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About Matt Long
06 July 2011 8:08 PM | No CommentsWho am I? I am a typical Gen-X professional 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 living off of a trust fund. I am...
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Five Reasons to Stop Dreaming and Travel Now
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So What’s Reykjavik Really Like?
28 February 2012 11:55 PM | 12 Comments -
Top Five Travel iPad Apps
06 January 2011 11:55 PM | 24 Comments -
Vatican City Scavi Tour
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Don’t Be a Touron
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As Seen In:
United States Archive
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Journey to America’s Forgotten Capital
Posted on May 21, 2012 | 1 CommentI live in Washington, DC, a city that has had the honor of serving of the capital of the United States for more than two-hundred and twenty years. However, it’s not the only capital the country has had, a fact most American school kids know... -
Five Things You Might Not Know About Arizona
Posted on April 19, 2012 | 3 CommentsToday’s post comes courtesy of Dave Porter with The Roaming Boomers. In 2006 David and his wife moved from Michigan to Arizona and haven’t looked back since. Although they admit there’s a lot to see and do in the Midwest, the endless sunshine and warm... -
Shrine to Carbonated Goodness – The World of Coke in Atlanta
Posted on March 29, 2012 | 4 CommentsThere are a few things I must have when I travel. A Clean bed, hot shower, Wi-Fi and most importantly, Diet Coke are all necessary components of the travel experience for me. I’ve been an ardent fan of Diet Coke for at least twenty years,... -
Skip the Staycation, Go For the Nearcation
Posted on March 25, 2012 | 13 CommentsTwo years ago at a conference I had the great pleasure of meeting a well known travel editor and managed to separate him from one of his business cards. Later when I read through the business cards I had collected I noticed that on the... -
Where the Powerful Travel – Top Presidential Vacation Destinations
Posted on February 19, 2012 | 5 CommentsToday is Presidents Day in the United States; a day to celebrate, um, Presidents and more importantly it’s a day off from work. What connection does this have to a travel blog? Well, Presidents are human too and need vacations just like anyone else. Not... -
Top 5 Free Attractions in New York City
Posted on February 14, 2012 | 10 CommentsToday I am pleased to feature a guest post by Leslie Koch. Leslie is the founder of DowntownTraveler.com, an online magazine for urban travelers who crave arts, culture and adventure. Leslie lives in New York City, where she settled after completing a year-long, round-the-world trip... -
Five Surprisingly Romantic Cities
Posted on February 5, 2012 | 19 CommentsSome cities you expect to be romantic; Paris has made billions of dollars on that premise alone. Other cities surprise you though with their ability to charm and to help create those special romantic moments between you and your loved one. Here are some of... -
The Last Post of 2011 Travel Bests and Worsts I Will Ever Write
Posted on January 2, 2012 | 8 CommentsI know what you’re thinking, yet another “Best of 2011″ post? I realize that I did a whole series on the topic as did every mainstream paper, magazine, TV show and of course blogger. That being said, I was tagged by a fellow travel blogger... -
The Ultimate Foodie Guide to Los Angeles
Posted on December 20, 2011 | 3 CommentsI had the great pleasure of meeting the author of today’s piece, Jade Broadus, earlier this year and knew right away that I had met a fellow foodie. In spite of the hectic schedule with her own site Vagabond3, Jade graciously agreed to share some... -
Everything You Need to Know About Visiting the World Trade Center Memorial in NYC
Posted on December 18, 2011 | 1 CommentToday I am very pleased to present a guest post by travel blogger and fellow Washingtonian, Christina Saull. Her full bio follows the piece, but be sure to check out her site My View from the Middle Seat for the best in D.I.N.K. travel. Every... -
Three Spooky Cities to Explore This Halloween
Posted on October 26, 2011 | 5 CommentsIt’s that time of year again, Halloween and the ensuing scary stories and ghost tours are almost upon us. There are scores of haunted cities that aren’t just scary on Halloween, but every day. Here are three of my favorite spooky cities. photo credit: Silentmind8... -
Five New Direct Air Routes to Grand Bahama Island on Vision Airlines
Posted on October 25, 2011 | 1 CommentA couple of weeks ago I spent a day on Grand Bahama Island thanks to the fine folks at Bahamas Tourism, the Grand Lucayan Resort and Vision Airlines in order to learn more about the new direct, low cost air service to this idyllic tropical... -
