• info@travelingwithsweeney.com
Traveling with Sweeney

Traveling with Sweeney

Inspiration and information for the best in luxury, cultural, and active travel

  • Home
  • About TWS
    • About Catherine Sweeney
      • Features, Interviews, and Recognition
      • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Bosnia
      • Croatia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Montenegro
      • Netherlands
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • Scotland
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Russia
      • Turkey
    • Africa
      • Morocco
    • Asia
      • Turkey
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • India
    • North America
      • Canada
        • British Columbia
        • Nova Scotia
        • Ontario
        • Quebec
      • USA
        • Arizona
        • California
        • Hawaii
        • Houston
        • Illinois
        • Montana
        • Nevada
        • New York
        • South Carolina
        • Texas
        • Washington D.C.
        • Wisconsin
        • Wyoming
      • Mexico
    • Accommodations
    • Australia and New Zealand
    • Guided Travel
    • Cruise Travel
    • Caribbean
      • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Sweeney in Arizona
  • Packing Tips
  • Cookie Policy
Traveler Profiles

Traveler Profile: Donna Leftwich Hull

Catherine Sweeney
February 11, 2013

When it comes to travel, Donna Leftwich Hull is open-minded about the kind of experiences that are included in her trips. She wants to see and do it all, although she does prefer a little luxury thrown in for good measure.

boomer woman traveler, Donna Leftwich Hull
Planning, Traveler Profiles

Solo Travel – To Go or Not to Go

Catherine Sweeney
February 11, 2013

Leyla Giray left her job and life at the age of 43 to backpack solo for six months in Africa. She was gone for more than three years, returning home after two dozen countries on four continents. Here she shares her perspectives on solo travel.

solo travel
Destinations, Planning, Tips and Deals

Seven Honolulu Deals

Catherine Sweeney
February 11, 2013

By Jackie Smith — … Although accommodation prices may shake the boomer travel budget, there are plenty of free – and nearly free – fun activities to be found in and near Honolulu once you get here.

hawaii, honolulu, tips
Destinations, Mexico

Charming and Mysterious Mazatlan

Catherine Sweeney
February 5, 2013

We had never been to Mazatlan, Mexico before and weren’t sure what to expect — except beautiful beaches and luxury resorts…

Mexico
Austria, Destinations, Europe

Romantic Vienna

Catherine Sweeney
January 29, 2013

When I think of Vienna, I think of romance. Thoughts of romantic Vienna bring to mind quiet walks along narrow streets …

Austria, christmas markets, Europe, Vienna
Cruise Travel, Destinations, Europe

Mysterious Mediterranean: Road Trips in Cyprus

Catherine Sweeney
January 27, 2013

The Mediterranean island of Cyprus is a mass of contradictions: Ancient or Modern? European or Asian? Greek or Turkish? Resort tourism hotspot or land of enduring mystery? Well, you’ll probably think the former if you spend a week in Agia Napa, sunning yourself by the pool, but a much better bet is to hire a car and take a road trip to explore the island more fully.

Europe
Destinations, Europe, Guest Posts, Spain

Outdoor Activities in Costa del Sol, Spain

Catherine Sweeney
January 22, 2013

For those of you seeking a getaway in the great outdoors, a holiday in Costa Del Sol, Spain is one of the most affordable and exciting options. Nestled in the south of the Iberian Peninsula with a name that translates to the “Sunny Coast,” there are enticing outdoor activities in Costa del Sol all year round.

Europe, Spain
Destinations, Europe, USA

Some of My Best Travel 2012

Catherine Sweeney
January 11, 2013

2012 was a banner year of travel for Mr. TWS and me. Earlier I posted about some of the memorable people I met along the way in my “Faces and Places 2012” Faces and Places post.

christmas markets, Europe, USA
  • « Previous
  • Next »

About Catherine Sweeney

Catherine Sweeney is a travel enthusiast with a lifelong passion for going places. A weekend getaway, an international journey, a cross-country road trip, or a local jaunt — they’re all on her radar. And it’s all made extra special when she’s enjoying the finer things in life with Mr. TWS, her husband and co-blogger. Get inspired as they share photos and stories highlighting the best of destinations, food, wine, history, culture and the arts.

