Travel

Falling in Love with Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Since I was a teen, I wanted to live a bi-coastal life with my favorite seasons on the East Coast (Spring, Summer and Fall) and escape chilly Philly to somewhere warm in the winter (usually California and sometimes Florida). Perhaps I don’t own any warm weather property (yet) however I can escape the cold to the land of sunshine and lollipops, especially now that my back is fixed up with no pain and I’m literally less than 5 degrees curved now from scoliosis fusion surgery! So this trip was extra special and an encouragement from my Scoliosis Inspire & Inform group to take a one-year “Spineaversary” to celebrate being back to my healthy self yet again. And that I did!

One of my best friends from Penn State University lives in the ‘burbs of Los Angeles while her family (nicknamed my California family) lives in the hills of Poway, outside of San Diego, CA. I had Mexico on my mind for months and decided to lump the trip together to make a sort of vacation/modeling/acting/back to vacation/visiting my California family trip. I started out in Del Mar after flying SouthWest and taking an Uber (funny fact, Uber is cheaper on the West Coast while Lyft is cheaper on the East Coast even though both based out of California).  Staying at the Hilton Del Mar for 3 nights kicked off my trip, which is being upgraded with a sweet outdoor oasis. The best parts were the convenient complimentary shuttle in a 5 mile radius and the hot tub every night with views of the stars. The worst part was when I was taking cell phone shots with my Samsung Galaxy S7 of the ocean creeping into the sand, the water hit my feet and I instinctively dropped the phone – into the waves – and fortunately saw the black sparkle case beneath the surf and saved my phone from certain Wilson style death. It still worked but boy was my heart racing because I was leaving for Mexico the next day! Later on I was stressing over the fact it wouldn’t hold a charge as “moisture was detected” but thankfully by the end of the long day, it was working fine… so they are water resistant but we’ll see how long the phone lives now with some salt water residue.

Arriving at the airport “5 minutes late but it’s no big deal” after breakfast with an old high school friend and his wife, Alaska Airlines sucked with their baggage fee and only one bathroom available on board (I also got stopped and swabbed on the way back)! But when I arrived, I was instantly in love. Our hour long shuttle took us to the marina where I was spending the next 5 days in luxury paradise at adults only Breathless Resorts at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Located on the tip of the marina with views of Land’s End, it was perfect for walking, shopping, exploring and pretty much everything you could need within walking distance including a private beach to snorkel, paddle board and kayak.

The view from my bedroom balcony at sunset in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Photo by Cassie Hepler
From the VIP deck view at Breathless Resorts at sunset in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Photo by Cassie Hepler
Land’s End at sunset in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Photo by Cassie Hepler
Cassie Hepler enjoying dinner with a view every night outside at Breathless Resorts in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
The following day was the one day it was raining in months in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico so I went on a tour at Secrets, a sister resort away from the marina and more secluded. Photo by Cassie Hepler
A storm rolls in  at Secrets in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico during my tour at the sister resort away from the marina and more secluded. Photo by Cassie Hepler
Without the storm, this photo would have never happened. It made for perfect napping weather and as soon as it passed, so did my tiredness. Photo by Cassie Hepler
A whale watching tour brought us by Cabo San Lucas Land’s End in Mexico. Photo by Cassie Hepler
Lazy seals and sea lions became pets to some locals at Cabo San Lucas Land’s End in Mexico. Photo by Cassie Hepler
I went on a whale watching tour and almost cried out of joy when I caught this extremely rare photo of a mother whale jumping out of the water right after her baby in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. February is migrating and mating season for a slew of whale species. Photo by Cassie Hepler
Eventually I got into the vacation groove and became much like this solo sea lion sunbathing on this rock. Photo by Cassie Hepler
Of course I had to do some modeling while in such a beautiful location and partnered up with young and very talented Stephanie Poth Photography in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Stephanie Poth Photography caught the perfect angle of Cassie Hepler’s beloved sombrero with Land’s End in the background in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Cassie Hepler rocking her scoliosis scar on the private beach at Breathless Resorts in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Cassie Hepler playing in the water on the private beach at Breathless Resorts in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Cassie Hepler rinsing off the sand in the outdoor showers by the private beach at Breathless Resorts in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Stephanie Poth Photography
Stephanie Poth Photography was all in for the golden powder photoshoot in the endless pool at Breathless Resorts in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Overall it was one of the best vacations of my life. Would I go back? In a heartbeat. And is it safe for women? Most definitely. I even carried my purse around with no fear and went on a bar crawl with the fun resort entertainment crew my first night. But to really know Cabo is to make some local friends (which I did) and return with a local tour guide where you won’t see another gringo (or gringa) besides yourself. Take a Pepto Bismol every morning, don’t drink the tap water but try some local cuisine. Drink the tequila, do all the tastings, enjoy the laid back vibe and live on “Mexican time”. It’s delightful.