Author Archives: mattsheehanofficial

Experience Santa’s Hometown in Southern Indiana

(SANTA CLAUS, INDIANA) — Did you know there’s a place in America that celebrates Christmas all year long? Imagine Christmas stores, reindeer, bright lights, candies, chestnuts roasting and so much more. Well, that’s exactly what to expect in Santa Claus, Indiana. Named after the big man himself, Santa Claus wasn’t the town’s original name. OriginallyContinue reading “Experience Santa’s Hometown in Southern Indiana”

Explore a Magical Castle in Missouri!

(ST. MARY, MISSOURI) — When you hear that you can stay in a castle, you might think of European countries like Ireland, Italy, Germany or France. Well I’m here to tell you there’s a beautiful castle in Southeast Missouri (Ste. Genevieve County) – near the Illinois border. Twin Turret Farm & Castle is a stunningContinue reading “Explore a Magical Castle in Missouri!”

Illinois Winery Blog: Kite Hill Vineyards!

(CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS) — It’s been quite some time since we’ve done an Illinois winery blog! Happy to bring this back as part of our travels through Southern Illinois, specifically Carbondale, home of Southern Illinois University. We visited Kite Hill Vineyards, part of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. It was a beautiful mid-October day, with clearContinue reading “Illinois Winery Blog: Kite Hill Vineyards!”

7 places to add to your Southern Illinois itinerary

(CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS) — For the second year in a row, my wife Rachel and I made a mid-October trip down to Southern Illinois for a kids-free getaway. We’re very blessed and grateful to be able to spend quality time like this together, especially on our anniversary (October 16), but additionally thankful for the support theContinue reading “7 places to add to your Southern Illinois itinerary”

Enjoy a magical, comfortable stay at an affordable price near Disney World

(LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA) — It’s no secret that a trip to Walt Disney World® in Orlando, Florida can cost a pretty penny. You have the cost of park tickets, dining, transportation (both to get to Orlando, and once you’re there), Lightning Lanes, and then of course, lodging. My family and I just got backContinue reading “Enjoy a magical, comfortable stay at an affordable price near Disney World”

11 things to add to your Champaign-Urbana travel planner!

(CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, ILLINOIS) — We enjoyed a beautiful Labor Day weekend visiting new places, seeing amazing sights and experiencing wonderful things. The weather was absolutely perfect, so that was a huge plus! The general area we visited is commonly referred to as Champaign-Urbana, the home of the University of Illinois. But in our journey, we adventuredContinue reading “11 things to add to your Champaign-Urbana travel planner!”

I am not a politician from Texas

(ILLINOIS) — Over the past few months, my email and “Contact Us” inbox has been filled with constituents from Texas, reaching out about Senate Bill 840. The bill was signed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) and goes into effect on September 1, 2025. The Texas Legislature online reads, “Relating to certain municipal regulation ofContinue reading “I am not a politician from Texas”

Six months with our little angel

(ILLINOIS) — Just two days before Christmas, our family got the greatest gift. Mattie Marie entered the Sheehan household, making me a “girl dad” for the first time and letting Bennett become a big brother. It was Rachel’s idea to name her “Mattie” after me. I wasn’t objecting to that! Her baptism photos show theContinue reading “Six months with our little angel”

Delicious Brunch: Gordon Ramsay Style!

(ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI) — If you want some of the best views, coupled with some of the best food in St. Louis – then this article is for you. Atop the 8th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis is the famously-named Ramsay’s Kitchen. An important part of any experience we have, is allContinue reading “Delicious Brunch: Gordon Ramsay Style!”