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Traveling with Sweeney

Traveling with Sweeney

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Cruise Travel

Austria, Cruise Travel, Destinations, Europe, France, Portugal, Russia

Viking Cruise Shore Excursions: Should You Take Them?

Catherine Sweeney
February 12, 2020
1 Comment
Viking Cruise Shore Excursions: Should You Take Them?

Should you take shore excursions on Viking river and ocean cruises?

Austria, cruise travel, Cruises, Europe, france, portugal, russia, viking cruises
Cruise Travel, Destinations, Estonia, Europe

Tallinn on the Baltic: A Medieval Surprise

Catherine Sweeney
January 22, 2020
13 Comments
Tallinn on the Baltic: A Medieval Surprise

HIghlights of things to do in Tallinn, Estonia

estonia, Europe, tallinn, viking cruises, viking homelands
Cruise Travel, Destinations, Estonia, Europe, France, North America, Poland, Russia, Sweeney in Arizona, USA

Travel Planning: Seeing 2020 by Looking Back

Catherine Sweeney
December 31, 2019
8 Comments
Travel Planning: Seeing 2020 by Looking Back

Travel tips and inspiration for traveling in 2020

budapest, cruises cruise travel, Europe, france, north america, Poland, rome, russia, tips, viking cruises
Cruise Travel, Destinations, Europe, Russia

Two Days in St. Petersburg: Russia’s Venice of the North

Catherine Sweeney
November 19, 2019
9 Comments
Two Days in St. Petersburg: Russia’s Venice of the North

What to see and do in Russia’s second largest city

cruise travel, Europe, russia, viking cruises
Cruise Travel, Destinations, Estonia, Europe, Finland, Poland, Russia, Sweden

Sailing the Baltic Sea with Viking: Our First Ocean Cruise

Catherine Sweeney
October 23, 2019
20 Comments
Sailing the Baltic Sea with Viking: Our First Ocean Cruise

Cruising the Baltic Sea with Viking

cruise travel, Cruises, estonia, Europe, finland, Poland, russia, sweden, viking cruises
Cruise Travel, Destinations, Estonia, Europe, Finland, Instagram Highlights, Poland, Russia, Sweden

Sunset in Stockholm and Other Baltic Cruise Highlights

Catherine Sweeney
October 8, 2019
7 Comments
Sunset in Stockholm and Other Baltic Cruise Highlights

Photo highlights of a Baltic cruise

cruise travel, Cruises, Estonia Russia, Europe, Poland, sweden
Cruise Travel, Destinations, Europe, Portugal

Medieval Guimarães: Portugal’s First Capital

Catherine Sweeney
October 7, 2018
3 Comments
Medieval Guimarães: Portugal’s First Capital

Guimaraes, Portugal — a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Cruises, Europe, guimaraes, portugal, UNESCO, viking cruises
Cruise Travel, Destinations, France, Germany, Netherlands

UNESCO Treasures on the Rhine: Sites to Visit on a River Cruise

Catherine Sweeney
September 19, 2018
19 Comments
UNESCO Treasures on the Rhine: Sites to Visit on a River Cruise

UNESCO World Heritage Sites on a Rhine River Cruise

Cruises, Europe, france, Germany, netherlands, UNESCO, viking cruises
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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.

2018 NATJA Silver Award Winner

Recent Posts

  • Scary Travel Tales
  • Traveling Sisters — A Sentimental Journey
  • Wonders of Nature at the Desert Botanical Garden
  • I Dream of Going Back to Italy
  • Special Mother-Daughter Travel Experiences: Part Two

