage so far, but I thought I’d show you the full... -
42 Things I Love About Antarctica
Posted on March 26, 2013 | 5 Comments1. Penguins 2. Putting a GoPro camera on the bow of the ship 3. The fact you can fly there 4. Realizing that Austral summer isn’t ‘that’ cold 5. Going for a swim in the icy waters 6. The gentle sway of the ship at... -
Life on an Antarctic Base
Posted on March 17, 2013 | 11 CommentsBefore going to bed, the expedition leader told us to expect rough waters over night as we tried to approach the station. Tried was the key word, they hadn’t been able to visit yet that season due to high winds and an overabundance of ice.... -
Walking on Water in Antarctica
Posted on March 10, 2013 | 5 CommentsI hated the life jackets. They were unlike any kind I’ve seen before and demanded priest-like patience and the ability to complete a Rubik’s cube in less than 30 seconds. Adding to this challenging feat of physics was my giant, no, enormous parka I had... -
How to Spend a Day in Punta Arenas, Chile
Posted on March 7, 2013 | 7 CommentsIf you’re doing a fly-cruise to Antarctica (like I did when I partnered with the tour company Adventure Life) or if you’re exploring Patagonia and Torre del Paine National Park, then chances are you will spend at least some time in Punta Arenas, an unlikely... -
Penguins: The Hard Truth (And Cute Photos)
Posted on March 3, 2013 | 15 CommentsIf there is one thing that Antarctica has in clear abundance, well aside from ice, it has to be penguins. On the first day of my trip the expedition staff promised we’d be tired of seeing penguins by the end of the trip and while... -
The Good, the Bad and the Insulated – The Truth About Packing for Antarctica
Posted on February 28, 2013 | 2 CommentsI took too much. I knew it before I started packing and it was even clearer after sitting on my suitcase in order to pull the zipper shut. I had a lot of concerns about packing for Antarctica; it’s unlike any other trip I’ve ever... -
VIDEO: Antarctica in Three Minutes
Posted on February 27, 2013 | No CommentsI’ve been tinkering around with video lately and thought I’d share this little montage. It’s a look back at the highlights of my recent trip to Antarctica, an amazing adventure is there ever was one. I visited Antarctica through the sponsorship of Adventure Life, an... -
Surprised by Santiago – A Photo Tour
Posted on February 26, 2013 | 4 CommentsI can only blame my genetic predisposition to labeling broad swaths of the planet with the same cultural brushstroke for my misconceptions about Chile. As an American, when I think of South America certain images come to mind. Call it a form of cultural racism,... -
Antarctica in Five Photos
Posted on February 24, 2013 | 8 CommentsThere is no lack of penguins in Antarctica, they are a constant feature for any visitor. But one day in particular stands out when I think about these cute Antarctic residents. The ship anchored in the quiet bay of Orne Island early in the morning,... -
Fly-Cruise to Antarctica – What It Is and Why to Take It
Posted on February 21, 2013 | 13 CommentsI had never heard of a fly-cruise before my recent trip to Antarctica but without it I probably would never have visited my seventh continent. I always thought that people visited Antarctica the same way; by taking a ship from Ushuaia, Argentina across the stormy... -
Five Things You (Probably) Don’t Know About Antarctica
Posted on February 19, 2013 | 2 CommentsThis is the latest post in my series about Antarctica. The trip was made possible thanks to Adventure Life, the small group adventure tour company that specializes in, among other things, Antarctica cruises. 1. Alive with wildlife – I think most of us realize there... -
Why I Was Nervous About Antarctica
Posted on February 17, 2013 | 15 CommentsI recently returned from a life affirming, bucket list trip to Antarctica aboard the Ocean Nova as the guest of Adventure Life, the small group adventure travel tour company. Before leaving for my trip the reality of traveling to one of the most remote and... -
GoPro Video of a Zodiac Boat Ride in Antarctica
Posted on February 16, 2013 | 1 CommentZodiac Ride in Antarctica from Matt long on Vimeo. -
My Next Adventure – Journey to Antarctica and the Bottom of the World
Posted on January 31, 2013 | 8 CommentsThere are certain places in the world that grip my imagination and never let go. The Australian Outback, safari in Africa, the wildlife in the Galapagos and of course Antarctica. Last year I found myself in the middle of the Chobe River in Namibia,... -
Four Surprising Things About Buenos Aires Cuisine
Posted on April 18, 2012 | 12 CommentsBuenos Aires has long been on my travel list for many reasons, but food wasn’t one of them – until now. This fabulous guest post by travel blogger Stephanie Yoder of Twenty-Something Travel.com gives us four great reasons to visit the capital of Argentina and... -
The Truth About The Mayan Calendar And The Cycles Of Our Lives
Posted on February 20, 2012 | 6 CommentsI was looking through some travel promotions lately and noticed a theme, at least in one part of the world. Disaster. End of the world. The Seven Horsemen are coming, so why not come to Mexico and enjoy some snorkeling? That’s right, on December 21,... -
