Day Trips
- Beach, Celebrities, Culture, Dance, Day Trips, Drink, Entertainment, Events, Explore with Cassie, Food, Latest News, Restaurants, Sports, Suburbs, Travel
Drive a Boat in Lawless Lake of the Wild West in Lake Havasu City, Arizona
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler When London Bridge Resort reached out for a tour of now nearby to me Lake Havasu City, AZ, it was a no-brainer. Sparking turquoise water flanked by majestic copper canyons? It’s like a photographer’s dream so of course I was all in! One tourism tweet later on Twitter, I was connected to the lovely Jillian Danielson who is an amazing storm chasing photographer who also owns the well-known Lake Havasu go-to guide, River Scene Magazine. Lake Havasu City is in western Arizona about four hours west of Phoenix, AZ and near the border of Eastern California. It’s known as a base for trails in the…
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Cruise Along the Pacific Beach on 17 Mile Drive in Monterey, California
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler If you’re in California – perhaps staying nearby in the fairytale town of Carmel by the Sea or Monterey – we highly recommended renting a car or hopping in your own sweet ride, putting the windows or top down and taking this windy cruise along one of the most beautiful scenic drives of your life. Driving through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove on the Monterey Peninsula in Northern California, 17-Mile Drive is a scenic road that hugs the Pacific coastline and passes gold courses galore, mansions and more travel porn including my favorite, the Lone Cypress, Bird Rock, stinky Seal Rock and the 5,300-acre Del Monte Forest of Monterey Cypress trees. The gated community…
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Meet Spiritual Healer and Guide Simona Manenti, The Real Deal
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler There was a time I was helping a spiritual, holistic living based website build its brand. While I was poking around in my happy place – the land of New Age and enlightenment – I would watch the videos that Angel Air would produce to learn more and out of genuine curiosity. And soon I stumbled upon healer Simona Manenti‘s video below, her energy spoke to my soul and I soon reached out for a private session. Her private sessions are very in depth. The reason there is a cover involved is because your body will get cold as she cleanses your spirit and speaks…
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Rejuvenate at Hofsas House and Walk the Wine Trail in Fairytale Town Carmel by the Sea, California
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler In a fairytale land far, far away (or nearby depending on where you live), there was a small, picturesque town in Northern California called Carmel-by-the-Sea. It had rolling hills and sharp winding roads where women were advised not to wear heels higher than an inch or so due to the fear of falling down. A short walk towards the Pacific Ocean leads you to the beach where locals had built massive bonfire structures, waiting for that perfect moonlit night. And in this fairytale land, there was a Bavarian style bed and breakfast getaway, the Hofsas House, owned by the Theis family and now celebrating seven…
- Architecture, Day Trips, Dessert, Drink, Education, Explore with Cassie, Food, Latest News, Restaurants, Style, Travel
University City Gets Smart with Chic, Sleek Study Hotel and Unique Co-Op Restaurant
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler University City in Philadelphia, Pa. is going through a sort of revival of its own. Once only home to college students, it is now becoming a go-to space for business, a thriving foodie scene and even nightlife on the other side of the river. Without having to schlep over the bridge to Center City and much of it becoming walkable, it’s a nice self-contained fun unit. Enter Study Hotels. Located close to Drexel and Penn, it’s a great space for scholars, families, business travelers and students alike. With a very obvious studious theme going on (oversized, Instagram-worthy glasses sculpture outside) to books galore as well…
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Tasty Wine, Tempting Cheeses, Music and Even Goat Yoga at 8th Annual Skippack Winetober Festival
Story, photos by Jill Beckel Explore Philly had a blast at Skippack’s 8th Annual Winetober Fest. The event took place on an October weekend and we chose to attend the Saturday daytime session. Skippack, PA is an adorable small town located in Montgomery County. With lots of little shops, restaurants and bars, the quaint town offers a lot of things to check out. We picked up our entrance passes, wine cup (attendees could upgrade to receive a wine glass with the VIP passes) and were off to sample all the wines! Some of the stand-out wines included a large sampling from A’Dello Vineyard & Winery. We love fruit-infused wines and they had several…
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Tune Into the Sounds of the Season at Fairmount Park’s Historic Houses
“Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart … filled it, too, with melody that would last forever.” – Bess Streeter Aldrich Story, photos by Sharon Kozden They came. They toured. They listened. On December 2, in what was part of a 16-day seasonal presentation called A Very Philly Christmas, Fairmount Park’s Historic Houses came alive with the sounds of music during The Sounds of the Season. Philadelphia was well represented by its diverse musical culture and community, which included Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra, Choral Arts Philadelphia, Clef Club of Jazz, Opera Philadelphia and PlayOnPhilly.…
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Vault Brewing Company Expands Bank Brewery to Yardley Warehouse
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler Located in the suburbs of Philly, the Victorian town of Yardley in Bucks County houses Vault Brewing who does not consider themselves a bar, a pub or even a traditional brewery. Entering in the “faux vault entryway,” you’ll notice you may have entered an old school bank except that the entire brewery and wood-fired kitchen oven are completely open to view. The brewery that once sat directly behind the bar is now expanding down the street and up the hill. The décor is a combination of regal bank, stark industrial, old-world and modern. What is not modern is there are no TVs, pub traditional menu items and no pop or rock…
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Saint Benjamin Brewery Offers Craft Beer with a Side of History
Story, photos by Dana J. Prophet If you drive a bit past Temple University’s Main Campus, you’ll come to a brewery and tap room that’s within the Kensington section of the city. Saint Benjamin Brewery offers modern brewing techniques and also holds onto history that reaches back to the days of prohibition while presenting both distinctive and magical craft brews along with a menu of tantalizing food. The brewery is nestled within the middle of the street and it was also previously a historic carriage house and stables of the defunct Theo Finkenauer Brewery. Sadly, that brewery is now an empty lot. Fear not though because Saint Benjamin has all…
- Day Trips, Dessert, Drink, Education, Entertainment, Events, Explore with Cassie, Food, Latest News, Restaurants
Take a Walking, Eating and Drinking Chew Philly Tour Through Chestnut Hill
Please feel free to offer promo code EXPLOREPHL for $29/adult tickets to our Manayunk or Chestnut Hill tour. Photos, story by Cassie Hepler Meet the first Northwest Philadelphia food and culinary tour since 2011, Chew Philly. With tours led by the lovely Elyse Castillo, these tours aren’t just for tourists. You can discover one of the many cultural gems and neighborhoods Philly has to offer. Perhaps you enjoy sampling delicious ethnic foods in historic neighborhood or want a taste of that perfect tomato pie, dip your tongue into decadent cappuccinos or lick ages old ice cream from the best specialty shops in Philly. The walking tours make you feel like you can…
