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Traveling with Sweeney

Traveling with Sweeney

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chicago

Chicago, Destinations, North America, USA

Chicago: My Kind of Town at Christmas

Catherine Sweeney
December 24, 2018
6 Comments
Chicago: My Kind of Town at Christmas

Christmas in Chicago: Favorite holiday things to do

chicago, christmas, christmas markets, illinois, USA
Attractions, Chicago, Destinations, Museums, Memorials & Landmarks, USA

Featured Museum: History, Chicago-style

Catherine Sweeney
August 30, 2012
37 Comments

There are three things that I remember from my 4th grade Chicago history class: Mrs. O’Leary’s cow started the Great Chicago Fire, I got an A+++ on my Fort Dearborn model, and “Chicago” was a Native American word for “bad smell”.

chicago, USA
Chicago, Destinations, Travel Food Tips, USA

Loco for XOCO

Catherine Sweeney
August 21, 2012
61 Comments

Celebrity Chicago chef Rick Bayless’ XOCO attracts food lovers from all over the Chicago area and is conveniently located for downtown workers to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner. Pronounced “Sho-ko”, Xoco is Mexican slang for “little sister”.

chicago, USA
Art and Architecture, Attractions, Chicago, Museums, Memorials & Landmarks, USA

Featured Museum: A Suburban Chicago Gem

Catherine Sweeney
June 12, 2012
31 Comments

I’ve spent much time over the years visiting a close friend in Elmhurst, Illinois, a suburb about 16 miles west of downtown Chicago. But until last month, neither of us had ever been to the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, an under-the-radar gem — really.

chicago, USA
Chicago, USA

Travel Photo Thursday: A Slice of Chicago

Catherine Sweeney
May 17, 2012
63 Comments

I’ve just returned home from a two week trip to the Midwest that included a few days in the Chicago area to visit family and friends and participate in Walk MS. Here is a slice of Chicago life for Travel Photo Thursday. The First Slice Actually, my individual serving of…

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chicago, USA
Art and Architecture, Attractions, Chicago, USA

Culture Curious in Chicago

Catherine Sweeney
May 10, 2012
42 Comments

As someone who is proud to call Chicago my birthplace and former home for many years, I’ve always known that the city is one of the world’s finest cultural capitals. But as many times as I’ve passed by the old Chicago Public Library building, I never walked through the doors…

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Art and Architecture, chicago, USA
Belgium, California, Europe, Food, Special Feature, USA

Sweeney’s Seven Super Shots

Catherine Sweeney
February 4, 2012
44 Comments

Seven photos that I think are super shots Here’s a photo that …. Takes my breath away The surreal vistas of the Badlands in South Dakota elicit strong reactions. I was struck by the beauty of the vast desolation. The warm wind blowing on that hot summer day intensified the…

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Belgium, california, chicago, Europe, Germany, USA
Attractions, Chicago, Museums, Memorials & Landmarks, USA

Ernest Hemingway: Chapter One

Catherine Sweeney
August 27, 2011
35 Comments

Ernest Hemingway has been a favorite author of mine since I read The Sun Also Rises many years ago.

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chicago
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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

  • Viking Cruise Shore Excursions: Should You Take Them?
  • Through the Lens of Barbara Nelson: The Timeless Beauty of Romania
  • Tallinn on the Baltic: A Medieval Surprise
  • Travel Planning: Seeing 2020 by Looking Back
  • Enchanted by Lucien Bahaj on Manhattan’s Lower East Side