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travelingwithsweeney

Catherine Sweeney
I still say that @fsgeorgevparis is one of my top I still say that @fsgeorgevparis is one of my top hotels for Christmas decor. Artistic Director @jeffleatham is amazing. Don’t you love this gorgeous shiny red bear? It was just a part of holiday decor I enjoyed there during a stay several years ago at Christmas. Here’s to seeing holiday magic at the @fourseasons George V, Paris again! #paris #France #europe . . . #christmasdecorations #hotellobbydecor #parisatchristmas #traveleurope #france🇫🇷 #tophotelsoftheworld #travelblogger #gorgeousdecorations #christmasespast #travellater #artisticexpression #happytraveler
Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin — As I neared th Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin — As I neared the palace, I could hear the sounds of laughter and music. My mouth started watering from the aromas of grilling sausages. The lights and the festive sights were tantalizing. This was my first ever European Christmas market and I was forever hooked. I later went to the Gendarmenmarkt Christmas market and continued the enjoyment of food, drink, and holiday spirit. #christmasespast #europe #germany #berlin . . . #iwilltravelagain #travelspast #europeatchristmas #germanytravel #christmastravel #charlottenburgpalace #christmasmarket #europetravel #visitgermany #visitberlin #visitberlinlater #berlingermany #travelblogger
Budapest, Hungary — a Christmas memory. A lone s Budapest, Hungary — a Christmas memory. A lone skater enjoys having the small ice rink to herself — even for just a short while before it becomes full of holiday season revelers. The location is in front of St. Stephen’s Basilica at one of the largest Christmas markets on the Pest side of Budapest. #budapest #hungary #christmaspast @visit.budapest @budapest_hungary
It was a quiet morning of a past December when I w It was a quiet morning of a past December when I walked along the picturesque streets of Arles, France. Passing Café Van Gogh, I thought about what it was like back in the day when Vincent Van Gogh painted his vision of this place — then known as Café Terrace — in 1888. It is just one of many sights in Arles that provide an immersion into the world of Van Gogh. #provence #arlesfrance🇫🇷 #france #vangogh . . . #vangoghinspiration #cafevangogh #cafeinarles #visitfrance #atoutfrance #provencefrance #provenceguide #traveleurope #imagineart #famousartists #instaarles #europeanteavel #vincentvangogh
I love my old hometown of Chicago and visiting at I love my old hometown of Chicago and visiting at Christmas is a real treat. We can’t be there this year, but hope to see the sights and lights of the holidays again in the future. This was at Lincoln Park for their annual Zoo Lights. A beautiful way to get in the spirit in the city. #chicago #illinois #lincolnparkzoolights #christmas #holidaydecorations #holidaylights #lincolnparkzoo #iwilltravelagain #hometownchicago @lincolnparkzoo @visit.chicago
It’s that time of year! Shopping for our Christm It’s that time of year! Shopping for our Christmas tree attired in my lumberjack shirt. 😊I know a lot of people started their decorating early this year, but for us this is the start of our season and I can listen to holiday songs now. #christmastree #phoenixarizona #holidays2020
I was watching the lighting of the Christmas tree I was watching the lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in New York tonight (on television). It brought back great memories of being there during the holidays a few years ago. I loved these giant red ornaments on Sixth Avenue near Rockefeller Center. I ❤️NYC #newyorkcity #nycatchristmas #usa
Do you believe in Santa Claus? 🎅 I do — he wa Do you believe in Santa Claus? 🎅 I do — he was right there on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Memories of Christmases past. I’m reminiscing about the dazzling markets and rich traditions of Christmas in Europe on the blog. What would you like to ask Santa to bring you this year? #paris #france #christmas
If only in my dreams ... #budapest #hungary #chris If only in my dreams ... #budapest #hungary #christmaspast Mr. TWS and I have been fortunate to visit many European cities and Christmas markets during the holiday season over the years. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed much about our lives and plans, but we are optimistic that we will experience the magic of holidays in Europe in the future — perhaps in 2021. In 2020, many European Christmas markets will not be open or it is still unknown if they will be operating at least in some modified fashion due to the pandemic. Please visit city government and tourist office websites of each location to find out which particular markets are open, cancelled for 2020, or have a status still unknown. #europe #europetravel #travellater
