- Destinations, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Food & Beverage, Latest News, Lifestyle
Merkin Vineyards in Arizona Offers Outstanding Reds, Food and Music
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler First of all, let’s set this namesake straight. Do you know what a Merkin is? Go check it out on Wikipedia before you continue reading if you don’t. Now that we’re all on the same page, this is just another reason why we love Maynard Keenan, the mastermind behind the brand that has the name “Merkin” on everyone’s lips. If you are not into heavy metal, you are probably not familiar with his many bands including Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer. Congratulations, now you are all caught up! Everyone in Arizona knows that this rock star lives in Jerome, Arizona on the side of…
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Online Gift Guide for Covid Quarantine Creatures
Story by Cassie Hepler, submitted photos Let’s face it, this year sucks. While there might have been a few highlights along the way (like TikTok reaching out and bringing me aboard for their new educational fund including Bill Nye the Science Guy), it has been physically, emotionally and mentally draining AF for people of all ages. Kids and parents will probably have some sort of Covid PTSD from home schooling while working from home. Couples are struggling to not kill each other by being around each other 24/7 (turns out being in the office may be a blessing as absence makes the heart grow fonder) and singles ponder if they…
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Live Out Your Tiger King, Joe Exotic Costume Fantasy for Halloween with 3 Wishes
Story by Cassie Hepler, submitted photos Like it or not, Joe Exotic from Netflix‘s Tiger King is a cult sensation that began during a simpler time when the pandemic first started and we were all amazed that such a unique character existed in Florida. We know you binge watched it, don’t be shy and don’t lie! And then there was the viral sensation on TikTok with the dance about Carol Baskin “killed her husband… whacked him”… because if you don’t know, you will soon! Well this year isn’t over yet and if you need some comic relief, Halloween is certainly the time to enjoy some laughs in October (and November…
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Century Grand Phoenix Transports Guests into Locomotive Luxury Era
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler Step right up folks and teleport back to an era of decadence at Century Grand Phoenix! The creative masterminds behind the tiny tiki underground bar Undertow have done it again. Barter & Shake Creative Hospitality keeps pushing the boundaries of the immersive fine dining experience with other worldly, creative cocktail programs. Opening its golden doors in fall of 2019 and located right next to Sip Coffee & Beer with sister bar Undertow downstairs (take a tour with this TripAdvisor video), Century Grand is an experience in itself. With timed dinners (2 hours max) and train car bar (90 minutes max), it is necessary as you would…
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Marriott Phoenix Chandler Hotel Adds Luxury and Class to Chandler, Arizona
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler (unless otherwise noted) We love finding hidden gems. Although this one is not so hidden because the Marriott Phoenix Chandler is not only the largest legacy brand full service Marriott in the state (128,000 square feet total), the 264-room property features the greatest amount of hotel conference space in the area at 28,000 feet. Located in the bustling Price Corridor, it is managed by Cincinnati-based Winegardner & Hammons Hotel Group, LLC., an affiliate company of the Pyramid Hotel Group, which is one of the predominant hotel management companies in the United States. With easy access to Loop 101 and Loop 202, we thought it would…
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4KiX Bringing Custom Shoe Accessories to Sneakers Everywhere
Story and video by Cassie Hepler, submitted photos 4KiX is a unique accessories brand for sneakers and lace-up shoes that aims to inspire fun, spread happiness and celebrate diversity in all those who wear it. Designs are inspired by pop culture, street fashion and street art, positive messages, music, cultural icons from different decades, and even the hashtag culture of today’s digital age. When this unique brand reached out to work with Explore with Cassie, we liked this fun and funky fashion concept and felt it was a great fit for finding the unusual out of the ordinary! Please enjoy this inspirational Q&A with founder Nadine Hallak from Washington DC…
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Away Spa at W Scottsdale Whisks Your Stress Away
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler Not the way you want to wake up on an early Friday morning… to a text from your father saying your grandfather passed away. I was immediately in flight and internal fight mode and to be honest a hot mess on the inside as I couldn’t make it back to the East Coast in time for the funeral. The last thing I wanted to do was face people but I had booked a hosted morning of pampering at Away Spa at W Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona for my blog weeks ago and knew that it would actually help me in the long run. So with…
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Order a Massage to Your Door with Soothe App
Story by Cassie Hepler Los Angeles, California based massage on demand company Soothe delivers a licensed, insured massage therapist to your house, office or hotel within 60 minutes! Soothe celebrated 5 years in August 2019 by rolling out Soothe Plus subscription service, plus a Soothe Stretch program for the workplace. Over the years, Soothe has given almost 1 million massages worldwide and is 70 markets across 4 countries, with over 13,000 background-checked therapists to boot. Not too shabby! Think of them as the Uber or Lyft of massage therapy. My lifestyle and travel blog ExplorewithCassie.com worked with Soothe app when they first rolled out and came to the Philadelphia, PA market.…
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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…
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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…
