Destinations
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Explore With Cassie as I Move Out West!
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler My plans to post on this blog monthly have sadly fallen by the wayside since summer as my life has been in overdrive with travel, writing for Metro Philly and Metro US, modeling, blogging for my other babies Explore-Philly.com and Explore-NJ.com and then some! I’ll try to do an epic recap of highlights here so you can follow along and see what I’m up to nowadays. As soon as I got back from the San Antonio press trip, I began writing freelance with Metro Philly and soon thereafter Metro US. As I continued to write for Metro, a lot of travel trips were happening as…
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Feast Your Eyes and Soothe Your Spirit on the Fresh Foodie Trail in Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler (unless otherwise noted) Let’s talk about good karma, shall we? Once upon a time before threats of hurricanes, this travel writer was on a press trip to Visit San Antonio, Texas and met a fellow foodie, travel and fashion influencer from Ontario, Canada named MoVernie on the MOVE. Our mutual love for connecting others lead him to helping me meet the wonderful team at Visit Phoenix which then led to this press trip… where a friend had moved six weeks earlier and my favorite uncle had recently relocated from Colorado. Always one to kill two birds with one stone, it was a week-long plus one…
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Bluecoat Gin Helps Expand Sofitel Hotel’s Outdoor Cafe, Liberté Blue
Story, photos by Tiffany DuBois On a muggy, sweaty, hot late summer evening, Bluecoat Gin and the Sofitel Hotel formed a new baby; Liberte Blue. Basically, Bluecoat Gin partnered with the Sofitel to exhibit food and cocktails that would marry these two dynamic duos. The food was fantastic but needed tweaking here and there to make a person appreciate the smells and taste. The cocktails, let me tell you about the cocktails! They were refreshing, light, smoky, and delicious. The menu included mini tacos that had an awesome crema, a lovely amount of acidity, and were choke full of pork. There were veal meatballs that melted in your mouth and…
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Experience Luxury at Hotel Valencia Santana Row in San Jose CA, the Only Boutique Hotel on Santana Row
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler Luxury, style, class and comfort are the key ingredients at this modern boutique hotel on San Jose’s Santana Row, Hotel Valencia. Nestled in the heart of bustling Silicon Valley, elegant Old World Mediterranean style meets sleek modern design to create the ultimate in cosmopolitan sophistication. Polished and recently renovated by Houston-based Rottet Studio to include 215 guest rooms and suites, more than 4,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, two on-site restaurants – Oveja Negra Restaurant (Black Sheep) and The Terrace, full-service VBar (ultra-modern and sleek, Vbar is one of the hottest spots at Santana Row) and seasonal rooftop bar, Cielo. Located at the heart of the vibrant Santana Row urban oasis,…
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Hurricane Irma Displaces Single Dad, Daughter to New Jersey
Story, photos by Scott W. Miller, Esq. You could never say that we didn’t see it coming. Hurricane Irma churned its way towards Florida with a level of intensity and capacity for destruction that was plain to anyone. Its ferocious potential was evident from Barbuda to Cuba, long before it reached the Gulf Coast of Florida. News broadcasts announced its power and path. As a single dad in Tampa with a 5-year old, I had only one choice. It was time to leave. Leaving wasn’t as simple as it seemed. Days before landfall, flights were unobtainable. First Tampa, then Orlando, then Jacksonville ran out of departures with seats. I had to…
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Grounds for Sculpture in Trenton, New Jersey a Stunning of Display of an Art Garden
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler Get ready to step into a fairy tale world where the art and paintings come to life and will take your breath away! Grounds For Sculpture is a 42-acre sculpture park, museum and arboretum founded on the site of the former New Jersey State Fairgrounds. Opened to the public in 1992, it has rapidly become one of the premier cultural destinations in New Jersey, welcoming and enchanting nearly 2.1 million visitors since then. Founded by artist and philanthropist Seward Johnson, the nonprofit Grounds For Sculpture presents and conserves an exceptional collection of contemporary sculpture, offers outstanding programming for all ages, and provides seasonally rotating exhibitions in six indoor…
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HGTV’s The Scott Brother’s Hit Merriam Theater for “An All Out Party with 2,000 of Their Best Friends”
Video, story by Whitney Ullman The Scott Brothers, Jonathan and Drew, published a new book titled “It Takes Two: Our Story” and every attendee at this Philly event will receive a copy! The two are most known for transforming ordinary houses into stunning dream homes on the HGTV show Property Brothers, so during this tour stop one of the coolest perks is that they will offer digital makeovers to select fans who have submitted footage of the worst room in their house. All-in-all, the Scott Brother’s candidly dubbed this event as an all out party with 2000 of their best friends and promised attendees a fun exciting show. Click the…
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W New York Launches Exclusive Collection with THE CXX Hotel’s Fashion Collaboration
Story by Explore NJ, photos by Deja Cromartie W New York brought the runway to the hotel living room in July with the launch of a new collection with THE CXX, the fashion house’s first-ever hotel collaboration. THE CXX, whose name means 120 decibels, is creating a voice for a new age of creators and influencers to share their visions. A six to 10 piece made-in-New York City collection of refined, unisex casual pieces for the city traveler will be showcased during Men’s Fashion Week available for purchase at the event and online at www.THECXX.com. Each piece in the line possesses a surprising design element and accessible price point; a collaboration…
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Hudson Valley Gains Hip, Hamptons Style Hotel The Time Nyack in Upstate New York
Story by Cassie Hepler, photos by The Time Nyack Housed in a historic former factory turned recording studio, The Time Nyack displays hip, modern art and history along with a side of urban energy in the picturesque small town of Nyack, NY in the Hudson Valley. The boutique property is owned and is the vision of development group WYINC, which specializes in developing upscale properties in urban destinations. The hotel is managed by The Dream Hotel Group – with its Dream Hotels, Time Hotels, The Chatwal and Unscripted Hotels brands. And since it’s literally a highway away from NJ, it makes perfect sense for Pennsylvanians or Jersey travelers (or even New…
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Wearing my Travel Writer Hat on a Press Trip to San Antonio, Texas
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler Perhaps you think I am just a model and an actress. Nope, I am much more than just a pretty face as beauty and brains can co-exist my friends! I have been a reporter (and dabbling in photography) since I was 16 years old, starting as an intern at a local hometown newspaper. Even at that age, travel has always been a passion of mine starting with a trip touring France and falling in love with Le Mont Saint Michel. I love documenting moments in time and sharing the beauty of the world with others. People ask me all the time where to vacation so…
