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 | 31 Comments
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Canada Archive
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What NOT To Do in Montreal
Posted on January 20, 2013 | 17 CommentsI love Montreal but like every destination there are things you should and shouldn’t do when you visit. On a twist on the ever popular blog meme, here is my list of things to avoid doing at all costs when visiting Montreal. Don’t learn any... -
Staying at the Most Photographed Hotel in the World
Posted on January 17, 2013 | 6 CommentsThe savvy traveler in me would like to say that it was the history and Old World beauty that first drew me to Quebec City, but I don’t think that’s true. No, I think I succumbed to an age-old travel habit, traveling somewhere just to... -
Five Things You (Probably) Don’t Know About Quebec City
Posted on December 17, 2012 | 12 Comments1. French Not Required – Quebec is a complicated province. Thanks to a quirky history, the province is a bastion of French life in North America. French is the majority and sole official language of the province and about 80% of the population are native... -
42 Things I Love About Montreal
Posted on December 11, 2012 | 7 Comments1. Strange mix of Old and New World that IS Montreal 2. Wandering around McGill University 3. River surfing 4. Looking for the traditional Parisian metro sign at Victoria Square 5. Shopping at the old Bon Secours Market 6. Wandering around the Quai Jacques Cartier... -
No Coat Required – Taking the Montreal Underground City Challenge
Posted on December 9, 2012 | 8 Comments“Yes, it’s possible,” our guide said as he rattled off a chain of directions I had no chance of remembering. He looked confused when we asked whether or not it was possible to get back to our hotel without going above ground, but the more... -
Wandering Through Old Quebec City at Christmas
Posted on December 2, 2012 | 9 CommentsWhether or not you’re a religious person it’s hard to deny a certain warm feeling that walking through a great city during the holidays provides. Some cities do this better than others and my all time favorites tend to be in Europe. But if you’re... -
Quebec City in Five Photos
Posted on November 25, 2012 | 19 CommentsAfter years of pining, I recently had the opportunity to explore the picturesque town of Quebec City. I have long drooled over the photos of European style shops and stories of warm people and delicious food and I wasn’t disappointed. Everything I had heard about... -
Five of the Least Scary Places in the World
Posted on October 30, 2012 | 8 CommentsThe leaves have turned, there’s a chill in the air and smells of apple pie and fresh cider have filled the kitchens of millions. Fall is here and with it the favorite holiday of many, Halloween. In the past I’ve written about fun places to... -
42 Things I Love About Banff, Canada (in the winter)
Posted on October 15, 2012 | 19 Comments1. Curling up next to a roaring fire with a good book, watching the snow fall outside 2. Great skiing, if that’s your thing 3. Surprisingly excellent food at Masala Authentic Indian Cuisine 4. The gorgeous drive from Calgary into the mountains 5. Relaxing in... -
Five Cities That Deserve a Second Chance
Posted on October 8, 2012 | 32 CommentsTravel isn’t always rainbows and baby camels. Sometimes bad things happen and sometimes we visit places that we don’t like. I know, I know, there’s something good to be found everywhere; except when you don’t want to find it. Usually when I don’t like a... -
Battling Armies to See a Cabin in Canada
Posted on August 15, 2012 | 4 CommentsIt was an armed assault. They were coming from every direction, replacements quickly taking the place of their fallen peers. Buzzing around at a rate that can only rival the late Jurassic Period, the insect life in Saskatchewan during summer can be a daunting foe.... -
Unlikely Foodie Capital – Saskatoon?
Posted on July 31, 2012 | 3 CommentsIf asked, I would never call myself a foodie, not really. I mean I eat and I like food, but my high level of pickiness has traditionally prevented me from getting too involved with the foodie world. Lately however I’ve found myself in a number... -
How To Go Glamping in Saskatchewan
Posted on July 23, 2012 | 3 CommentsWhen I was a young child I was in the Boy Scouts. I’m not really sure why I was in the Boy Scouts exactly; I didn’t enjoy the experience – not really. But my parents thought it was something a young boy should do and... -
Five Things You Don’t Know About Saskatchewan
Posted on July 8, 2012 | 17 CommentsToday I leave for Saskatoon, located in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. I’ll be there all week as part of a project sponsored by the Canadian Tourism Commission and Travel + Leisure magazine: The Canadian Trailblazer Contest and the Explore Like A Local campaign. For... -
Explore Canada Like A Local: Canadian Trailblazer Contest!