Grazie, Italia! Thank you, Italy, for always makin Grazie, Italia! Thank you, Italy, for always making me feel at home. From the magical cities like Venice to the hilltops of Tuscany to the white cities of Puglia, I’ve discovered something new to love every time I visit. Can you say “thank you” in the language of the countries you’ve visited? The people you meet will be very grateful if you do. The link to our post about saying “thank you” in 16 languages is in the bio. #venice #italy
Happy Sunday from the Sonoran Desert! We don’t g Happy Sunday from the Sonoran Desert! We don’t get tired of the beauty of this part of Arizona that is our home. We feel fortunate to be able to enjoy the great outdoors all year round. #arizona #stayinghealthy #absolutelyscottsdale #myphx
Hey, it's National Take A Hike Day! So .. take a h Hey, it's National Take A Hike Day! So .. take a hike! Hiking in the desert is an absolute joy. There’s sunshine, big blue skies, amazing flora, great exercise, a sense of adventure, and maybe even a few desert critter sightings. And you can get ideas for what you need in your backpack in our packing guide for easy desert hiking. Find this and other articles about the hiking trails of the @mcdowellsonoranconservancy in @scottsdaleariz on the travelingwithsweeney.com website. #arizona🌵 @visit_arizona @visitphoenix #myphx #hiking #nationaltakeahikeday
It’s music to our ears! The Musical Instrument M It’s music to our ears! The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix is open again following its closure due to COVID-19. Of course, there are new safety measures in place, including enhanced sanitization, social distancing requirements, and minimal-contact ticket purchasing and admission. MIM is a thoroughly enlightening musical, cultural, and geographical experience. Visitors take a virtual journey around the world with its extensive exhibits of musical instruments and cultural perspectives. As you move around the galleries, wireless headphones tune in automatically to the audio of videos of the instruments being played in cultural context at performances, rituals, and festivals of cultures around the world. #myphx #phoenix #arizona🌵@mimphx
Although St. Petersburg, #Russia is actually a ver Although St. Petersburg, #Russia is actually a very colorful city, there's something about photos in black and white that capture a mysterious aspect of the city for me -- especially on my very first day there with @VikingCruises. #JAchat #travel #europe #ifwtwa
Spirit matters! October, 2020 Update: Western Spir Spirit matters! October, 2020 Update: Western Spirit Scottsdale's Museum of the West(SMOW) in Scottsdale, AZ is open to the public with health and safety protocols to provide a safe environment for all guests and staff due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please visit the SMOW website for information about admissions, a new self-guided audio tour, online digital content, the new online museum store, current collections and exhibition schedules, and additional facility enhancements. @scottsdaleariz #myphx #scottsdale #arizona🌵 @smowest
With cooler temps now here in the desert, we’re With cooler temps now here in the desert, we’re getting back to hiking on the great trails of the @mcdowell_sonoran_preserve in Scottsdale. Mr. TWS and I feel very lucky. #arizona🌵 #mcdowellsonoranpreserve #mcdowellsonoranconservancy #myphx
A sentimental journey through the past — In my n A sentimental journey through the past — In my newest post on the blog, I remember travels with my younger sister Chris who passed away in June. This photo of Chris, me, and our dad was taken at the Grand Canyon many, many years ago — ok ... it was 1962! I hope you’ll read the post and that it brings to mind your shared travel experiences with siblings or other family members. Click the link it the bio to go to the home page. #grandcanyon #arizona🌵
Good news for visitors and residents of the Phoeni Good news for visitors and residents of the Phoenix Metro area -- Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West will be reopening to the public for tours on October 15, 2020. Check out their website for more information about tours and newly-implemented safety measures. I have a post about my visit there on the blog — search for Taliesin West. “Architecture is man’s great sense of himself embodied in a world of this own making. It may rise as high in quality only as its source because Great Art is Great Life!” — Frank Lloyd Wright @wrighttaliesin #myphx #absolutelyscottsdale #scottsdale #arizona🌵#unescoworldheritage
"... for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer "... for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, ... " And here he is -- the wonderful, handsome man I married 29 years ago. I'm a lucky girl. #weddinganniversary❤️ #myhubby❤️
The allure of going places — in this case by tra The allure of going places — in this case by train. I find the journey itself an exciting part of the travel experience. Do you? This photo from my “nostalgia files” was taken at the central railway station in Wroclaw, Poland, while waiting to board our train to Warsaw. #ilovetraintravel #wroclaw #poland🇵🇱 #travellater
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