Recent Posts

  • Day Trip from Copenhagen to Helsingør, Lund, and Malmö
  • 5 Days in Irresistible Copenhagen, Denmark
  • British Isles Explorer Cruise Experience: On Board and On Shore
  • British Isles Cruising with Viking: Excursions in England and Wales
  • Exploring Scotland and Its Islands on a Viking Cruise

Follow TWS on social media

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required
Email Format

travelingwithsweeney

Scottsdale, Arizona showed up today! #nokings #not Scottsdale, Arizona showed up today! #nokings #notpaid #savedemocracy #scottsdale
A #sundayshoutout to the super crew of the Viking A #sundayshoutout to the super crew of the Viking Mars on our recent Mediterranean cruise. This was a great welcome back to the ship after one of our shore excursions in Italy. Thanks to all of the crew for another memorable cruise! #myvikingstory #vikingmars #mediterraneancruise #cruisetravel
When you take a @vikingcruises ocean cruise, be su When you take a @vikingcruises ocean cruise, be sure to book a dinner at the Chef's Table specialty restaurant. It's always a treat to discover new dishes or innovative takes on familiar ones. There are different menus every few nights that you can check out when you are aboard, but make a reservation as far in advance as you can. On our Iconic Western Mediterranean cruise, we opted for the Mexico menu and it was probably my favorite of all we've experienced on our ocean cruises. There are five courses, each with a perfectly-paired wine. Clockwise from top left:
* Amuse Bouche - Tostadas de Pulpo
* One of the lovely red wines
* First Course - Tamalito de Pollo
* Granita - Nopales con Limón
* Main Course - Short Rib
* Dessert - Chocolate en Texturas
* That's Mr. TWS!
* Main Course salmon substitution for Mr. TWS who doesn't eat meat
* Dessert - Chocolate en Texturas  It was all delicious and a great dining experience. Let me know in comments if you'd like a little more description of the dishes or the wines they were served with. #myvikingstory #chefstable #vikingmars #cruisetravel #mexicancuisine
Lovely Lucca, Italy. We first visited this beautif Lovely Lucca, Italy. We first visited this beautiful city in Tuscany about 11 years ago and looked forward to returning during our @vikingcruises Mediterranean cruise. Loved walking on the Renaissance-era city walls, strolling the winding streets and alleys, stopping by the house where Puccini was born, having a quiet moment at the Church of San Michele, and taking a beverage break at an outdoor cafe on Piazza dell’Anfiteatro. #myvikingstory #shoreexcursion #cruisetravel #luccaitaly  #travelgram
What a glorious day in Villefranche-sur-Mer, Franc What a glorious day in Villefranche-sur-Mer, France! We wandered up and down the narrow streets and staircases, walked to the beach, stepped inside old churches and chapels, browsed the shops, and had a wonderful lunch quayside at @lameregermaine_villefranche. A day to remember on our @vikingcruises Iconic Western Mediterranean cruise. #myvikingstory #mediterraneanvibes #beautifulday☀️ #frenchriviera🇫🇷🌴☀️ #cotedazurfrance
A few more photos from the picturesque village of A few more photos from the picturesque village of Le Castellet, France on our shore excursion with Viking yesterday. #myvikingstory #visitsouthoffrance #cruisetravel #provencealpescôtedazur #traveler
Instagram post 17997287294872536 Instagram post 17997287294872536
Welcome to the Mediterranean port city of Sète! Ju Welcome to the Mediterranean port city of Sète! Just a quick selection of photos from yesterday’s shore excursion on our Viking Iconic Western Mediterranean cruise. Because of its network of canals, it is known as the the Venice of the Languedoc region of France. Also note the colorful buildings and murals painted by local artists. #myvikingstory #sète #france #mediterranean #shoreexcursions
Leaving Barcelona at sunset on the Viking I Knox W Leaving Barcelona at sunset on the Viking I Knox Western Mediterranean cruise. #myvikingstory #mediterranean #cruise #travelgram
Take a walk with me through Sitges, Spain. It’s a Take a walk with me through Sitges, Spain. It’s a lovely Mediterranean seaside town in Catalonia about a half-hour drive southwest from Barcelona. Sitges is very popular for its beaches and festivals. This was our first shore excursion on our Viking Iconic Western Mediterranean cruise. More to come … #myvikingstory #shoreexcursion #sitges #visitspain  #travelgram
Good morning from Barcelona! Sunrise view from our Good morning from Barcelona! Sunrise view from our stateroom while at port with @vikingcruises. Heading out on a shore excursion to the beach town of Sitges. Stay tuned for more. #myvikingstory #mediterraneansunrise #barcelona #spain #travelgram