Dolphin Love on Grand Bahama Island
Posted on October 18, 2011 | 3 CommentsLocated across the street from the Grand Lucayan Resort on Grand Bahama Island is the Port Lucaya Marina, home to UNEXSO, the Underwater Explorers Society. UNEXSO is a full service dive shop and marine experience company, the highlight of which is their famous dolphin encounter.... -
Overlooked UNESCO Sites – A Visit to Mr. Jefferson’s Virginia
Posted on October 11, 2011 | 2 CommentsThere are currently 936 UNESCO World Heritage sites around the world in more than 153 countries. Of these, only 21 are in the United States and the majority of those are natural wonders. One of the few man-made American sites on the UNESCO list... -
Getting the Most Out of Washington, DC – Four Family Friendly Activities
Posted on August 28, 2011 | No CommentsLabor Day is quickly approaching and with it the unofficial end to summer vacation. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a great time to visit Washington, DC, in fact the fall is one of the best times to visit our nation’s capital. After you’ve done... -
Three Interesting Cities That Surprised Me
Posted on August 15, 2011 | 8 CommentsThere are few places in the world to which I don’t want to travel. Afghanistan, Somalia and Iran pretty much top that list. But then there’s another tier of cities that while I don’t have a problem visiting, they don’t really get me excited to... -
Kentucky Rushmore – Massive Project to Honor Colonel Sanders, Hunter S. Thompson, others
Posted on August 14, 2011 | No CommentsI have a lot of ties to the great Commonwealth of Kentucky, so seeing news about the Bluegrass state pop up on my Facebook timeline isn’t unusual. What was unusual was a web site someone shared touting the impending Kentucky Rushmore. That’s right, a larger... -
Summer Getaways in the Mid-Atlantic
Posted on July 14, 2011 | 4 CommentsThe Mid-Atlantic region of the United States is a treasure trove of great weekend summer getaways. Whether you live in the region, or are just visiting, these are fun, budget friendly travel adventures that every member of the family will love. Eastern Shore, Maryland One... -
Celebrating Memorial Day – Favorite War Memorials From Around the Country
Posted on May 30, 2011 | No CommentsToday is Memorial Day in the United States, a day to reflect upon and honor all those who lost their lives in service to their country. While many simply use the day as time off from work and the official start of the summer vacation... -
Interactive Travel Guide – What to do in New York City
Posted on April 27, 2011 | 3 CommentsA regular feature on LandLopers is the Interactive Travel Guide. The idea is to highlight one city or country every week and then get the best recommendations from you all. By the end of the week, we hopefully will have created the best tips not... -
Three Ways to See the Washington, D.C. Cherry Blossoms and Avoid the Crowds
Posted on March 22, 2011 | 7 CommentsIt’s that time of year again. The days are longer, the birds are chirping and the Washington, D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival is almost upon us. This is a favorite season for almost all Washingtonians, but it’s also the beginning of a busy tourist season. The... -
Travel Discoveries and the National World War I Museum
Posted on March 20, 2011 | 8 CommentsI travel fairly often for work, and usually not to the most glamorous of locales. Business travel though can be a great opportunity for exploration and I’m always surprised at some of the amazing things I find in the least likely of places. Such was... -
Las Vegas on a Budget – Fun and Affordable
Posted on March 1, 2011 | 13 CommentsToday I am thrilled to share with you a guest post from a great travel writer and blogger, Gray Cargill of the site Solo Friendly. Gray’s expertise doesn’t stop at solo travel, she is also an expert on all things Vegas, as she proves on... -
Exploring America’s History – Presidential Tourism
Posted on February 20, 2011 | 1 CommentIt was a cold, bright day in January when we left Charlottesville and made the short drive back to Washington. Along the way, for no other reason than it was there, we decided to stop at the home of James Madison, Montpelier. The first part... -
M is for Museum: New Sesame Street Museum to Open in DC
Posted on February 15, 2011 | 3 CommentsThe new National Children’s Museum, which is slated to open in 2013 at the National Harbor complex, has signed a new partner – Sesame Street. Under the agreement, the Sesame Workshop will work closely with the new Museum in developing programs, exhibits and acting as... -
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... -
Interactive Travel Guide – Washington, D.C.
