Fitness
-
Take a Hike and Be Amazed at the Sonoran Desert in Arizona
Story, photos by Jason Nugent Often when people think of deserts, the image that comes to mind is one of a vast, barren landscape with nothing but sand for as far as the eye can see. As someone who has spent time in deserts around the world and has seen that specific view first hand, I’ll be the first to admit that I thought that the landscape surrounding Phoenix would be similar. Boy was I wrong. The Sonoran desert surrounding Phoenix is home to one of the most vibrant, lush landscapes in the Southwest United States. If getting out and appreciating that appeals to you, then I urge you to …
- Beach, Beauty, Casino, Day Trips, Drink, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Fashion, Fitness, Food, Health, Latest News, Music, Restaurants, Style
Making Weekend Waves at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Heads up for one imposing casino resort. You’ll find an entire playground in that “Ocean.” “Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the ‘Titanic’ who waved off the dessert cart.” – Erma Bombeck Story, photos by Sharon Kozden Happy first anniversary to Atlantic City’s Ocean Casino Resort! You’ve done good. Matter of fact, better than good. You are, in this writer’s opinion (and as reviewed by many others), a smashing success. I know my casinos, empirically speaking, that is. Back in the day and thanks to an accumulated bounty of comps from her favorite Atlantic City casino, my mom and me would hop a Bieber bus from Coopersburg to…
- Animals, Architecture, Art, Dessert, Drink, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Fitness, Food, Latest News, Music, Nature, Restaurants, Sports, Suburbs, Travel
Fall in Love with Whistler in British Columbia, Canada in Autumn
Story by Rachael Hopwood, photos courtesy of Tourism Whistler The Canadian resort of Whistler has a lofty reputation as a world-famous winter travel destination and thanks to warm days and an abundance of outdoor activities, summer proves pretty popular too. But what about fall? Largely forgotten by many considering a trip north, the months of September through to mid-November are something of a hidden gem. Sitting perfectly between the crowds of summer hikers and hoards of winter skiers, pleasant temperatures and stunning scenery are just two reasons to consider an autumnal visit. Whistler is a resort community in the province of British Columbia, Canada, about 78 miles north of Vancouver…
- Architecture, Dessert, Drink, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Fitness, Food, Latest News, Restaurants, Travel
Bank on Delicious Tastes, City Views at Loews Hotel in Philadelphia, PA
When in Philly, stay and eat at Loews Hotel and Bank & Bourbon; both rate high marks in my playbook. “New York is a place where people go to reinvent themselves; Philadelphia is a place where people discover who they are.” – Chef Peter McAndrews Story, photos by Sharon Kozden Maybe like me, you’re a country mouse, living outside Philadelphia’s suburbs while still close enough to identify Philly as your home city. Country life has its pluses: falling asleep to the sounds of crickets, sweet silence for lack of passing vehicles on long and winding roads and land expanses with more nature than neighbor views are just a few. I’m talking…
- Beach, Culture, Day Trips, Dessert, Drink, Explore with Cassie, Fitness, Food, Health, Latest News, Nature, Restaurants, Television, Travel
Hitting Up Virginia Beach, VA Early in the Season Makes Bonding with Locals a Breeze
Story by David Krakow My wife Jamie and I were in Virginia Beach, VA the first weekend in March. Late morning our first full day, it was time to take a walk on the beach. Did I mention it was early March? Jamie’s Fitbit was ready to sue us as our walk lasted only one block. In fairness, the visuals were perfectly engaging including rough ocean, generic beach sculptures and pretty condominiums. It was just short – and cold. We have a friend who owns a time share in the Oceannaire Resort Hotel and week nine of the year happens to be their week. They could not go, so early…
- Art, Culture, Dance, Day Trips, Dessert, Entertainment, Events, Explore with Cassie, Fitness, Latest News, Music, Sports, Style, Suburbs
Cirque du Soleil’s VOLTA Electrifies Audiences Under the Big Top in Oaks, PA
Vibrant background colors and name-zapped graphic create visually arresting poster. Story, photos by Sharon Kozden (event photography courtesy of Cirque du Soleil) Step right up! It’s showtime, folks. Over the summer, the circus came to town at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA. The renowned Cirque du Soleil arrived with its Under the Big Top production of VOLTA, and Oaks was woke! For some time preceding Cirque’s descension at the Expo Center, the locals and passers could witness the construction progress of a large tent (one that seated 2,500). People were talking. Something grand-scale was in the offing. A big deal in little but mighty Oaks. Word of…
- California, Day Trips, Dessert, Drink, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Fashion, Fitness, Food, Latest News, Nature, Restaurants, Suburbs
Concord, California Offers Country Cool Coastal Vibes in Small City Setting
Story, photos/video by Cassie Hepler All I knew about Concord, California before this visit through the tourism board was that is was a San Francisco suburb style city in Northern California. But Concord has its own pulse and rhythm that is relaxing and refreshing. There seems to be that unhurried city pace the country offers but somehow still maintaining a city full of activities for those inclined. Arriving straight from the Goddess Ganja Getaway in Pescadero, CA, I was feeling a bit crunchy. I didn’t wash my hair for a couple days as it was super cool in the mornings and didn’t pack enough layers to keep my core solidly warm…
-
SPiN into a Funky Ping Pong Bar at Newest Spot in Philadelphia
Story, photos by Jennifer Ferrell In the spring of 2007, Friday night ping pong parties in a Tribeca loft hosted by Jonathan Bricklin and Franck Raharinosy, known as “naked ping-pong”, quickly grew from a few friends to a few hundred. Artists, models, bankers, hipsters and celebrities mingled to create quite a SPiN. In the summer of 2009, Bricklin and Raharinosy joined forces with Andrew Gordon to launch SPiN, with the opening of its flagship location in New York City. Today, SPiN has grown into a global brand, with venues in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Philadelphia, Seattle, Austin, and soon Washington, D.C. with more on the way. Except nobody is…
-
Hike Point Lobos State Park in Monterey, California Where Land Meets Sea for Spectacular Views
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler Park by the road. That’s the best advice I can give you and best of all, it’s free. Also, get there early or it won’t matter anyway as the park will be packed. Point Lobos State Park in Monterey, California is a scenic coastal area featuring a variety of sea animals and wildlife, hiking, diving and a whaling museum. Point Lobos has been named “the greatest meeting of land and sea in the world” and “the crown jewel of the state park system.” It has diving unmatched on the California coast (check out the Point Lobos State Reserve website for maps and dive site videos), great hiking,…
-
Explore One of the Seven Wonders of the World with Grand Canyon Adventures
Story, photos/video by Cassie Hepler Serendipity is a funny word and an interesting experience when it happens to you. Looking for some more wisdom in my monkey mind, I stumbled upon BeCurrent meditation classes with the aerial meditation in green silk hammocks hanging from ceiling hooks. The first class is free (and got me hooked btw) and there is a table you congregate at afterwards to have some tea and chat if you feel like it. It was there that I met the mom of the owner of Grand Canyon Adventures and so starts the story of checking off another bucket list item. Since tours begin at the Flagstaff, AZ location…
