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 | 47 Comments -
So What’s Reykjavik Really Like?
28 February 2012 11:55 PM | 30 Comments
As Seen In:
United States Archive
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Helping Hands in Maui – A Visit to the Boo Boo Zoo
Posted on March 20, 2013 | 4 CommentsI wasn’t sure I was in the right place. I’m not great with directions and as I drove up the wooded drive it didn’t look like what I thought an animal sanctuary should look like. The peacock convinced me otherwise, as did the small army... -
My American Bucket List
Posted on February 18, 2013 | 18 CommentsI think most of us are guilty of not properly exploring the areas around where we live. Instead we jet off to new and exciting destinations, forgetting that some of the best places are close to home. I live in the United States, a wonderfully... -
Weird America – What International Travel Writers Think About the U.S.
Posted on February 11, 2013 | 30 CommentsTravel is necessarily colored by our backgrounds and personalities. These factors along with many more shape our travel experience and ultimately decide for us what we think about new destinations. Being American, I’m somewhat blind to our national eccentricities and so I wanted to find... -
Walking Through New York During the Holidays
Posted on December 14, 2012 | 14 CommentsEven a city as large and extreme as New York City gets into the holiday spirit, although in a way completely unique from any other city in the world. A combination of long held traditions and more modern but no less fun experiences have crafted... -
Experience Golf at its Best at the World Golf Hall of Fame
Posted on October 17, 2012 | 3 CommentsI wouldn’t necessarily say that I’m the biggest golf fan in the world; I don’t even play the sport. My partner of ten years though is a passionate golfer with a scratch handicap and has taught me the finer parts of the game and its... -
Culinary Photo Tour of Napa Valley
Posted on July 29, 2012 | 7 CommentsNapa Valley has a long history, most of which had nothing to do with wine oddly enough. But that’s how people around the world have come to know this small valley in Northern California, all thanks to the production of grapes and the masters who... -
Getting High in Napa – Hot Air Ballooning Over Wine Country
Posted on July 22, 2012 | 14 CommentsLast weekend I had the chance to preview one of the amazing prizes in the Hilton HHonors Seven Tickets to Your Paradise Sweepstakes. The prize package I sampled was Your Ticket to Dine; a remarkable, once in a lifetime trip to Napa Valley. Hilton HHonors... -
Lessons Learned from Twenty Minutes in Lahaina
Posted on July 15, 2012 | 8 CommentsI’d like to think that I’m a well-reasoned, thoughtful traveler and that I give every new destination the time it takes to form an impression before passing judgment. Sometimes though that judgment comes quickly, as it did in the case of Lahaina on the Hawaiian... -
Holistic Luxury in the Tropical Haven of Hana on Maui
Posted on July 12, 2012 | 2 CommentsThe Road to Hana was a little stressful – I won’t lie. Even though it’s only 52 miles from the airport to Hana, the road takes an average of 2 ½ hours to drive in large part due to 59 bridges (46 of which are... -
Photo Tour of the Road to Hana – Maui
Posted on July 1, 2012 | 10 CommentsI had heard of it, I think many of us have: the Road to Hana. Sounds a lot like manna, and so my brain always equated the trek with a visit to paradise. That correlation wasn’t too far from the truth as I found out... -
Sometimes You Just Need A Laugh – The History of Colorado Miners (Satire)
Posted on June 21, 2012 | 2 CommentsTravel can be transformative, it can be educational, it can be powerful. It can also just be reduced to some jokes and maybe a little slapstick. I was in Colorado recently for a conference and had the great opportunity to participate in an all day... -
Journey to America’s Forgotten Capital
Posted on May 21, 2012 | 12 CommentsI 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 | 4 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 | 15 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 | 15 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 | 21 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 | 5 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 | 6 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... -
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 | 12 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 | 5 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 | 5 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 | 18 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...
