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illinois

Chicago, Destinations, North America, USA

Chicago: My Kind of Town at Christmas

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

Christmas in Chicago: Favorite holiday things to do

chicago, christmas, christmas markets, featured, illinois, USA

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.

Thank you, Getting on Travel!

Traveling with Sweeney, Best Baby Boomer Travel Blogs 2022, Getting on Travel

2018 NATJA Silver Award Winner

Recent Posts

  • An Enchanting Stay in the Sahara Desert
  • Broadening Our Horizons in Morocco on a Collette Guided Tour
  • Viking Shore Excursions: Canada and Atlantic Coastline Destinations
  • Viking Expedition Cruise Recap: Canada and the Atlantic Coastline
  • A Farewell to Sicily in Taormina

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'Tis the season ... for hearty dishes! So I'm thin 'Tis the season ... for hearty dishes! So I'm thinking back to a December past in Lyon, France. From our "Lyon: A City to Love" post (link in bio) -- "Oh, the food! It’s no wonder that Lyon is considered to be the “gastronomic capital of France” even though that might be disputed by many Parisians. From traditional fare at bouchons to inspired adaptations of Lyonnais dishes and Mediterranean influences, we savored each meal in Lyon. We learned very quickly that there is no such thing as “light” traditional Lyonnais cuisine. Bring your appetite when you come here! In the photos: - Bouchon Les Lyonnais - Ravioli Dauphiné au gratin - Quenelle with pike in lobster sauce - Le Comptoir des Marronniers where I had another Quenelle! (next pic) - Le Sud, a Paul Bocuse restaurant - Pastilla de Volaille Fermière, a North African meat pie with Moroccan spices - At Comptoir Chabet (in two photos), a bouchon where the offerings are hearty and generous and include charcuterie platters, cheese specialities like Cervelle de canut (silk worker’s brain), sausages, potato and lentil salads, herring, and poultry entrees along with more unusual items like tripe, calves feet, pigs feet, and other local delicacies - Tarte à la Praline which we had for dessert at Vivarais restaurant And this is just a small taste of Lyon! #foodiefriday #ifwtwa1 #lyon #onlylyon #france #frenchgastronomy #travelforfood #travelblogger
What an experience! Of the many highlights during What an experience! Of the many highlights during our @gocollette Colors of Morocco tour, our two nights at a Sahara Desert camp stands out as one of the best. Ever since I was very young, I dreamed of seeing the Sahara Desert which held a great deal of mystique for me. But somehow it always seemed out of reach until our Morocco guided tour gave us the perfect opportunity to make those dreams a reality. Find out more in our latest post (link in bio). #gocollette #catherinexcollette #guidedtravel #morocco #africatravel #camelride #desertcamp #saharadesert #sahara #ifwtwa1 #travelblogger #beautifuldestinations
Happy #NationalHikingDay! Where do you like to hik Happy #NationalHikingDay! Where do you like to hike? Zion National Park in Utah is well-known as a hiker’s paradise and there are trails for everyone. We enjoyed easy and moderate hikes during a 2-day visit -- Sweeney Unplugged at Zion National Park -- Link in bio. #ifwtwa1 #takeahike #nationalhikingday #nationalpark #utah #zionnationalpark #hikingtrails #travelutah
Through beautiful scenery, rural areas, villages, Through beautiful scenery, rural areas, villages, and cities we were on the road with @gocollette between destinations on our Morocco tour. It was a great experience as we broadened our travel horizons visiting a new country on a new continent. New post is on the Traveling with Sweeney blog about some of our trip highlights. Link in bio. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #morocco . . . #guidedtravel #moroccotravel #moroccoroadtrip #ontheroad #alongtheway #africa #travelblogger #traveltheworld #broadenyourhorizons #ifwtwa1 #traveltuesday
The holy city of Moulay Idress was an unexpected h The holy city of Moulay Idress was an unexpected highlight on our @gocollette “Colors of Morocco” tour. It is a major pilgrimage site as it houses the tomb of Morocco’s first Islamic ruler for whom it is named. It is near the Roman ruins of Volubilis which we also visited. Walking up through the town on its busy and narrow streets, we took in its character looking around and down colorful alleys. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #morocco #moroccotravel #maroc #guidedtravel #africatravel #holycity #visitmorocco #maroctourisme #ifwtwa1 #traveltuesday #travelblogger
