Destinations
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Eat and Drink Your Face Off in San Antonio, Texas While Exploring the City
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler When the tourism board for Visit San Antonio, Texas invites you on a press trip, you go. Especially when it’s a culinary tour and the itinerary includes eating, exploring (hey, that sounds familiar), sleeping, wining and dining at some of the best spots that this massive city has to offer (its the 7th largest city in the U.S. while Philly is 5th). The night before the scheduled 4 a.m. flight from Philly by Southwest (hint: never agree to early flights while having spotty reception in the Poconos the previous week), I was bouncing around from back to back events and packed at 8 p.m. the night…
- Day Trips, Destinations, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Food & Beverage, Latest News, Lifestyle
Walk to the Beach at Daddy O’s Boutique Hotel in Long Beach Island, NJ
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler At the Jersey Shore, everyone knows the best sand-like-flour beaches are in LBI, N.J. Better known as Long Beach Island, the scene is serene and you are literally on an island, far away from real life. For those who don’t want another kitschy Jersey motel and don’t have access to a beach house, Daddy O Hotel in Long Beach Island offers a unique, chic escape with amenities all in one place. It all began in 2006 when the first Daddy O hotel opened its doors in Long Beach Island, New Jersey. Two respected arbiters of taste, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal,…
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How to Make It All Worth It During Your Hawaiian Getaway at Hyatt’s Maui Regency
Story by Kelly Kusumoto, photos by Colleen Cahill & Kelly Kusumoto It’s all in your head. Every image you’ve ever seen of Hawaii, every story you’ve ever heard. There’s majesty, serenity, and in February, warmth that just appeals to you in the throngs of an East Coast winter. Well, the images and the stories can’t even do Hawaii any justice. There’s nothing like being there. But as I’ve learned the last four years on the right coast, getting there is a big reason Hawaii is such a mystery to those who’d rather fly south to the Caribbean. First off, you have to come to terms that any trip from the East…
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Save on Lodging, Food in Bermuda with Celebrity Cruises
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler This Spring and Summer have been really heating up in my world! Since getting back from Breathless Resorts in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and catching the traveling bug again, I’ve been doing a lot more travel which alway makes my soul happy. I promised one of my besties to go on a cruise with her through Celebrity Cruises which were very nice… and old. Not so much the ship itself but the crowd. Our favorite couple at dinner asked us why we were on this ship with a bunch of old people and we immediately adopted them as our cruise parents. Celebrity is known for…
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DoubleTree by Hilton Celebrates Opening 500th Hotel in Times Square West, NYC
Photos by Deja Cromartie/Hilton, story by Explore NJ Start spreading the news! DoubleTree by Hilton, one of Hilton’s 14 market-leading brands, is celebrating the launch of their 500th hotel with the grand opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel New York Times Square West, located in the heart of bustling Manhattan. “We are beyond thrilled to celebrate the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton New York Times Square West,” said Michael George, President and CEO of Crescent Hotels & Resorts, the management company for the hotel. “This event marks the 500th DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, and we are extremely proud to be a part of this incredible milestone.” The newly-built high-rise hotel officially…
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Falling in Love with Breathless Resorts in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler 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…
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Behind the Scenes with P.J. Whelihan’s at WIP Wing Bowl 2017
Video, story by Whitney Ullman Every year for 10 years, P.J. Whelihan’s supplies the much anticipated Philadelphia’s WIP Wing Bowl at the Wells Fargo Center with 10,000 wings, and we had a chance to go behind the scenes to see how it’s all prepared and packaged. Check out this rundown of “fowl” facts and figures: 10,000: Wings prepared by P.J. Whelihan’s for the annual WIP Wing Bowl competition, held Friday, February 3 in Philadelphia. 10,000 wings are enough to circle the Wells Fargo Center hockey arena (host of Wing Bowl) 16.5 times or line 8.81 football fields. 122,660: Number of wings served by P.J. Whelihan’s on Super Bowl Sunday in…
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Interview with Author Irene Levy Baker of 100 Things to do in Philadelphia Before You Die
Story, video by Whitney Ullman 100 Things to do in Philadelphia Before You Die, the latest in a national series of travel guides by Reedy Press, was just released. The guide was written by Irene Levy Baker, who has spent 25 years exploring Philadelphia. It includes tips she discovered while working with five local tourist bureaus, celebrity chefs, hotels and attractions. Baker is the owner of Spotlight Public Relations, a firm specializing in hospitality and restaurants. Prior to starting her public relations firm in 1998, Baker spent nearly a decade at the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau. EXPLORE PHILLY: Tell us about the inspiration behind writing this particular book? BAKER: I’ve been exploring…
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Dreaming of Tropical Paradise? Explore Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Photos, videos and story by Cassie Hepler This time of the year is perfect… perfect for an escape out of dismal, sludge covered chilly Philly! Seriously though, that point of will winter ever end, where is Spring and missing glowing orb called a sun can be daunted on even the most die-hard Philadelphian. This writer has tried to make it a habit to escape most winters for a couple weeks to somewhere warmer and sunnier where the living is easy with sand between your toes. So we reached out to one of our Penn State alums who works as a travel consultant at CheapCarribean.com to help nail down some tropical locations.…
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Behind the Scenes Interview at Atlantic City Boardwalk Con with Founder Mike D’Alessio and Mayor Don Guardian
The Atlantic City Boardwalk Con is in full swing right now at the Atlantic City Convention Center Attendees will be able to meet and interact with guests and experts including publishers such as Marvel Entertainment, Boom! Studios, Aspen Comics, and Top Cow. Celebrity Guests such as Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy and The Walking Dead) and Manu Bennett (Arrow, Spartacus and The Hobbit), Comic Artists and Writers including Phil Jimenez (Wonder Woman, Fables, X-Men, Wolverine), Humberto Ramos(Amazing Spider-Man) and Frank Tieri (Iron Man and Wolverine). In addition, you can meet New Jersey native, Kevin Smith, and the true hero of TV and film: Star Trek’s William Shatner. In the meantime, stay tuned for behind the scenes videos that highlight all the wonderful features of this event. Below is the…