Posted on February 3, 2011 | 2 CommentsI recently started a new series on LandLopers, the Interactive Travel Guide. The idea is to highlight one city or country every week and then get the best recommendations from you all. By the end of the week, we hopefully will have created the best... -
Sampling Virginia’s Winery Tours
Posted on February 3, 2011 | 4 CommentsMany people may not realize that Virginia is one of the top wine producing states in the country, home to more than 160 wineries located in all areas of the state. Virginia wine has matured a lot in the past decade, expanding throughout the state... -
Higher Ed Travel: Colleges and Universities as Tourist Sites
Posted on January 19, 2011 | 4 CommentsFor many people, the thought of their alma mater brings back a flood of memories, hopefully most of them good. In addition to being bastions of learning though, many are also a great place to tour. When you’re visiting a new city or region,... -
Travel Details – James Madison’s Temple
Posted on January 17, 2011 | No CommentsOne of my favorite aspects of travel is discovering the little nooks and crannies of history that most people overlook. At even the most famous of sites and landmarks there are almost always tiny details that go unnoticed by the average traveler. I came... -
America’s Spirit – Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Posted on January 5, 2011 | 3 CommentsWhiskey has been around for almost as long as there has been corn, barely and pristine water with which to make it. Not unlike many other foods and libations though, America has put its unique stamp on this mother of all spirits. I discovered the... -
Union Station’s Norwegian Christmas
Posted on December 22, 2010 | 2 CommentsWashington, D.C. is a city of small details. All over town there are tiny monuments, statues and recognitions that most people don’t realize even exist. I’m also continuously amazed at the linkages between our nation and other countries found throughout town. One of the... -
Washington, DC Travel – How To Tour the White House and U.S. Capitol
Posted on December 21, 2010 | 2 CommentsI’ve lived in Washington, D.C. for more than a decade and still find the city a great place to call home. Having a restless personality, I never thought that I would be able to live in one place for so long, but D.C. is dynamic... -
Gilded Age in St. Augustine
Posted on November 23, 2010 | No CommentsEarlier this year we discovered that the ancient (by US standards) city of St. Augustine makes for a great long-weekend escape. We had spent a couple of days meandering around the European style town and even though the heat was stifling, we had found many... -
American 2010 Elections and the Impact on Travel
Posted on November 7, 2010 | 1 CommentI am sure the fact the we had midterm elections here in the U.S. last week has escaped the notice of very few people. I am always amazed at the level of American political knowledge I find around the world, particularly when so few Americans... -
ArtPrize – Grand Rapids’ Great Gamble
Posted on September 28, 2010 | 2 CommentsIt was pure coincidence that a business trip to the great city of Grand Rapids, Michigan was also to occur during one of the biggest community events of the year – ArtPrize. ArtPrize is an international art competition held in Grand Rapids, which first took... -
Travel Photo: Three Perspectives of the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Posted on September 23, 2010 | 8 CommentsVisiting the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial in Hawaii was an incredibly moving and emotional experience; much more so than I had anticipated. Here are three entirely different views of the Memorial which I think capture the spirit of the site. All three photos are striking,... -
Five Washington DC Activities Off the Beaten Path
Posted on August 31, 2010 | 4 CommentsWashington, DC is famous for its monuments, memorials and Smithsonian Museums. However, there are many things to do and see in the District that few tourists know about, much less visit. Here are my top five favorite off the beaten path DC attractions. 1. Longest... -
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument – St. Augustine, Florida
Posted on August 17, 2010 | No CommentsIt was one of those hot summer days in Florida when you start sweating even before you wake up. By mid-morning, the heat and humidity had become a force to be reckoned with. It was in this climate that we made our way to the... -
The Strange Tale of Vilano Beach
Posted on August 8, 2010 | 11 CommentsBefore leaving on a recent trip to the St. Augustine, Florida area, a family member gave us a tip for what was promised to be a fantastic Italian restaurant. According to this family member, the restaurant, Benito’s Pizza & Pastabilities, had Northern New Jersey and... -
Bask in the Weirdness that is St. Augustine
Posted on August 4, 2010 | 3 CommentsI frankly had no idea why we going to St. Augustine. Scott wanted to visit the World Golf Hall of Fame and play some famous courses in nearby Ponte Vedra, Florida and to make the trip more appealing to this non-golfer he suggested that we... -
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
Posted on July 11, 2010 | No CommentsFounded in 1966 as the result of a gift of 100 acres of Northern Virginia farmland, Wolf Trap is the only National Park in the United States devoted to the performing arts. This massive facility offers year round programming through the Barns at Wolf Trap... -
One Day in New York
Posted on July 1, 2010 | 4 CommentsLast week I asked you, my readers, to decide what I should do while in New York. NYC & Company was generous enough to offer each TBEX (travel blogger conference) attendee a NYC City Pass, allowing us admission to six of the most popular attractions... -
Insider’s Guide to Williamsburg
Posted on June 6, 2010 | 1 CommentWilliamsburg, Virginia is one of the great tourist towns of America. Millions visit each year to experience the recreated colonial town and relive an important era in American history. However, there is much more to Williamsburg than tri-cornered hats, outlet stores and pancake houses.... -
Ten Free Things to Do in Washington, DC
Posted on May 5, 2010 | 4 CommentsWashington DC is a top tourist destination, and not without reason. The historic monuments, memorials and the world renowned Smithsonian museum system is one of the world’s best and is completely free. However, once you wander beyond the National Mall, the city can be a... -
The Forgotten Smithsonian Institution
Posted on April 12, 2010 | 3 CommentsSmithsonian Institution If you have ever walked down the National Mall in Washington, DC, then no doubt you have noticed some of the most famous museums in the world. The Smithsonian Museums of American History, Air and Space, Natural History and so on. However,... -
Five Secret Statues of Washington, D.C.
Posted on March 19, 2010 | 5 CommentsMy hometown of Washington is famous for its memorials and monuments. However, there are dozens of outdoor statues and memorials scattered throughout the city which few non-residents know about. Following are five of my favorite secret statues of Washington, DC. DC Statues 1. The...
