Michael and Matt’s

Gay Travel Blog

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The Ultimate Gay Guide to Key West Pride — Top LGBTQ+ Bars, Restaurants & Tours in the Florida Keys
North America Matthew Schueller North America Matthew Schueller

The Ultimate Gay Guide to Key West Pride — Top LGBTQ+ Bars, Restaurants & Tours in the Florida Keys

Key West is a vibrant, fierce, and welcoming city full of pride! We’ve fallen in love with The Florida Keys and this community.

Pride is a time where the community comes together, celebrates our individuality & beauty, and remembers all those who’ve stood up for our rights before us. 🌈 Celebrating pride is a movement towards greater equality. Celebrating pride makes communities feel safe, seen, and understood. Celebrating pride is a message to others who can’t come out or do not feel safe to do so, that there are welcoming and loving communities beyond their current circumstance. That there is hope. No matter where or how you’re celebrating #pride today, we hope you feel this love and unity. ❤️

We went to Key West for Pride and there’s so much to do that we decided to pick out the top places and put them in this guide:

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Top 6 Things to Do in Bend Oregon — Outdoor Adventures and Tours
North America Matthew Schueller North America Matthew Schueller

Top 6 Things to Do in Bend Oregon — Outdoor Adventures and Tours

As one of the top travel destinations in Oregon, it can be easy to get overwhelmed with the number of options of things to do in and around Bend. One of the best aspects of Bend is it’s geographic location and the diversity in landscape this lends. As the Cascade Mountains meet the High Desert in Central Oregon, a diverse and dramatic landscape beckons to be explored. From hiking, rock-climbing, skiing and snowboarding, camping and whitewater rafting, there are tons of tour options to explore for the adventurous soul.

Here are the top things to do in Bend from a local:

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3 Days in Sonoma: How to Spend the Weekend and Where to Stay
Travel, North America Matthew Schueller Travel, North America Matthew Schueller

3 Days in Sonoma: How to Spend the Weekend and Where to Stay

As summer began to wind down and we witnessed the temperature drop, it was enough of a sign for my husband and I to seek a peaceful escape to California’s wine country. While Sonoma is sometimes overlooked from the nearby Napa Valley, we were not only curious to see what the other side of the hills may look like but we were also drawn by its distinct reputation as the perfect home-base to exploring California wine country.

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Top 10 Things to Do In Honolulu Hawaii
Travel, Beaches, North America Matthew Schueller Travel, Beaches, North America Matthew Schueller

Top 10 Things to Do In Honolulu Hawaii

Visiting Honolulu is much more than visiting a big city. Before I stepped off the plane onto the island, I thought the tropical paradise would be limited to me experiencing just Waikiki, but I quickly learned that I had access to much, much more—I could see the entire island! What I didn’t know is that when people say they are going to visit Honolulu, they can easily get from place to place all around Oahu. From one side of the island to the other, it may only take only a couple hours drive.

This is my photoblog of my first trip to Honolulu — for more info on what to see in Hawaii, check out our guides!

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How to Spend a Weekend in Cedar Rapids Iowa: What to Do, Where to Eat, Where to Stay
Travel, North America, Food Matthew Schueller Travel, North America, Food Matthew Schueller

How to Spend a Weekend in Cedar Rapids Iowa: What to Do, Where to Eat, Where to Stay

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a hidden gem nestled in the breadbasket of the Midwest. The city boasts a rich cultural scene with numerous art galleries, museums, and theaters. The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art houses an impressive collection of works by renowned American artist Grant Wood, including his iconic painting, "American Gothic." Additionally, the Paramount Theatre showcases a variety of live performances, ranging from Broadway shows to local productions, providing entertainment for all tastes.

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5 Reasons Why Key West is One of the Top Gay Travel Destinations for 2024
Beaches, Travel, North America Matthew Schueller Beaches, Travel, North America Matthew Schueller

5 Reasons Why Key West is One of the Top Gay Travel Destinations for 2024

Key West, located at the southernmost point of the Florida Keys, is a vibrant and welcoming destination for LGBTQ+ travelers. With its laid-back atmosphere, stunning beaches, and rich history, Key West has something to offer for everyone.

Catching a redeye flight from the west coast, the trip was long but totally worth it as we descended into the aquamarine paradise. The first thing we noticed driving through the historical district was the colorful and quintessentially Caribbean architecture. Tropical pastel colors of lime and rose mixed with wooden lacework patios and awnings that sat behind charming white picket fences adorned with palm trees and heaps of bougainvillea.  

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How to Spend a Weekend in Berkeley
Travel, North America, Food Matthew Schueller Travel, North America, Food Matthew Schueller

How to Spend a Weekend in Berkeley

We got to get away for the weekend with our friends to Berkeley. Each time we come to Berkeley, we are continually reminded of why it’s an artist’s paradise. The city and surrounding communities are welcoming microcosms fit for families and lowkey getaways. The food and drinks are hard to beat anywhere else in the Golden State. This trip we focused on exploring local vendors and finding the best local eateries around.

