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Fine Dining Slays at Steak 44 at Camelback Mountain, Arizona
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Everyone in Arizona knows that Steak 44 is one of THE best steakhouses in all of Phoenix. It’s a rite of passage to go there and has been on my bucket list for… 7 years now! I know some foodie out there wants to throw hands about who has the best steak in Phoenix and I’m all ears if you can find a better, endless selection. Good luck with that! First, let’s clarify the names of this meaty brand as it can – and does – get confusing. This iconic Phoenix steakhouse is named Steak 44, part of the Ocean 44 and Dominic’s…
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Explore with Cassie Celebrates 10 Years of Lifestyle & Travel Blogging at Chateau Luxe
Story, videos by Cassie Hepler, Photography by Brian Delfin It’s the 10 year blogaversary Great Gastby party that almost wasn’t! And I couldn’t tell anyone until afterwards because it would have freaked people out. I’ve learned the hard way through the years that you cannot spook the guest list with an oversold status or the other way, an event that may not happen. So I kept it to myself… until now. Over the winter while I was busy writing up a freelance storm and planning for my father to visit, Chateau Luxe had closed its beloved Wander Speakeasy and changed the business model to a private event space. It still…
- Day Trips, Destinations, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Food & Beverage, Latest News, Lifestyle
Explore Retro El Cortez Hotel and Casino on Fremont Street in Las Vegas, Nevada
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Since 1941, the El Cortez Hotel and Casino has been the place to be in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada located on the infamous Fremont Street. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places and has black and white photos of all the big names running down each wall, boasting days of bygone glitz and glamour. From celebrities to mobsters, it definitely has history – and smoking inside which is a rare find these days. In a happy coincidence, I was going to Las Vegas, Nevada to work with a photographer as a model and he had accidentally booked two nights – the first…
- Day Trips, Destinations, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Food & Beverage, Latest News, Lifestyle
Trippy Teatime in Wonderland Returns to Electric Playhouse in Las Vegas, Nevada
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Once upon a time, there was a little girl who had “Cassie is our Alice in Wonderland” written on her report card in elementary school. That girl is now a writer and is still exploring this wonderful, strange and oftentimes trippy world. What a peculiar place to go to visit the world of Wonderland in Las Vegas, Nevada and a perfect timing to enjoy tea during Dry January. Let me tell you, Vegas is probably NOT the place to go during a dry month but like the rest of the world, they are catching up with the fact that you can still have…
- Destinations, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Food & Beverage, Latest News, Lifestyle
Explore the Rolling Countryside of Burgundy, France
This guy above, Rick Steves, was my TV binge before Netflix even existed! Story by Tony West, Submitted Images Every American who visits France goes to Paris first. (That’s where the airport is.) But the French experience that graces American dining tables doesn’t come from Paris. It’s more likely to travel from Burgundy, France instead. This region of lush rolling countryside has long been a center of prosperity, culture and fashion. This gentle paradise reveals what makes France truly French. “Destination Burgundy” was presented at The Olde Bar Restaurant in Philadelphia’s Old City as a workshop by The Burgundy Tourism Board and Atout France. Emmanuelle Hézard (pictured) of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Tourisme…
- Day Trips, Destinations, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Food & Beverage, Latest News, Lifestyle
Escape to a Private Island in San Diego, California at Loews Coronado
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Before someone jumps down my throat, Loews Coronado Bay Resort is a peaceful waterfront escape, surrounded by breathtaking waterfront vistas on its own peninsula. According to the Oxford dictionary, a peninsula is a “piece of land almost surrounded by water or projecting out into a body of water” which fits the bill perfectly as it has its own palm tree lined road – and road signs leading to the lobby. But it might as well be an island as it totally feels that way with no water taxi needed! Situated directly across from scenic and idyllic San Deigo, California, it is the ultimate luxury…
- Destinations, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Food & Beverage, Latest News, Lifestyle
Enjoy a Desert Oasis and Waterfall at Revamped Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Ever since I moved to Arizona almost seven years ago (!) as of January 2025, I have heard people in the valley refer to Tucson, Arizona as “The Dirty T”. I honestly had no clue why and as far as stereotypes go, you learn more along the way of life like the fact that the West Valley of Phoenix is “bad” which honestly reeks of racism but that’s a story for another time. But seriously, each time I would go down to visit Tucson and try to see it through rose-colored glasses, something really weird would happen that would eject me back to Phoenix.…
- Destinations, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Food & Beverage, Latest News, Lifestyle
Marriott Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Offers Beachside Relaxation Minutes from the Airport
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Nestled on a sandy strip between the Sierra Madre Mountains and Banderas Bay in Mexico, Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa offers a combination of zen, nature and fun in the sun. We had been discussing this visit for months, finally making it a reality seemed so surreal and I was psyched. I ended up talking to a former teacher turned principal on the plane most of the flight down, discussing philosophy and the meaning of life. Pretty heavy travel talk, but I loved it! This mountain-meets-ocean resort is only 7 minutes from the Puerto Vallarta airport which is a relief in itself…
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Bank and Bourbon Offers Endless Whiskey Paired with Perfect Steak in Philly
Photos, story and video by Cassie Hepler Where are my women who love whiskey? And I don’t mean the watered down with fruit juice kind of cocktails. I mean the ones who absolutely adore an old fashioned nightcap and if anything hurts in your body or joints, bourbon can fix it. I don’t know what it is about this spirit, but it has my heart and soul. It’s a go-to drink of choice for me especially when I just need a good, reliable stiff drink. And at Bank and Bourbon, the list of whiskey options and flights are endless! They also have low to no-alcohol mocktails available too for all…
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Explore Omni Mount Washington Resort & Bretton Woods Ski Area in New Hampshire
Story, photos, video by Cassie Hepler Omni Mount Washington Resort in the White Mountains of New Hampshire is giving all the Bridgerton vibes you’ve ever wanted on the East Coast of the United States! As part of our stay with Bretton Woods Vacations, we were treated to a guided tour of the property as well as a ride on the gondola (not the Italian kind) ride experience which is part of the Bretton Woods Ski Area. Elevate your mountain adventure at the Omni with Spanish Renaissance architecture and views of Mount Washington, New Hampshire! A place where grand history meets modern luxury, it’s a sprawling estate where historic moments shaped…