Meet Nabil -- our tour manager on the @gocollette Meet Nabil -- our tour manager on the @gocollette "Colors of Morocco" tour we took last month. From our first day in Rabat to our final night in Casablanca, he guided us through historic places, cities and rural areas, UNESCO sites, and the Sahara Desert. He also introduced us to local experts, traditional foods, and the Moroccan people. Stay tuned for more about the trip here and on the blog. And if you've been inspired to book a Morocco trip with Collette, be sure to use my special code SWEENEY2023 for a discount.* 😊 Link in bio. *Offer of 10% land only is valid on new retail bookings made for the Colors of Morocco Tour made only on dates of 10/1/23 - 11/15/23 only for travel between 10/26/23 - 4/4/24. Offer code SWEENEY2023 must be used at the time of booking for savings. Offers can expire earlier due to space or inventory availability. Space is on a first come, first served basis. Offers are not valid on group or existing bookings. Offers are combinable with member benefits only. Offer is not combinable with Seasonal Offers, Hot Deals or any Flash Sales. Promotional fares may remain in effect after the expiration date. Other restrictions may apply. #morocco #gocollette #sponsored #catherinexcollette #guidedtravel #africatravel #travelblogger
A #foodiefriday taste of Morocco — a few of the A #foodiefriday taste of Morocco — a few of the traditional dishes we enjoyed on our @gocollette tour. 🥗 Moroccan salads (usually eggplant, beets, carrots, and tomatoes)shown in the first few photos are very commonly presented with meals. #gocolette #catherinexcollette #morocco #ifwtwa1 #guidedtravel #traditionalfood #travelblogger #africatravel 🫒 Olive vendor at Fes Medina 🐓 Chicken tajine with prunes and almonds 🥦 Woman selling vegetables at Fes Medina 🍝 Couscous and vegetables 🍕 “Berber pizza” (medfouna) being served by our Berber host and the pizza - lamb, beef or chicken stuffed inside round flatbread 🐑 Lamb tajine ready to be cooked 🍳 Moroccan Shakshuka — eggs, vegetables, tomatoes, and spices 🥤 Pomegranates and juice at Rabat Medina — special to Morocco as it’s mentioned in the Koran 🍞 Pastilla - Phyllo dough stuffed with chicken and spices 🍪 Cookies and biscuits served with tea as hospitality offering
Lovely wine time memory for #winewednesday — On Lovely wine time memory for #winewednesday — On the pool deck of Hotel @grupxaluca Dades in Boumalne du Dades, Morocco, we sipped a nice Moroccan white wine while enjoying the view of the town, valley, and the Atlas Mountains. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #morocco #winelover #moroccanwine #boumalnedades #xalucadades #atlasmountains #boumalnedudades #guidedtravel #hotelview #enjoyinglife #travelblogger #ifwtwa1
Inside the Ksar (fortified village) of El Khorbat Inside the Ksar (fortified village) of El Khorbat in Morocco where we learned about its Jewish and Muslim heritage and architecture (built using raw earth) and visited the museum with an extensive collection of artifacts, photos, maps, and drawings. Much of the old village (built in 1800s) is still inhabited. @gocollette #gocollette #catherinexcollette #morocco #elkhorbat #ksar #raweartharchitecture #museum #visitmorocco #traveldeeper #guidedtravel
I didn’t do a very good job on the castanets (la I didn’t do a very good job on the castanets (later in the reel), but it was interesting to learn about traditional sub-Saharan Gnawa music and get a little lesson during our @gocollette tour in Morocco. The Gnawa people are an ethnic group with West African ancestry who were originally brought to Morocco as slaves. Their music and dance is an important part of their heritage. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #morocco #visitmorocco #gnawamusic #traveldeeper #travelblogger #guidedtravel
Cooking for a cause on our @gocollette “Colors o Cooking for a cause on our @gocollette “Colors of Morocco” tour. @mrtws1 and I learned about Moroccan cooking and about the mission of a wonderful women’s training organization during a cooking class and lunch at @amalnonprofit in Marrakech. The Amal Women’s Training Center helps to empower women looking to change their lives for the better. “They are often from the more vulnerable rungs of society, such as widows, divorced mothers, orphans, former child maids, or women with little or no education.” — Amal Women’s Training Center Thanks to Collette and our tour manager Nabil Merri for introducing us to these amazing women. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #foodiefriday #ifwtwa1 #morocco #nonprofit #moroccotrip #moroccofood #visitmorocco #visitmarrakech #marrakech #guidedtravel #cookingclass #goodcauses #helpingwomen