My Four Least Romantic Travel Experiences
Posted on February 13, 2012 | 19 CommentsJust to preface this post, these are my personal least romantic experiences. I don’t mean to say that these activities are themselves inherently unromantic, but for us they were anything but romantic. 1. Flying anywhere - I can’t think of anything that can ruin a... -
Salta the Beautiful
Posted on December 19, 2011 | 2 CommentsToday I am pleased to introduce a beautiful post by guest contributor Craig Martin of Indie Travel Podcast. Salta, a beautiful colonial town in north west Argentina has long been proud of its food, but now it has reason to be proud of its art,... -
Sneaking into Bolivia’s San Pedro Prison
Posted on May 26, 2011 | 10 CommentsToday’s guest post is a very unique story by Jason Batansky, from Locationless Living, a location independent traveler who apparently has no fear. Although sneaking into a Bolivian prison may not sound like a tourist activity, Jason shares his very unique experience doing just that.... -
The Three Prettiest Pueblos in Colombia
Posted on May 22, 2011 | 10 CommentsToday I am pleased to feature a post by the expert travel blogger, David Lee. David is an authority on many travel subjects, but his move to Columbia added this South American country to his repertoire. This is a beautiful post about little known spots... -
The Post Office at the End of the World
Posted on April 14, 2011 | 13 CommentsThere are certain rights of passage in which every visitor to the Galapagos Islands must participate: crossing the equator celebration, playing with giant tortoises and a visit to Post Office Bay. The Galapagos remains the best preserved natural wonder in the world for two reasons:... -
Beer, Boobies and the Southern Cross in the Galapagos
Posted on March 21, 2011 | 10 CommentsIt was the next to last night on a week long cruise of the Galapagos aboard the Lindblad/National Geographic ship, The Endeavour. Unlike a mega-ship tour of the Caribbean, the Endeavour is a fairly small ship, and the exploration of the island chain included rigorous... -
Palm Tree, Happy Tree
Posted on March 3, 2011 | 6 CommentsWhen people are asked to name a dream travel destination, a majority usually select fantastic tropical locales featuring swaying palms. Work, family obligations and the general routine of normal life makes many of us dream about exotic travel; windy beaches, margaritas by the pool and... -
Four Unique Galapagos Experiences
Posted on February 16, 2011 | 5 CommentsThe Galapagos archipelago is famous for two things: Darwin and its rich animal life. What most people don’t anticipate before their first trip to these fantasy islands are the unique, once in a lifetime experiences you can only find in the Galapagos. Swim with a... -
Malecon 2000 – Guayaquil River Walk
Posted on January 11, 2011 | No CommentsWhile en route to the Galapagos last year, we spent time in the Ecuadorian port city of Guayaquil preparing for our expedition. On the return home, we had time to really explore the city and were thrilled to find one of the most impressive public... -
Cruising the Galapagos with Alex Trebek
Posted on December 14, 2010 | 10 CommentsAlex Trebek In May 2009, a week after returning from a 13 day trip to the Mediterranean, I received a call that would make a huge impact on my life. It was someone telling me that I was one of the winners in the... -
Three Reasons to Visit the Galapagos Now
Posted on November 14, 2010 | 9 CommentsIf you ask someone for their travel bucket list, the Galapagos Islands are almost always near the top, and with good reason. The Galapagos are an exceedingly important group of islands, not only for their history with Darwin but for what they mean to our... -
Galapagos Kayak Disaster
Posted on October 21, 2010 | 3 CommentsWhile I’m not a traditional outdoorsy kind of guy, I do love just about anything water related. Swimming, boating, kayaking, canoeing, you name it, I’ve probably done it and had a blast in the process. That’s why when the opportunity arose in the Galapagos to... -
Is Ecotourism Sustainable?
Posted on August 11, 2010 | 14 CommentsLast year I actually won a sweepstakes (one of those that no one ever wins) for a trip to the Galapagos Islands. Beyond Darwin, I knew nothing of the archipelago and went only because it was free. However, my week touring this eco-wonder changed my... -
Wildlife of the Galapagos Photo Series
Posted on May 26, 2010 | 3 CommentsThere are many reasons to travel to the Galapagos, but ultimately it’s all about the wildlife. Here are some of my favorite pictures from our Galapagos expedition. -
Five Unforgettable Travel Experiences
Posted on April 1, 2010 | 11 CommentsThere are thousands of unique sites and scenes around the world, each wonderful in their own way. However, I am constantly amazed at how many people travel without truly experiencing them. It is important to think outside the box when traveling; to find ways to... -
Learning About Island Life in the Galapagos
Posted on March 30, 2010 | 7 CommentsGalapagos Island Life I never thought I would travel with an organized group–I have gleefully pointed and smirked at tourist laden motor coaches stopping for a chance to buy “handmade” ceramics or, God help us, rugs. I never considered it to be “real” travel...
