Michael and Matt’s
Gay Travel Blog
Recent Posts
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.
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.
8 Must-See Beaches in Puerto Vallarta
The top 8 must-see beaches in Puerto Vallarta when you’re on vacation. These are the best beaches to visit with friends and family. Many coastal Mexican cities like Puerto Vallarta have gorgeous beaches that are blue flag certified. Visit these beaches if you’re in a hurry.
Hyatt Teams Up with Local Businesses in the Hyatt Loves Local Campaign
If you follow us on social media, you’ll already know that we recently teamed up with Hyatt to shine a light on their Hyatt Loves Local campaign. If this is the first time you’re hearing of it, stay tuned for some background on the initiative - and how we experienced it first hand through two weekend getaways over the summer!
48 Hours in San Diego | Where to Go, What to Do, and Where to Eat and Drink
Are you in San Diego for a short amount of time and want to make the most of your trip? Here are food and drink and activity options that will be fun and exciting for you, your partner and your friends.
Top 12 Beaches to Visit on Oahu
Pineapples, Jurassic Park, beaches. That’s basically all we needed to hear to know that we wanted to vacation in Hawaii. Little did we know that the sights that we would see as we traveled across the island of Oahu would be so incredibly awe-inspiring.
How to Recycle Your Dental Products
With a dentist in the house, we have plenty of dental products, many of which contain plastic. Until recently, we had no idea that we can recycle our dental products through Crest and Oral B. As we celebrate Global Recycling Day on March 18th, we wanted to show you how we are reducing our impact on the environment with this simple new tip!
Buying Our First Home as a Gay Couple | First Time Home-Owners and What to Expect
Buying a home can be a daunting task. It’s the average human’s largest purchase they will make in their life and there are a lot of unknowns; especially when it’s your first time going through the process. We wanted to share our home buying experience to outline what we experienced and help you know what to expect.
When we moved to Oregon, we set a goal: To be done renting in two years. It was a number we had discussed with financial advisors regarding home purchase vs. renting when coming out of school. They explained two to three years as a sweet spot to rent and build up some savings for a down payment. If you felt ready in two to three years, start looking! We found an amazing rental house when we first moved and were very comfortable with two years in the space as we saved for our down payment and got a few years of work under our belts.
Exploring the Beauty of Ecuador
If you ever get the chance to visit Ecuador, grab the opportunity with both hands, and don’t ever let it go! Ecuador is an extremely diverse country, with landscapes that flow from beaches to mountains to jungle. The culture and people are absolutely unique to anywhere else on earth. With tourism booming around the world and humanity having a disastrous impact on the globe’s climate, there’s no time like the present to book your trip and see the beauty of this country before it’s too late!
Six of the Best Things to do in The Netherlands
5 Great Water Activities for Your Next Vacation
It’s no secret that Michael and I sometimes disagree on what activities we want to do while traveling. when we hit the lake or go to the ocean, we may go our separate ways for a few hours to do our own water activities. While you might automatically think of lounging on the beach while on vacation, you might also want to check out some exciting activities. The ideas below are ones for those who enjoy the water and want to have some fun in the sun while on their next getaway. Hopefully, this will help narrow down your options!
A Camping Adventure in the Appalachians
Top 10 Things to Do in The Scottish Highlands
There’s no place more magical to visit than the Scottish Highlands. There is plenty to see, most notably the Isle of Skye — However, the adventures don’t stop there. There are tons of places off-the-beaten-path, and countless adventure activities that are hardly heard about outside of The Highlands. Here are just 10 of the top things to see and do in the Scottish Highlands! We hope this list helps you to plan your trip and add a few activities that will make your journey one you’ll never forget!
The 16 Best Things to Do in Portland Oregon - From a Local
Portland Oregon is a quirky, eclectic mix of crazy personalities and stunning natural beauty. Every time we fly back into Portland, we’re stunned by the view of Mount Hood overlooking the emerald green forests surrounding the city. There’s no place like it, and it continues to surprise us. The city is filled to the brim with evergreens, top-tier restaurants, green spaces, bike lanes, and unique neighborhoods. Just an hour from the coast or the mountains, the options for hiking and outdoor activities are limitless.