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Catherine Sweeney
So I’ll have to wait a while until I get to enjo So I’ll have to wait a while until I get to enjoy another afternoon in Luxembourg Gardens since our April trip to #France has been cancelled. In the meantime, I’m reminiscing about #Paris and looking forward to the new parts of the country we’ll explore when we can reschedule. Stay tuned and stay healthy!
The desert is coming alive with blooms right here The desert is coming alive with blooms right here in our neighborhood @mcdowellmountainranch @scottsdaleariz #scottsdale #arizona
Gdańsk, Poland. Visit this picturesque city on th Gdańsk, Poland. Visit this picturesque city on the Baltic for its history, charm, and amber. I’ve got a lovely pair of amber earrings bought here. A real treasure of a souvenir. #gdansk #poland #myvikingstory
Peaceful reflections of France travels past .... A Peaceful reflections of France travels past .... An early autumn scene at the Medici Fountain at Luxembourg Gardens. I’m sure I’ll be back to this spot on the next trip I’m planning. #Paris #france
Back in Rouen, France ... at least in my mind. Loo Back in Rouen, France ... at least in my mind. Looking down upon the colorful umbrellas over Rue Massacre at Place Dominique Laboubée. Notice the portrait of the late French rock singer, Dominique Laboubée, by street artist, Jef Aérosol, on a building on the left. #Rouen #france
Continuing my France travel planning reminiscing t Continuing my France travel planning reminiscing takes me down this lane in Dinan, France — a totally charming village in the Brittany region. #dinan #france #brittany . . . #frenchtourism #jaimelafrance #bretagne #bretagne_focus_on #travel #travelblogger #beautifuldestinations #atoutfrance #europeantravel #charmingvillage #charmingeurope #france🇫🇷
Paris daydreams ... I often have them. Et vous? Ge Paris daydreams ... I often have them. Et vous? Getting ready to plan next trip to France 🇫🇷 so can’t help looking back on a previous trip. I like this photo that captures Musée d'Orsay, Eiffel Tower, and the Seine at sunset. #paris #france . . . #france🇫🇷 #parisfrance #atoutfrance #visitparisofficial #museedorsay #eiffeltower #riverseine #beautifuldestinations #instaparis #frenchtravel #jaimelafrance #sunset #jachat
Perhaps you recognize this location from trailers Perhaps you recognize this location from trailers for the latest James Bond movie, “No Time To Die”? It’s Matera, Italy. Once called “ The shame of Italy”, Matera has had a rebirth and was designated a European Capital of Culture in 2019. It is one of my recommended places to visit in 2020. Check out more travel inspiration for 2020 and beyond in our article on @travelingwithsweeney #matera #italy🇮🇹 . . . #movielocation #jamesbondfilm #italia #ancientitaly #cavedwelling #italytravel #discoveritaly #discoverbasilicata #basilicata #europeantravel #instaitaly #travelblogger #traveleurope #europeandestinations #travel2020
A view from the port — Stockholm, Sweden. To the A view from the port — Stockholm, Sweden. To the right was our home away from home during our @vikingcruises Viking Homelands cruise — the Viking Jupiter. #myvikingstory #stockholm #sweden . . . #visitsweden #vikingcruises #scandinavia #europeantravel #northerneuropetrip #sweden🇸🇪 #swedengram #travelblogger #cruise #cruisetravel #balticsea #balticcruise #cruiseship #vikingjupiter
And a good time was had by all! Reminiscing about And a good time was had by all! Reminiscing about holiday fun in Vienna, Austria on our @vikingcruises Romantic Danube #cruise. An optional Viking excursion in Vienna, the “Heurigen Evening” provided a high-spirited authentic Viennese gemütlichkeit experience. A shuttle from the ship took our small group of five couples and our guides to the city’s 19th district where numerous vineyards are located with their wine taverns called Heurigen. The Heuriger became part of Austrian culture in the 18th century when Emperor Joseph II proclaimed that anyone who made their own wine could sell it to the public in their establishments. #myvikingstory . . . #austria #visitaustria #austria🇦🇹 #traveleurope #europeantravel #instaaustria #instavienna #heurigen #heuriger #wien #traveldeeper #viennagram #vikingcruises
Same time, last year... Lunch at a Chicago landmar Same time, last year... Lunch at a Chicago landmark — The Berghoff restaurant, a historic family-owned German restaurant on Adams Street in the Loop. Although renovated in recent years, it still serves hearty and authentic German comfort food in brauhaus ambiance. Great for holiday spirit on a brisk December day. #chicago #illinois #usa . . . #christmas #visitchicago #visitillinois #enjoyillinois #theberghoff #wintertravel #germanrestaurant #travelillinois #holidayseason #sametimelastyear #travelblogger #chicagoroots
