Discovering Istanbul with Viking Cruises The post Fascinated by Istanbul on a Viking Cruise appeared first on Traveling with Sweeney.            ..read more

Liguria and Tuscany on a Mediterranean Coastal Journry The post The Allure of Italy in Liguria and Tuscany appeared first on Traveling with Sweeney.            ..read more

A Mediterranean coastal journey in southern France The post Indulging the Senses on the Mediterranean Coast of France appeared first on Traveling with Sweeney.            ..read more

Rohoen, the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix Simply beautiful Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix A lovely and peaceful urban oasis, the Japanese Friendship Garden is a joint creation between the sister cities of Phoenix, Arizona and Himeji, Japan — a beautiful way to highlight the special relationship. Sign at entrance of Rohoen, the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix From Japanese Friendship Garden website: The devoted and friendly relationship between the Sister Cities of Phoenix and Himeji, Japan is reflected in the name chosen by its creators. 鷺 Ro – Japanese word for He ..read more

Best things to do in the Phoenix area for art and culture enthusiasts We’ve got a lot of sunshine, golf courses, hiking trails, and spa resorts here in the Phoenix Metro Area, but there’s much more for visitors to discover. I’ve compiled this quick reference guide of some of the best things to do in Phoenix and nearby communities for art and culture lovers based on those that Mr. TWS and I have experienced. In some cases, I’ve included excerpts and links to previous articles about particular venues. For the art lover in you! LOVE sculpture by Robert Indiana at Civic Center Mall, Scottsdale ..read more

Two hikes in the Tonto National Forest at Hohokam sites There are so many great trails in and around Scottsdale, Arizona, that we usually hike our favorites close to home. But sometimes we venture further afield to explore more of Arizona and other great hiking spots in beautiful places. As an update to our previous articles about some of the great hikes we’ve taken, here’s a report on two mostly easy hikes in the Tonto National Forest of Arizona that offer good exercise, great views, and a look at interesting remains of Hohokam Native American history and culture. Sears-Kay Ruins Trail (near ..read more

Why you should take a Collette guided tour in Morocco Following our trip to the Balkans in 2022, we posted about the reasons we felt a Collette tour (our first guided land tour) was a great way to see these countries of the former Yugoslavia. Now we can apply those same reasons to the Colors of Morocco tour we took in October, 2023. This was our first time in Morocco and also our first time in Africa. If you’re considering if a Collette guided tour in Morocco or other destinations makes sense for you, we hope our experience will be helpful. This post also includes links to our other articles ..read more

Five days in London: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry Happy Holidays to all! Mr. TWS and I have had a tradition for the past 14 years that we hope to continue for years to come. We’ve been kicking off the holidays (and celebrating Mr. TWS’s birthday) by traveling to festive destinations in early December. We’ve visited European Christmas markets, cruised along the Danube, discovered Christmas traditions in France, celebrated right here in the USA in Chicago and New York, and had many other memorable experiences. This year we went back to a destination we’ve been visited several times before and where ..read more

What an experience! Two nights at a luxury Sahara Desert camp Of many highlights during our Collette 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. Our camel caravan in the Sahara It was a special and different experience for us to stay in a luxury desert tent, enjoy Berber music around a bonfire, gaze ..read more

Special experiences on a Collette Morocco guided tour One of the things we appreciate about traveling is how new places and experiences give us a better understanding of the world and its people. During our “Colors of Morocco” guided tour with Collette, our first visit to Morocco and to the continent of Africa, we eagerly embraced every new experience. We were intrigued, educated, enchanted, and well-fed as we visited cities, rural areas, and the great Sahara Desert, broadening our horizons with a diversity of activities, locations, and interactions with the locals. Sunset in the Sahara Dese ..read more