Hike from Boca de Tomatlan to Playa Las Animas - Puerto Vallarta
The Beginner’s Guide to Hike from Boca de Tomatlan to Playa Las Animas in Puerto Vallarta
If you’re visiting Puerto Vallarta for the first time, you can’t miss this hike! Get out of the city for the day and explore some of the most beautiful beaches the west coast of Mexico has to offer. You’ll walk by stunning vistas, expansive and empty beaches as far as your eyes can see, crystal clear turquoise water, and quite a bit of wildlife throughout the jungle. Grab your pack, head to a bus or boat and get to Boca de Tomatlan for a hike that will make you want to return to Puerto Vallarta as soon as possible!
The hike from Boca de Tomatlan takes 2 hours if you don’t make any stops. Most people plan for 4 to 6 hours on this hike.
10 Places to Eat in Puerto Vallarta - Zona Romantica
Puerto Vallarta is filled with great eating options. You just need to know where to go and what to try. This top 10 guide of places you need to eat in Puerto Vallarta will start your trip off right with some of the best eats in the city!
1. Panchos Takos — The Best Tacos al Carbon in Puerto Vallarta!
Panchos Takos was the only place our cab driver mentioned when we asked where to eat on the day we arrived and he was not wrong. Panchos opens in the evening and specializes in tacos al pastor. There is usually a line along the sidewalk waiting to be seated in their indoor/outdoor seating area. While you wait, grab a Corona or Pacifico and take a peek at the menu and mark your selections. We suggest 80% of your picks include Al Pastor ;) and don’t forget the guac!
Did COVID-19 Ruin Your Travel Plans? Here's What to Do
Don’t panic, plan. We can plan and prepare. We may not be able to control the length of time we are stuck inside, but what we can do is imagine what’s possible after this is all over. We can make lists, we can draft itineraries, we can research the best places to go and get those hotels booked! With the power of the internet, the world is our oyster waiting to be explored.
The Best Gay Travel Blogs You Should Follow in 2021 (LGBTQ+ Travel)
You Need to Follow These Travel Bloggers! Our world has been turned upside down. The COVID-19 pandemic over the last few weeks has absolutely devastated the travel industry, and many are wondering what they can do to help. We may not be able to travel right now, but what we can do is support each other online. How do we survive this? Support small business. We lend a hand, we pay attention, we follow positive people who are actively changing the world. Take a stand in supporting LGBTQ travel by following these inspiring travel blogs.
3 Days in Edinburgh - The Perfect Itinerary for First Time Visitors
Edinburgh is a magical city full of history and wonder. From the Royal Mile to Dean Village, the bustling city is both romantic and active. Whether you just have a single day here, or a few days to spare, you’ll want to make you visit the best spots in the city.
Follow our itinerary on what to see, where to go and where to stay in Edinburgh. For any trip to Scotland, these are the things you won’t want to miss!
Introducing: MICHAEL AND MATT PRESETS (The Travel Pack)
The Michael & Matt Travel Pack contains all of our favorite presets we’ve used to edit our Instagram pictures. Through traveling together over the last 5 years, we’ve developed these presets as our “go-to’s” no matter where in the world we may be. We designed these presets to help take your photography to the next level with stunning edits in just a few simple clicks.
Inside the pack you will find 1 ZIP file complete with 10 Lightroom desktop preset files. PLEASE NOTE - This pack is for desktop/laptop only and will not work on Lightroom mobile. Presets work for both RAW and JPEG images.
These presets greatly enhance contrast and color while conserving essential natural tones, giving a less-edited authentic feel while exhibiting deep shadows and striking highlights. We particularly love how they work with blues, oranges and greens. Photos taken in full-sun, ambient light and shade work well with these presets, but backlit and golden-hour shots are our favorite. Whether rain or shine, these presets will make your photos truly stand out with a vibrant and crisp touch.