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Top 7 Restaurants in Los Cabos & Cabo San Lucas
Food, Travel, North America, Central America Matthew Schueller Food, Travel, North America, Central America Matthew Schueller

Top 7 Restaurants in Los Cabos & Cabo San Lucas

Flying to Cabo for the first time, we had no idea there would be such great food options. From delectable brunches, street tacos, and fine dining, Los Cabos and Cabos San Lucas have incredible restaurants to choose from. Here is our list of the top 7 recommended restaurants to try in Cabo. We are so excited to bring you this list of extraordinary bites and flavors. Our week spent in Cabo was made even better by our tour guides at OutBound Travel, a new LGBTQ+ travel company that specializes in transforming traditional trips into unique and exciting LGBTQ+ adventures. From the destinations to the entertainment, every part of the experience is custom designed by the OutBound experts. Truly, this experience provided a place where our entire group could be themselves and celebrate as one family. We cannot wait to get back to Cabo again, and we’ll be sure to return to the best restaurants around in Los Cabos.

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Bermuda Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors
Travel, Beaches, North America Matthew Schueller Travel, Beaches, North America Matthew Schueller

Bermuda Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

Honestly we never really considered making the trip out to Bermuda until recently, but we are so glad we made the spontaneous decision to go. The archipelago has more to offer than we could’ve ever imagined. We cannot believe it’s taken us this long to get to this gem in the middle of the Atlantic.

Bermuda is unexpected, underrated, and extraordinary. Once we had spent just 24 hours there, Bermuda already had our hearts! We were amazed at the crystal blue water and pink sand beaches scattered all over the island. We loved learning about the island's architecture, culture, and history. It was incredibly interesting to be in such a tropical place with a tradition of afternoon tea and pictures of Queen Elizabeth everywhere. We only wish we had more time to take it all in, but of course, we cannot wait to get back to Bermuda one day and again cheers with a Dark and Stormy in hand.

Conveniently located in the mid-Atlantic, Bermuda is less than a two-hour flight from most east coast gateways, Bermuda is perfect for getaways year-round.

Visiting Bermuda for the first time, the cost can be intimidating. As an isolated set of islets, Bermuda boasts itself as a luxury tourist destination. Where it asks for high dollars, it does not fall short of delivering a quality vacation you’ll never forget. This is a destination you’ll want to pull all the stops for, which is why we recommend planning your trip well in advance and opting to stay at a hotel or resort that will have everything you need to make it the trip of your dreams.

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How to Make a Dark and Stormy | Bermuda's Signature Cocktail Recipe
Food, Travel, North America Matthew Schueller Food, Travel, North America Matthew Schueller

How to Make a Dark and Stormy | Bermuda's Signature Cocktail Recipe

What is a Dark and Stormy?

Simply put, a Dark and Stormy (otherwise known as Dark ‘N’ Stormy) is a cocktail served on the rocks in a highball glass with dark rum and ginger beer and garnished with a fresh slice of lime.

We first got tried the Dark and Stormy at its classic home—in Hamilton, Bermuda. Crisp turquoise waters surrounding, we checked into the Hamilton Princess to find the supplies to make a Dark and Stormy there waiting for us on the balcony. The humidity hit us like an ocean wave, but looking out to the paradise beyond was enough inspiration to take a seat in the sun and enjoy a taste of Bermuda’s most coveted beverage.

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Top 10 Best Restaurants San Diego
Food, Travel, North America Andy Stein Food, Travel, North America Andy Stein

Top 10 Best Restaurants San Diego

If you have never been to San Diego, there are so many things to do and places to see and food to eat. You have to experience some of San Diego’s amazing culinary options and indulge yourself in the Global food scene that is offered. These are the top 10 restaurants in San Diego that you must try if you are visiting or if you live there.

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Juneau Alaska Travel Guide | Best Things to Do & Where to Eat
Travel, North America Matthew Schueller Travel, North America Matthew Schueller

Juneau Alaska Travel Guide | Best Things to Do & Where to Eat

We never thought much about making the trek up to Juneau, Alaska, but when the opportunity presented itself and we felt a touch of spontaneity, we hopped on a short flight schedule from Portland, and we are so glad we did. Juneau Alaska is surrounded by beauty—mountains, rivers, ocean, and ice collide in a beautiful and wild way. Though Juneau is located on a peninsula, it feels very much like an island, as it’s only accessible by plane or boat. You can only drive about an hour in any one direction into the wilderness before you can’t drive any further. It is so isolated and yet so full of culture, great food, and spirit! Juneau is one of the most underrated places we’ve ever had the pleasure to visit.

There’s so much to do and see in the area, we wanted to create a short guide of some of our favorite things. For those planning to venture to Juneau, make sure to also hit some of the other great spots in South East Alaska, such as Haines, Sitka, and Skagway.

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Bay Area Travel Guide | What to Do & Where to Eat in Berkeley, Livermore & Tiburon
Travel, North America, Food Matthew Schueller Travel, North America, Food Matthew Schueller

Bay Area Travel Guide | What to Do & Where to Eat in Berkeley, Livermore & Tiburon

Until recently, we had yet to venture outside of San Francisco to see what else the Bay Area has to offer. We were pleasantly surprised to find that renting a car, and driving just beyond the big city, there were plenty of opportunities to explore and discover more California personality than we could have imagined. We spent a couple of days in the Livermore Tri-Valley area, then ventured to Berkeley for an immersive experience of wine tasting throughout their active industrial district, and ended the trip treating ourselves to a couple of nights in Tiburon. The trip was surprisingly charming, elegant, and full of great food and wine.

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