Posted on June 25, 2012 | 2 CommentsWhile I spend way too much time on social media, I don’t expect everyone else to so you may not have seen my announcements about an exciting new project sponsored by the Canadian Tourism Commission and Travel + Leisure magazine. In just a couple of... -
Frozen in Time – Exploring Rural Alberta On An Ice Walk
Posted on March 14, 2012 | 4 CommentsSo here’s something strange about me: I love nature, I love being outside and enjoying the best that Mother Nature has to offer, but I’m not necessarily outdoorsy. What’s the difference you ask? Well, outdoorsy people can live in a tent, commune with nature and... -
Weird Museum of the Stuffed and Dead in Banff
Posted on February 29, 2012 | 1 CommentIt was Saturday afternoon in Banff. We had just returned from an all-morning ice hike and Scott was firmly planted in front of the TV watching football playoff games. I decided it was the perfect opportunity to explore more of Banff on foot, I even... -
Five Things I Bet You Don’t Know About Banff
Posted on February 23, 2012 | 6 Comments1. Where it is – When I first started researching a trip to Banff way back in 2010, I really had no idea where it was. I knew it was in Canada and that it had a funny name and that was the extent of... -
Naked Peace of Mind – Taking the Waters at the Banff Upper Hot Springs
Posted on February 16, 2012 | 4 CommentsHot springs aren’t for everyone. First, they can be a bit of a hassle in all honesty, especially when the temperature is negative some ungodly number and you arrive bundled in at least thirty layers of clothing. Then there’s the unpleasant experience of changing alongside... -
Flying Down a Mountain – Banff Snow Tubing Adventure and Video
Posted on February 9, 2012 | 1 CommentI don’t ski, not at all. I don’t even try anymore lest I further cause injury to myself and others. That’s why I was a little dubious as we drove up to the Mount Norquay Ski Resort in Banff, Canada. After all, they’re kind of... -
True or False – A Look at Six Stereotypes About Canada
Posted on January 31, 2012 | 27 CommentsI admit, in the past I may have made some jokes at the expense of our friends to the north. I seem to remember a quip involving America’s hat in particular. But those days are gone, I’m now an avowed lover of Canada and her... -
My Birthday and Dogsledding Through Two Provinces
Posted on January 25, 2012 | 10 CommentsTomorrow is my birthday and for the 8th year in a row I’m 29, amazing feat really. Since it’s my birthday, I thought I’d write about two things I love: dogs and travel. No, it’s not a story about some strange traveling dog or how... -
Five (non-ski) Reasons to Visit Banff in the Winter
Posted on January 22, 2012 | 12 Comments1. Tons of activities - Banff is one of the top ski destinations in the world, but if you’re like me and don’t ski (I just fall) there’s still a lot to do in and around this mountain town. We spent a long weekend in... -
Importance of Supporting Local Communities When You Travel
Posted on January 16, 2012 | 14 CommentsA few weeks ago I published an informative guest post by Amanda Williams all about Sustainable Tourism. I particularly enjoyed the post because while it’s easy to bandy about the term ‘sustainable,’ very few people actually understand what it means to practice sustainable travel. I... -
Best of Banff in Photos
Posted on January 15, 2012 | 17 CommentsI spent a long weekend exploring the winter playground of Banff, Alberta, Canada at the invitation of Banff Lake Louise Tourism. Since I had never been to this part of Canada before, the goal was to both explore the region and to highlight some of... -
Follow Me to Banff, Banff, Banff
Posted on January 11, 2012 | 8 CommentsI’m a big fan of the old (is 80/90s old?) comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. When Bill Watterson was still writing, I read every strip and bought every book. One of my favorite strips was a Sunday color version featuring Calvin and Hobbes having a... -
The Dizzying Capilano Cliffwalk Experience in Vancouver
Posted on August 24, 2011 | 3 CommentsThe Capilano Cliffwalk is the newest addition to the Capilano Suspension Bridge experience in Vancouver. Just like the bridge, the cliff walk brings visitors closer to the fantastic views by becoming part of them. Cliffwalk is a series of walkways perched 70 meters over the... -
Travel Spotlight – Capilano Suspension Bridge, Vancouver
Posted on August 15, 2011 | 2 CommentsThe Capilano Suspension Bridge is one of Vancouver’s oldest tourist attractions. The original bridge was completed in 1889 and was a modest effort made of hemp rope and wood planks set perilously high over the Capilano River. The bridge was replaced with a more sturdy... -
Zip Lining in the Snow – How I Lost My Zip Line Virginity
Posted on June 21, 2011 | 5 CommentsI recently attended a conference in Vancouver that was, in part, sponsored by Tourism Vancouver. They were also good enough to offer a variety of complimentary day tours before the start of the conference, including the one I chose, the North Shore Combo with the... -
Four Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Vancouver
Posted on June 15, 2011 | 8 CommentsI recently spent a few days exploring the great city of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. I instantly fell in love with the beauty of it all, the harbor on which the city rests and the snow covered mountains in the distance. As I... -
The Morality of Dog Sled Tours and Responsible Travel
Posted on February 6, 2011 | 21 CommentsIn my post, To Zoo or Not to Zoo, I discussed animal welfare and the responsibility of the traveler when taking part in animal related activities around the world. In that post I showed my true colors as a bleeding-heart animal lover, a title from... -
Top Romantic Travel Moments – Valentine’s Day Travel Ideas
Posted on February 6, 2011 | 2 CommentsI have mixed feelings about Valentine’s Day. It has always seemed so contrived and artificial, why do we need a day to tell our significant others that we love them? On a personal level, throughout our nearly decade long relationship, my partner and I... -
Canada is Hard to Visit
Posted on December 13, 2010 | 19 CommentsTwice in the past few months Scott and I have tried, unsuccessfully, to plan a long weekend in Canada. Our first idea was to visit Montreal over Thanksgiving. The second trip idea was to travel to Banff over a long weekend in January. In both...