Every great trip must come to an end … here we a Every great trip must come to an end … here we are in Casablanca at the Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Africa, on our final day of the @gocollette Colors of Morocco tour. Gorgeous architecture and intricate designs of ceramic tiles and hand-carved stone. More Morocco trip pics and tips to come! #gocollette #catherinexcollette #casablanca #morocco #moroccotravel #guidedtravel #africa #mosque #hassanmosque
The colors of Morocco on a walk through the Medina The colors of Morocco on a walk through the Medina of Marrakech with our local guide on a @gocollette tour. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #traveldeeper #morocco #marrakech #marrakesh #africa #africatravel #guidedtravel #triptomorocco #ifwtwa1 #travelblogger
For those, like us, who enjoy visiting UNESCO Worl For those, like us, who enjoy visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites when we traveling, here’s one for you in Morocco — Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou in Ouarzazate province. Ait-Ben-Haddou was an important stop on the Marrakech and Sahara route. We walked through the lanes of old dwellings and marketplace within the walls of the fortress. More to show you later. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #morocco #unesco #africatravel #travelblogger #travel #traveldeeper #ifwtwa1
New experience for me in the Sahara Desert — rid New experience for me in the Sahara Desert — riding a camel. Here’s how it started! #gocollette #catherinexcollette #morocco #saharadesert #camelride #travelblogger #africatravel #guidedtravel
In a day full of great activities on our @gocollet In a day full of great activities on our @gocollette Morocco tour, spending time with a Berber nomad family was a big highlight. Through our tour manager and translator Nabil, we asked questions about their lives as they served us tea and showed us around. They also graciously allowed us to take these photos of their family. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #morocco #moroccotravel #guidedtravel #nomadlifestyle #traveldeeper #travelgram #travelblogger #saharadesert #sahara
Moroccan souvenir tip — ceramics and mosaics. Du Moroccan souvenir tip — ceramics and mosaics. During our stay in Fes on our @gocollette tour, we got a chance to watch artisans creating these beautiful pieces. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #morocco #moroccotravel #colorsofmorocco #guidedtravel #fes #ceramics #craftsmanship
Did you know that there are wineries in Morocco? I Did you know that there are wineries in Morocco? I was surprised! On our @gocollette Colors of Morocco tour, we visited one of them! Domaine de la Zouina was such a treat — tour of the winery and a delectable lunch on a beautiful day. What could be better? 🍷#gocollette #catherinexcollette #morocco #wine #winestagram #travelmorocco #visitmorocco🇲🇦 #travelblogger #domainedelazouina #ifwtwa1 #traveltuesday
One of the things we love about a @gocollette Expl One of the things we love about a @gocollette Explorations tour is being introduced to the locals by our guides and tour manager. Tonight’s dinner at a local family’s home in Fes was amazing. We were made to feel totally at home while being served traditional mint tea, pastries, soup, and my current favorite Moroccan dish — chicken pastilla. Watch to the end to see the lovely Moroccan dress I was able to wear during our visit with this warm and friendly family. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #colorsofmorocco #foodofmorocco #meetingthelocals #fezmorocco #morocco #guidedtravel #travelgram #ifwtwa1
Scenes from inside the Kasbah de Oudaias, an ancie Scenes from inside the Kasbah de Oudaias, an ancient fortress at the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean and Bou Regreg river in Rabat. Many shops and homes along the narrow lanes of the town inside the walls. This was part of our tour of Rabat, Morocco’s capital city, on @gocollette tour. #gocollette #catherinexcollette #rabat #morocco #guidedtravel #visitmorocco #kasbah #africatravel #moroccotrip #travelling #travelblogger
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