The latest on the blog is about the sights and act The latest on the blog is about the sights and activities during our @vikingcruises shore excursions in St. Petersburg, Russia. The gorgeous domes are part of the Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood. The church was constructed between 1883 and 1907 and got its name because it was built upon the site where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated. #myvikingstory #stpetersburgrussia #russia . . . #russiagram #travelrussia #visitstpetersburg #beautifulchurches #churchofoursaviour #traveldeeper #instatravel #vikingcruises #shoreexcursion #travel #travelblogger #visitpetersburg #createthegreat
Everyday life in St. Petersburg, Russia. This is N Everyday life in St. Petersburg, Russia. This is Nevsky Prospekt — a busy street in Russia’s “northern capital”. #myvikingstory #saintpetersburg #russia . . . #europe #easterneurope #visitrussia #europeantravel #traveleurope #vikingcruises #shoreexcursion #cityscene #nevskyprospekt #travelblogger #traveltheworld #createthegreat
Does anybody know about the building on the Neva R Does anybody know about the building on the Neva River with the big red bow? I took this photo in St. Petersburg, Russia while riding on a coach to a @vikingcruises shore excursion in the city. Let me know! #saintpetersburg #russia #myvikingstory . . . #stpetersburgrussia #bigredbow #cityscene #europe #europeantravel #visitrussia #travelblogger #vikingcruises #cruisetravel #traveltheworld #visitpetersburg
The gold dome of St. Isaac’s Cathedral towering The gold dome of St. Isaac’s Cathedral towering above new-classical buildings along the Neva River in St. Petersburg, Russia. More coming soon on the blog. #myvikingstory #saintpetersburgrussia . . . #russia #vikingcruises #vikinghomelands #cruise #cruiseexcursions #europeantravel #visitrussia #travelblogger #russiantravel #globetrotter #cathedraldome #cathedral #cityscene #createthegreat
Shopping area of Saint Petersburg, Russia. Loved o Shopping area of Saint Petersburg, Russia. Loved our walking tour of this Russian city during our @vikingcruises shore excursion. More to come on the blog. #myvikingstory #saintpetersburgrussia . . . #travelblogger #russiatravel #instarussia #globetrotter #jachat #ifwtwa #cityscene #vikingcruises #livetotravel #lovetotravel #visitpetersburg
When we visited St. Petersburg, Russia in late Sep When we visited St. Petersburg, Russia in late September, the leaves were just starting to turn, making for a beautiful stroll through Mikhailovsky Garden. The park can be entered behind the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood which we were touring on our shore excursion with @vikingcruises #myvikingstory #saintpetersburgrussia #russia . . . #stpetersburgrussia #mikhailovskygarden #park #citypark #vikinghomelands #vikingcruise #visitrussia #traveleurope #travelrussia #instarussia #earlyautumn #travelgram #visitpetersburg
Riding on a long and quite steep (more so than the Riding on a long and quite steep (more so than the photo shows) in a Metro station in St. Petersburg, Russia. The “St. Petersburg by Metro and on Foot” shore excursion during the Viking Homelands cruise was one of my favorite trip experiences. It was like being part of daily life in Russia. Keep following the @travelingwithsweeney blog for more about our cruise on the Baltic. #myvikingstory #stpetersburgrussia #saintpetersburgrussia #vikingcruises #metrostation #travelrussia #travelblogger #instarussia #balticcruise #escalator #dailylifeinrussia #visitpetersburg
Stockholm, Sweden. One of the great things about @ Stockholm, Sweden. One of the great things about @vikingcruises is the focus on destinations providing many opportunities to tour and explore port cities on included and optional excursions. Find out more on the blog about our favorite things during our first ocean cruise. #myvikingstory #europe #stockholm #sweden
The art of the cruise. From the first steps onto t The art of the cruise. From the first steps onto the Viking Jupiter, passengers can see that elements of art are clearly integral to the interior ambiance of the ship. Art is central to the elegant Scandinavian design and decor of the Jupiter (and its sister ships) with paintings, photographs, sculptures, ceramics, and other pieces placed thoughtfully throughout the ship, creating comfortable and appealing spaces for guests. Read more about our first-ever ocean cruise on our latest blog post. #myvikingstory #europe . . . #europetravel #europeancruise #vikingcruises #art #cruiseship #cruiseaddict #cruisetravel #instatravel #cruisegram #vikingjupiter #artanddecor
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