When in Malmö, Sweden — enjoy public art! This pho When in Malmö, Sweden — enjoy public art! This photo is of The Optimist Orchestra sculpture that was installed to mark the opening of the pedestrianized Södergatan Street in 1985. During our stay in Copenhagen we took a day trip to Kronborg Castle in Helsingor, Denmark, then crossed the strait of Øresund to visit Lund and Malmö in Sweden. Check out the latest blog post for more photos and information. Link in bio and or copy from comment below. #malmo #visitsweden #travelgram #urbansculptures #publicart
Queen for about a minute at Kronborg Castle in Hel Queen for about a minute at Kronborg Castle in Helsingør, Denmark. Kronborg is a 16th-century fortress that is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Did you know that it was the setting of Shakespeare's "Hamlet"? You might notice Yorick's skull sneaking into the photo to the right. Other pics include the casemates (which were a little dark and scary) where there is a statue of Holger the Dane. We visited Kronborg on a day trip from Copenhagen that also took us to Lund and Malmö in Sweden. More to come soon! Check the bio for a link to our first Denmark article. #Helsingor #kronborg #castle #visitdenmark #traveleurope
I've just published a new post on the blog about i I've just published a new post on the blog about irresistible Copenhagen, Denmark. This photo was taken along the canal in historic Nyhavn district. Link in bio or copy https://www.travelingwithsweeney.com/five-days-in-copenhagen/  So much to love -- architecture, charm, vibrant character, people, cuisine, and hygee (a cozy sense of well-being)! #copenhagen #denmark #traveleurope #travelgram #lovetotravel❤️
Tonight in Scottsdale, Arizona #standwithminneapol Tonight in Scottsdale, Arizona #standwithminneapolis #scottsdaleaz
Still thinking about Copenhagen …. This photo feat Still thinking about Copenhagen …. This photo features one of many aspects of the city that I loved — getting around is easy. It’s definitely bike -friendly and public transportation is great. Central Station is shown here with bicycles parked in the foreground. Of course, it’s a wonderful city for walking, too. I’m slow getting out a post on the blog about our trip — stay tuned! #denmark #copenhagen #bikes #gettingaroundtown #travelcopenhagen
Simply put … I love Copenhagen. I expected to like Simply put … I love Copenhagen. I expected to like the city before our visit in December, but I felt so much more.  Of course — the sights, the vibe, the food, the history was wonderful. But it was the warm welcome of the people and their friendliness that made the most important impression. I hope that our connection as friends and allies can outlast the current US regime. I’ll post more soon. #lovedenmark🇩🇰 #natoallies #copenhagenscene #denmark
Today in Phoenix — showing my support of Arizona’s Today in Phoenix — showing my support of Arizona’s @senmarkkelly. It was a great turnout with lots of energy and shows of support from drivers passing by. #notpaid #notaterrorist #savedemocracy #phoenixaz #americanhero
Counting down the hours to the new year at Desert Counting down the hours to the new year at Desert Botanical Garden, our end of year tradition. #newyeariscoming #desertbotanicalgarden #dbgphx #cacti #arizona
For #foodiefriday — a taste of Copenhagen, Denmark For #foodiefriday — a taste of Copenhagen, Denmark. These are restaurants we enjoyed on our recent trip. A variety of traditional, contemporary Nordic, and international menus:
- Restaurant 1733 (traditional - danish meatballs for me, pan-fried plaice for Mr. TWS shown top left and center)
- Restaurant Karla (traditional- roast pork shown top right)
- The Union Kitchen (modern/tapas, pork and shrimp dumplings shown center right)
- Bistro Verde (modern/vegan, potato smørrebrød/Danish open-faced sandwich shown center left)
- Marv & Ben (Michelin bib gourmand Nordic cuisine. We chose six-course menu with wine pairing. 3 of those courses served that evening pictured bottom row - raw beef/Jerusalem artichoke/chanterelles, duck/beetroot, apple miso dessert. 
- also enjoyed Cafe Katz and Restaurant Vita. More to come soon the blog. #copenhagenrestaurants #copenhagen #denmark🇩🇰 #travelforfood
Follow on Instagram

Tags

Arizona Art Art and Architecture Austria budapest california canada chicago christmas christmas markets collette Cruises cruise travel culture estevillas Europe food france Germany greece guided tour hawaii History hungary italy london museums New York north america paris phoenix provence puglia Romagna san francisco scottsdale Spain tips tuscany UNESCO USA viking viking cruises Washington DC wine

  • info@travelingwithsweeney.com
Copyright ©2026 Traveling with Sweeney | Theme by: Theme Horse | Proudly Powered by: WordPress