• About Us
  • CassieHepler.com
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

Explore With Cassie

Lifestyle & travel blog finding the unusual out of the ordinary.

  • About Us
  • CassieHepler.com
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • CassieHepler.com
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • CassieHepler.com
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

No Widgets found in the Sidebar Alt!

  • Destinations,  Education,  Explore with Cassie,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    The Power of Beauty and the Art of Conversation with Curator Archie Broady

    May 15, 2024 /

    By Irina Abraham I step over the threshold of Archie Broady’s house and I am in a different world. It’s an art gallery, a library, an artist salon… in fact, it is the inside of Archie’s mind. He presides over his small living room that feels more like a hall in a castle. The right wall is lined with books: everything from Pushkin to Shakespeare. An eclectic but tasteful selection of art objects occupies the rest of the walls and every corner. The table that dominates the room is a masterpiece: it is a salvaged window of a burnt-out church in Bali encased in glass. Archie dives straight into the…

    read more
    Cassie Hepler

    You May Also Like

    Holiday Gift Guide for Last Minute Shoppers

    December 19, 2023

    Escape to Valley Kitchen at Carmel Valley Ranch Resort for Otherworldly Cuisine

    August 21, 2018

    Radisson Lackawanna Train Station Hotel in Scranton, Pennsylvania is Hauntingly Majestic

    August 18, 2025
  • Destinations,  Education,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Portland, Oregon Chef Kyo Koo opens Asian-American Warsugai Restaurant

    May 8, 2024 /

    Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler In the USA, there’s always gotta be a scapegoat. I’m not sure exactly why but I have a feeling capitalism has something to do with it – if you keep pointing fingers elsewhere, citizens won’t realize what the government is actually up to. During Covid, it was Portland, Oregon‘s turn apparently with all the bad news media portraying homelessness and druggies piled in the streets. Whatever media it was – owned by whatever corporation and their self-serving agenda – pushing that this was a lawless state with a bad rap. A growing amount of Gen Z is not believing the hype, and rightly…

    read more
    Cassie Hepler

    You May Also Like

    Explore One of the Seven Wonders of the World with Grand Canyon Adventures

    August 8, 2018

    Where to Stay in Sante Fe, New Mexico for Full Cultural Immersion

    April 20, 2026

    Wearing my Travel Writer Hat on a Press Trip to San Antonio, Texas

    July 20, 2017
  • Destinations,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Explore Luxury Tributary Hotel & Fine Dining at ōkta Restaurant in McMinnville, Oregon

    May 2, 2024 /

    Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Tributary Hotel is easily one of the most luxurious boutique hotels I’ve experienced so far in the United States… and that says a lot! The luxury accommodations with suites named after each area river debuted in McMinnville, Oregon in summer of 2022, the center of Oregon’s Willamette Valley and largest city in Yamhill County but still retains a small town feel. This was the next stop on my road trip West of Portland and arrived just in the nick of time to shoot, change and get ready for dinner. The full experience restaurant next door, ōkta, honors the region and each season, offering…

    read more
    Cassie Hepler

    You May Also Like

    Spring into the Sierra Nevada Mountain Culture in Carson Valley

    March 25, 2020

    Relax at the Low Key Westin Hotels & Resorts in Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico

    February 3, 2025

    Polish Your Soul and Your Plate in Sedona, Arizona

    January 5, 2023
  • Day Trips,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Feeling United by Flowers at the 195th PHS Philadelphia Flower Show

    April 20, 2024 /

    Sunshine bathes the 195th PHS Philadelphia Flower Show’s welcome banner at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. We HAVE to write about flowers. We have to experience flowers. We have to understand that their flourishing is dependent on an entire ecosystem of grass and dirt and water and sunlight and touch and love. Because when we understand that about the flowers, we will understand that about one another as well. — Jenna Winship Story, photos by Sharon Kozden While I intellectually get that every season has its distinct glory, beauty and allure, truth be told, the winter of my discontent is, well, winter. When it’s dark outside as I leave for work…

    read more
    Sharon Kozden

    You May Also Like

    Indulge at The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona

    June 9, 2025

    Gertrude’s Fine Dining Tickles Tastebuds in Breathtaking Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona

    October 30, 2019

    Relax in the Small Town of Wilsonville, Just South of Portland, Oregon

    April 10, 2024
  • Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    The Complexities of Relationships, Money, Culture & Evolution

    April 15, 2024 /

    Dig into the complexities where love crosses with financial status, and you’ll uncover layers that many prefer to gloss over. Evolutionary psychology offers a lens through which we can view the nuances of dating and mating in the modern era, suggesting that our preferences are not just whims but are influenced by centuries of survival strategies. The Numbers Speak About Financial Dynamics in Relationships Gender and Mate Preferences: A study by the University of Texas noted that across 37 cultures, men placed higher value on youth and physical attractiveness, while women prioritized good financial prospects. This aligns with evolutionary theories but is being reshaped by cultural progress toward gender equality.…

    read more
    Cassie Hepler

    You May Also Like

    Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival Represents Fragility, Beauty of Life at Shofuso Japanese House and Garden in Philadelphia

    July 3, 2019

    Get Crafty at Huge A.C. Moore Store in Center City

    September 1, 2017

    Spain’s Most Beautiful Autumn Coastal Road Trips

    September 21, 2026
  • Day Trips,  Destinations,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Relax in the Small Town of Wilsonville, Just South of Portland, Oregon

