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 | 46 Comments -
So What’s Reykjavik Really Like?
28 February 2012 11:55 PM | 30 Comments
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blogsherpa Archive
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Confessions of a Traveling Homebody
Posted on April 9, 2013 | 27 CommentsI was reading through some comments made on Facebook last week (Wow, so there’s a phrase I wouldn’t have typed a few years ago) and one in particular stood out. It was in response to a few travel announcements I made and it read, “I... -
Five Ways to Travel Like a Boss
Posted on April 8, 2013 | 4 CommentsEveryone likes to enjoy the finer things in life, but there are certain experiences that transcend even mere luxury. Experiences that are so special, unique and expensive that only a true Boss will be able to enjoy them. Here are just a few of the... -
Mixed Feelings Exploring the Khlongs of Bangkok
Posted on April 2, 2013 | 10 CommentsMy return to Bangkok last year was a dream come true. When I first visited the Thai capital five years ago I fell in love, madly in love with this huge, chaotic and disorienting city and the return visit was just as great as I... -
Glacial Arch in Antarctica
Posted on April 2, 2013 | No Comments -
The Truth About Traveling as a Gay Man
Posted on April 1, 2013 | 31 CommentsLast week I had lunch with some friends who are also gay and the topic of travel and the LGBT community arose. We talked about countries we wouldn’t visit due to their abysmal record of human rights as they relate to the LGBT community (I’m... -
A Walk Through Aix en Provence
Posted on March 31, 2013 | 4 CommentsThe very word Provence stimulates my prefrontal cortex, which in turn creates a response causing my heart to beat faster and my eyes to twitch, just a bit. Provence is one of those dream locations that many of us dream about. Visions of vast... -
Oh Marseille, What Happened?
Posted on March 27, 2013 | 27 CommentsIt’s partly my fault, I realize that. I was on a crazy schedule around France (which I agreed to) and frankly some cities suffered from lack of time. Marseille was one of those cities. But I refuse to accept all of the culpability, I’d like... -
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... -
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... -
A Walk Through Toulouse, France
Posted on March 19, 2013 | 13 CommentsToulouse was one of those cities that I had heard of many times before, but didn’t actually know anything about. That all changed when I stepped off the train into what is a vibrant, energetic and beautiful city of more than half a million people,... -
Ups and Downs of Traveling with a Beard
Posted on March 18, 2013 | 16 CommentsI’m new to this whole beard-wearing thing. For my entire life I dutifully shaved on a regular basis, unless taken ill by plague or kidnapped by rebels. Which is to say I never failed from my clean-shaving razor duties. I wasn’t even sure if I... -
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.... -
20 Things Every Smart Traveler Should Know
Posted on March 11, 2013 | 33 CommentsI’ve been thinking a lot about what makes a good traveler lately, and usually those thoughts have gone into higher levels of personal philosophies and self-improvement. At it’s base though, no matter where we go there are a few things we should all know to... -
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... -
Happy Seal on an Ice Flow in Antarctica
Posted on March 2, 2013 | 1 Comment -
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... -
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,... -
Travel Myths – Things You Think Are True But Aren’t
Posted on February 25, 2013 | 15 CommentsI’ve been thinking a lot about the various myths and urban legends we all unwittingly help to propagate. It’s not our fault, the ‘facts’ sound true and so we share them, wanting to educate and maybe even impress a little. There are many travel related... -
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... -
What Not to Do in Bologna, Italy
Posted on February 20, 2013 | 6 CommentsBologna in Northern Italy is an ancient city, but one that sometimes gets overlooked. Even though I didn’t spend a lot of time there, I grew to love it very quickly and can’t wait to return and explore more of the city. While there’s a... -
Penguin and Baby on Orne Island, Antarctica
Posted on February 20, 2013 | 3 Comments -
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. -
A Walk Through Florence, Italy
Posted on February 7, 2013 | 8 CommentsIt was my first time in Florence, the capital of the Italian Renaissance and I couldn’t wait. I couldn’t wait to see the art, architecture and style that has defined this Italian city for centuries. Since I only had a day I took a Walks... -
Manneken, Jeanneke and Zinneke – Hunting for the Peeing Statues of Brussels
Posted on February 5, 2013 | 5 CommentsEvery city has its landmarks and famous sights. Paris has its Tower and London its great clock, but Brussels is a little different. One of the most famous attractions in the city isn’t a remnant of a World’s Fair or an architectural marvel, no it’s... -
