-
Enjoy a Girls Getaway to The Cassara Carlsbad in San Diego, California
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler There’s some sort of siren song that keeps lulling me back to San Diego, California. Over 13 years ago, I came to visit the Los Angeles area determined I was going to move there from Philadelphia. I stayed for a month at over three different friend’s locations but the plastic thirstiness and fakeness of Hollywood was not my vibe. I’m way too straight forward and honest for that shit. Also, people thought I was very angry because I swore so much but that’s just how it is in Philly! It’s just adjectives such as very cool is fucking cool… and so on. Anyway, fast forward…
-
Escape to a Slice of Heaven in Catalina Island, California
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler (unless otherwise noted), I’ve officially dubbed Santa Catalina Island California’s mini Hawaii, minus the natives and hefty price tag. It has that same laid back, relaxing yet magical vibe. Situated 22 miles southwest from Los Angeles, CA, it feels like another world away as it is only accessible by boat. Our transportation choice was the Catalina Express, which offers three ports to choose from: San Pedro, Long Beach and Dana Point. Long Beach was closest for me driving in the day before from Phoenix but others are just as well. With up to 30 departures a day, it’s a no brainer to take this vessel…
- Day Trips, Destinations, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Food & Beverage, Latest News, Lifestyle
Small Businesses Reopen in Funky, Artsy Town of Claremont, CA
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler Finally California small businesses can breathe a sigh of relief – although still trough face masks as Los Angeles county mandates everyone unvaccinated or vaccinated wear a face mask in public places. And it’s not a bad call considering the Delta variant seems to be sneaking through even the best jabs available so far. So masked up and ready to explore, my journey began a little clunky with my TPMS tire light turning on about halfway to Claremont from Chula Vista, CA. My first thought was go to the tire store and second was it just needs some air… always go with the first intuition.…
-
Red Roof Inn Plus Offers Budget Friendly Vibes in Chula Vista, California
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler Because not everybody is a baller especially these days with a fluctuating, erratic economy, there are certainly ways to travel on the cheap and still have a fun and fabulous time! When Red Roof Inn reached out, we were intrigued by the upgrade of the “Plus” feature which is a far cry from your parent’s Red Roof Inn experience. The difference is wood-style floors, flatscreen TVs, vessel sinks, upgraded towels and spacious workstations and an ergonomic chair. For me at any hotel no matter how fancy, the bed is always a dealbreaker because if you sleep like crap, you’re going to be a cranky beast…
- Day Trips, Destinations, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Food & Beverage, Latest News, Lifestyle
Inn at Palm Springs, California is an Oasis in Coachella Valley
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler (unless otherwise noted) Like most everyone this year, I am sick of staring at the same walls at home. And the wanderlust was still negging me daily with all my travel plans that have been cancelled, rescheduled or just hanging in the air because we have no clue when this Covid nonsense will end in good ol ‘Merica. So I planned a trip to the West Coast to escape the sizzling summer heat, do some photoshoots and swim in the Pacific Ocean. And right before I left, I was connected with the Inn at Palm Springs and we planned a media visit for on my…
-
Protect Your Skin from the Sun and Look Chic in Tenth Street Hats Featuring the Cloche Hat
Story by Cassie Hepler, photos courtesy of Tenth Street Hats Since moving to Arizona, it seems I have become the hat lady. And it’s mostly out of a way to protect my pasty white European/American mutt sensitive skin. When I first moved here, this California company Tenth Street Hats reached out to me to offer me some samples to wear and rock during my travels. Loving the boho chic, gothic, Cuban and Western vibes I found on the website, I delved deep into the hat world. So much so in fact, I am running out of walk-in closet space and may make a whole bedroom wall into a sort of…
- Day Trips, Destinations, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Food & Beverage, Latest News, Lifestyle
Make the Most of Your Visit to Los Angeles, California
Visiting Los Angeles, California can be overwhelming. It’s a tremendous city, but there are so many tourist attractions of all different kinds that it’s difficult to fit in everything you’d like to see and do on a single trip. If you’d like help narrowing things down though, here are eight places in the LA area that are definitely worth your time. 1. The Original Farmer’s Market It may not be the traditional headline tourist attraction, but one of the most pleasant things you can do on your trip is spend the day sampling delicious food at the Original Farmer’s Market at Third and Fairfax. The market’s local vendors, such as Du-par’s…
-
Visit California Wineries the Classy Way with San Diego Beer, Wine & Spirits Tour
Story, photos/videos by Cassie Hepler Did you know that San Diego, California wineries are the original real deal booze in the valley? Everybody talks about Napa Valley being the first but that’s just not true! It all began in sunny San Diego with those horrible jug wines, which now have a private label for some of their fancier brands. That was just one of the interesting facts we discovered on our San Diego Beer, Wine & Spirits Tour with total chill Californian tour guide Diana. Another tasty morsel of information is that California produces 90 percent of the wine for the United States which is mind boggling! To be immersed in…
-
Watch Out for Altitude Sickness in Sparkling South Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Story, photos/video by Cassie Hepler As a travel writer, there is a rock and a hard place between pleasing tourism boards and yet still remaining transparent and honest to your readers. I’ve never been one to sugar coat anything so I figured why start now? With a journalism background, it is in my blood to report the truth and also to use my experiences to help others. So here we go on an adventure that does indeed have a happy ending… Because I never drove through Nevada (without a U-Haul trailer attached), I thought it would be fun to go on a road trip through Vegas from Phoenix (not during…
-
Views and Chews for Days with Hilton San Francisco Union Square in California
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler Driving into San Francisco, California during a picture perfect summer day was breathtaking. And a little confusing when I reached a toll for the Golden Gate Bridge ($4) and never carry any cash on me. Part of the allure of California and the West is the no toll roads unlike the opposite every two mile tolls it seems on the East Coast. And of course they don’t take credit cards so the lady waved me by and told me to expect something in the mail and to fight it… welcome to San Fran! (Update: It’s all done electronically now and the toll without FasTrak is…