    April 10, 2024 /

    Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Never travel for business during Spring Break! That’s the first moral of this story as I always have to learn things the hard way… I booked a flight at the crack o’ dawn through Southwest so I could hit the ground running on a Monday morning to make the week last extra long. In theory, it’s a good idea during any other time of the year and you will fly through security at Phoenix Airport with time to spare. But this time was a Spring Break shit show at 5 a.m. with lines crawling down the hallway with the progression of a snail.…

    read more
    Cassie Hepler

    You May Also Like

    The Mob Museum in Las Vegas is like Mafia School with a Speakeasy

    October 27, 2025

    Recharge in Nature at Arizona’s Artists Home in Cottonwood

    October 10, 2023

    Vault Brewing Company Expands Bank Brewery to Yardley Warehouse

    December 21, 2017
  • Day Trips,  Destinations,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Get Your Wild West on and go Golfing at Rancho de Los Caballeros in Wickenburg, Arizona

    April 2, 2024 /

    Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler The first time I visited Wickenburg, Arizona was for an old Western town style photoshoot at Robson’s Ranch for local and out of town models. I had no clue what I was getting into at the time but was new to the desert and thought it would be a great way to meet some fresh faces and see new places. I has just bought my brand-new Honda whip at the time and remember being a little stressed about driving on long, windy rock roads… it seems that old West town for rent still exists although more rundown but it’s kind of rad concept.…

    read more
    Cassie Hepler

    You May Also Like

    Outdoor Adventure Comes To Pennsylvania

    October 30, 2023

    Explore Lehigh Valley Humane Society’s Garden Paw-ty at Domaine Pterion Vineyard

    July 22, 2024

    Philadelphia’s Bellevue Hotel Hosts Historic Hotels of America Reception

    January 9, 2019
  • Destinations,  Explore with Cassie,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Snake Guru Saving all the Creepy, Crawly Critters in Arizona

    March 21, 2024 /

    We recently met Nicholas Massimo, 36, from Phoenix, Arizona, who is a herpetologist and owner of Snake Guru, LLC. A herpetologist is an expert in biology of reptiles and amphibians and follow careers in teaching, research, conservation and zoo-keeping which is the end goal for the Snake Guru. What happens if you find a rattlesnake during your midnight munchies? Nick also offers 24/7 professional reptile relocation and removal services in Phoenix, Arizona and surrounding cities. Let’s deep dive into this interesting world of Arizona’s own Crocodile Dundee with a question and answer session below! Q: How did you get into being a “Snake Guru”? A: I have over 15 years…

    read more
    Cassie Hepler

    You May Also Like

    A Guide to Exploring the Ancient Monasteries of Meteora, Greece

    June 10, 2024

    Rejuvenate at Hofsas House and Walk the Wine Trail in Fairytale Town Carmel by the Sea, California

    March 8, 2018

    Amina Slays Southern Cuisine with African Influences in Old City, Philadelphia

    August 12, 2024
  • Day Trips,  Destinations,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News

    National Dog Show Brings Good Boys and Girls to Greater Philadelphia Expo Center

    March 17, 2024 /

    Magnificent floral displays await placement in the main judging arena for the 2023 National Dog Show. “Ferris was infected with the most virulent form of that weird malady as “dog-showitis.” At first, he had been tempted solely by the hope of winning the hundred-dollar prize. But latterly the urge of victory had gotten into his blood. And he yearned, too, to let the world see what a marvelous dog was his.”  — Albert Payson Terhune Story, photos by Sharon Kozden If you’ve seen the mockumentary comedy film Best in Show, described as “a behind-the-scenes look into the highly competitive and cut-throat world of dog shows through the eyes of a…

    read more
    Sharon Kozden

    You May Also Like

    University City Gets Smart with Chic, Sleek Study Hotel and Unique Co-Op Restaurant

    January 24, 2018

    Supporting Small Businesses at Pecan and Wine Festival in Camp Verde, Arizona

    May 12, 2025

    Drive a Boat in Lawless Lake of the Wild West in Lake Havasu City, Arizona

    May 2, 2018
  • Education,  Latest News

    Why Regular Dental Checkups are Non-Negotiable

    March 13, 2024 /

    Photo by Caroline LM from Unsplash In a time when health is so important, taking care of our teeth is a key part of staying well, but it’s something people often forget about. Regular dental visits can catch problems like cavities or gum disease early, before they get worse and more expensive to treat. Moreover, a healthy mouth can also mean a healthier body, as problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your health too. This post explores the multifaceted benefits of maintaining this dental regimen, emphasizing the preventive, diagnostic, and economic advantages that come with prioritizing our oral hygiene. Why are Regular Dental Checkups Important? The American…

    read more
    Cassie Hepler

    You May Also Like

    Loews Hotel Philadelphia Sparks Red, White and Views at Fireworks Watch Party

    September 22, 2025

    The Complexities of Relationships, Money, Culture & Evolution

    April 15, 2024

    What Are Some Easy Water Sports For Beginners?

    July 18, 2024
 Older Posts
Newer Posts 

Recent Posts

  • How to do the Spanish New Year Grape Tradition Properly
  • Where Locals Go Instead of the Most Overrated Spanish Landmarks
  • Spain’s Most Beautiful Autumn Coastal Road Trips
  • Seven Unusual Travel Superstitions from Around the World
  • Explore The Odyssey’s Viking Ship Draken Harald Hårfagre in Oslo, Norway

Categories

  • Day Trips
  • Destinations
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Explore with Cassie
  • Food & Beverage
  • Latest News
  • Lifestyle
Copyright © 2023 · All Rights Reserved · ExploreWithCassie.com and CassieHepler.com.
Ashe Theme by WP Royal.