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Explore the Hilltop Gem DAOU Vineyards in Paso Robles, California
Head to the top of DAOU Mountain and explore the hilltop gem DAOU Vineyards! Experience absolutely breathtaking views, unparalleled hospitality at your own private table, delectable tastings and the most sweeping, stunning views of the Paso Robles, California wine region. Our expert guide Ken led us through a delectable tasting of the culinary world that is DAOU including some very rare pours. This Spanish influenced space is gorgeous in every direction and becomes even dreamier after a couple of glasses. From caviar to lobster rolls to fresh made truffle and bacon pizza, it was a delightful experience and will forever remain as a fantastic memory! And yes, they also have…
- Day Trips, Destinations, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Food & Beverage, Latest News, Lifestyle
Fellow Penn State University Alumni Makes His Mark in Paso Robles, CA with Eberle Winery
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Eberle Winery is a family-owned jawn from Penn State University alumni! If you didn’t know, I am as well… go lions! Gary Eberle grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania (also like me) and went to PSU on a football scholarship. After graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in biology, he went to Louisiana State University where he continued his graduate work studying cellular genetics. While attending LSU, Gary developed an appreciation for wine and changed his academic path to become a winemaker. Gary launched his career as a winemaker and as the “Pioneer” of Paso Robles Wine Region by helping to…
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How to do the Spanish New Year Grape Tradition Properly
Let’s explore the Spanish New Year grape tradition everyone keep getting wrong! Learn the common mistakes New Year’s Eve revellers make with las doce uvas de la suerte to bring genuine luck for the year ahead. Doing it the Spanish way makes the tradition far more fun and meaningful. When you understand the cultural significance behind las doce uvas, it turns from a novelty into something genuinely special. In recent years, Brits and Americans alike celebrating New Year’s Eve have started joining in with Spain’s beloved grape tradition, but many are unknowingly missing the mark entirely. The ritual, known as “las doce uvas de la suerte” (the 12 grapes of…
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Where Locals Go Instead of the Most Overrated Spanish Landmarks
Skip the tourist traps and discover the authentic Spain locals actually love! Spain welcomes over 85 million visitors annually, making it one of the world’s most popular destinations. But not every famous landmark lives up to its reputation. A lot of the most iconic spots from Barcelona to Madrid leave travelers feeling overwhelmed, squeezed between crowds, and paying inflated prices for experiences that have lost their authenticity. “After years of living in Spain and guiding students through the country’s culture, I’ve seen countless visitors return from ‘must-see’ attractions feeling disappointed,” says James Smith, founder of Learn Spanish with James, an online platform offering Spanish courses and cultural insights led by…
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Spain’s Most Beautiful Autumn Coastal Road Trips
Explore six stunning seaside routes perfect for October and November road tripping adventures in Spain! Every autumn, Spain’s coastline transforms into something magical. While summer crowds pack the beaches, October and November offer a completely different experience, one where golden light dances on quieter shores and harvest festivals celebrate the season’s bounty. Driving in Spain in the fall requires different preparation from summer trips. Road surfaces can be more unpredictable with morning dew and occasional rain, so we recommend checking tire tread depth before exploring. Your braking system works harder on wet coastal roads and if you notice any unusual sounds or reduced responsiveness, address these issues before your trip…
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Seven Unusual Travel Superstitions from Around the World
My lucky number is seven. I was born on September 7, my phone number has 7 in it and my house has 7s in the land square footage. So I guess I am also superstitious after all! I don’t know what it is exactly but it gives me peace when I see it and know things are flowing in the right way. Travel stress is certainly a real feeling due to concerns around potential airport delays, disruptions or mishaps abroad. Some say air travel causes more anxiety than filing taxes or visiting the dentist! I would agree with the taxes but am the weirdo that likes the dentist – so…
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Explore The Odyssey’s Viking Ship Draken Harald Hårfagre in Oslo, Norway
Story by Cassie Hepler, Submitted Images and Video The Odyssey’s Viking Ship Draken Harald Hårfagre is blowing up! Not literally but visitors are going wild over the real Viking ship movie producer Christopher Nolan told the LA Times “became a character in the movie.” She’s the 115-foot Viking longship that carries Matt Damon‘s Odysseus throughout The Odyssey, built using traditional Norwegian boatbuilding methods and crewed by the actual sailors who worked directly into the shoot as extras. Since the film opened, she’s seen a real spike in visitors at the dock in Oslo, Norway with people coming out just to see the ship in person. She’s open to the public…
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How to Move to Greece as an American
Want to get the funk out of the fascist regime that is currently life in the USA? You’re not the only one who may be realizing that the United States of America is not the best country in the world as we were conditioned to believe since childhood classrooms, reciting our undying oath to the American flag and God… which I never did by the way, even as a kid it felt like I was being indoctrinated and I would just stand there and mumble some shit. Just like those disgusting force fed daily fluoride pills “to strengthen your teeth” that made my stomach hurt and I would stash them…
- Day Trips, Destinations, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Food & Beverage, Latest News, Lifestyle
Easy Hikes for Beginners in Bryce Canyon, Utah
Easy Hikes in Bryce Canyon Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Celebrate the summer solstice by hiking Bryce Canyon, Utah! What better way to celebrate the seasons than immersing yourself in nature? We ended up with one of the hottest weeks in June so far and had to make due with the weather we were given. Also we were both healing from various injuries still and had to take it easy. If this was before the summer of hell 2025, I would have been shredding up all those trails in style and thirsty for more minus the heat. But alas, this is part of my story now and part…
- Destinations, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Food & Beverage, Latest News, Lifestyle
Stay and Play in a Private Condo at Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas in Arizona
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Everyone wonders what we do in Arizona when the weather gets to be over 100 degrees in the summer. We do a LOT of staycations in the valley to get out of the house! And it’s like reversed winter except we can leave the comfort of cool air conditioning, go to our cars with air conditioning and then go to the next spot with AC, no snow or icy roads trapping us inside for days on end. That’s why there are a lot of snowbirds we call them, people who flee for the summer and come back during peak season which is usually…