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,... -
Lion’s Head Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa
Posted on December 27, 2012 | 2 Comments -
My Favorite Destination of 2012
Posted on December 26, 2012 | 11 CommentsEven though I’ve flown more than 100,000 miles this year and visited dozens of countries, this was not a hard decision to make. There was one place that spoke to me more than any other; one travel experience that surpassed anything else I’ve done this... -
My Favorite Photo of 2012
Posted on December 25, 2012 | 9 CommentsThis was an exceptionally hard decision to make. I poured over thousands of photos, many of which mean a lot to me. I spend so much time editing them and they mean so much that they truly are like my little digitized kids. That’s why... -
My Favorite Person of 2012
Posted on December 24, 2012 | 4 CommentsI meet a lot of people, it’s just a part of the travel experience. Sometimes I’m not always ready to meet them though. If I had a bad day or am feeling particularly introverted, I may not be open to learning about them and their... -
My Favorite Foodie Destination of 2012
Posted on December 23, 2012 | 8 CommentsI’ve said it a million times and I’ll probably keep repeating it until I die, but food is arguably the most important aspect of the travel experience. We all have to eat, so it’s immediately relatable to everyone and the sense memories created tend to... -
My Picks For Best and Worst Travel Experiences of 2012
Posted on December 19, 2012 | 11 CommentsI can hear the virtual groans now, another self-reflective slightly saccharine overview of 2012? Well no, I hope not. But it is a good time of year to think back on everything that I’ve done and what I’ve been through and I want to share... -
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... -
Five Reasons Christmas is a Great Time to Visit Europe
Posted on December 12, 2012 | 10 Comments1. Sights – A highlight of any European vacation are the amazing sites, from the Vatican to the Eiffel Tower and everything in between. During the holidays all of these famous landmarks are even more fun to visit. If you’re religious, then the many churches... -
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... -
Evolution of Travel Trends – A Look at the 1997 Edition of The Practical Nomad
Posted on December 10, 2012 | 8 Comments!998 Matt In 1997 writer and all around travel expert Edward Hasbrouck wrote what would become the bible of the independent traveler, The Practical Nomad. In it Hasbrouck introduced a generation to the concepts of career breaks and truly nomadic travel. I found the... -
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... -
Everything You Need to Know About Food and Travel – An Interview with Jodi Ettenberg
Posted on December 6, 2012 | 9 CommentsRecently a group of travel writers released a new series of travel guides that focus not on destinations, but styles of travel. I love this approach because it’s so much more personal and the assembled experts provide tips and tricks that will help every level... -
Montreal in Five Bites
Posted on December 5, 2012 | 12 CommentsFood is one of the most important parts of travel and also one of the most enjoyable. We all have to eat after all and it’s usually our culinary memories that survive the longest. That’s why I tend to write so much about food and... -
Storms Near Hout Bay, Cape Town South Africa
Posted on December 5, 2012 | No Comments -
Exploring the Night Markets of Luang Prabang, Laos
Posted on December 4, 2012 | 16 CommentsOne dollar all you can eat dinner. That’s the one piece of advice I remembered as we boarded the small plane leaving Bangkok for Luang Prabang, Laos. It was my first time in this sometimes overlooked, landlocked Southeast Asian nation and I had no idea... -
Dramatic Skies Over the Saint Lawrence River in Quebec City, Canada
Posted on December 4, 2012 | No Comments -
Quick to Judge – Prejudice and Why Some People Really Don’t Want to See the World
Posted on December 3, 2012 | 17 CommentsThe recent round of bombings and attacks in the Middle East provoked some pretty intense thinking on my part about tourism and people’s travel habits. Day after day I read in the travel press about fears that the turmoil would set back years of tourism... -
Cook Pines in Lanai City, Lanai Hawaii
Posted on December 3, 2012 | 1 Comment -
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... -
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.... -
Flatiron Building, New York City
Posted on November 28, 2012 | 2 Comments -
Five Travel Time Sucks That Are Worth The Wait
Posted on November 27, 2012 | 13 CommentsI’ve always maintained that certain tourist attractions are popular for a reason, they’re amazing. Some elitists may turn their nose to wanting a photo in front of the Eiffel Tower or taking a gondola in Venice, but for most people these are the experiences that...
