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It’s the Cats Meow at the Phoenix Feline Fanciers in Mesa, Arizona
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler When my friend mentioned going to a cat show with Phoenix Feline Fanciers, I was all in before she finished that sentence! This is Arizona‘s biggest cat show after all and they claim to see up to 35 beautiful cat breeds but we certainly saw way more than that – and even held some which was a savory treat for this childless cat lady. Dubbed family friendly and for all ages, there were some children but mostly just cat lovers, fanatics and all the merch Miss or Mister Kitty can ever dream of under one roof. I don’t know why dog shows get…
- 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
Explore Bryce Canyon Country from Stone Canyon Inn Cabins in Tropic, Utah
Cabins in Bryce Canyon, Utah Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler We were so excited to explore Bryce Canyon Country, Utah finally! This was a rescheduled press trip from last summer with Bryce Canyon Country that is now a gals road tripping adventure, low key style. Originally last July, we were supposed to join a group press trip that included horseback riding, ATVs through the canyons and group hikes which all are still not quite attainable to this day. Fortunately the tourism board was very understanding about the summer from hell 2025 and were more than happy to reschedule and arrange a private visit for me and a guest.…
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- Destinations, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Food & Beverage, Latest News, Lifestyle
Go Truffle Hunting, Foraging for Flowers & Shopping in Force with Italy Charme
Truffle Hunting in Italy Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Go truffle hunting in Italy! No pigs here at Agriturismo Ramusè but sweet dogs sniffing out the golden mushrooms, Cocker Spaniel mixes of the tan colored Electra and fuzzy Briciola. These pricey pups either come pre-trained at $3,000 to $7,000 Euro per dog or you can hire a Northern Italy truffle dog trainer for about $1,000 Euro a month. Paolo Ciccioli, owner of Agriturismo Ramusè and former truffle exporter to London, led us on a mountainside adventure in the drizzling rain where the black mushrooms were almost popping out of the ground because of the downpour. I thoroughly enjoyed…
- Destinations, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Food & Beverage, Latest News, Lifestyle
Escape to a Fairytale Fever Dreamscape at Il Falconiere in Cortona, Tuscany Italy
Luxury Wine Resort in Cortona Tuscany, Italy Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Behold the beauty of Il Falconiere Relais & Spa, an elegant 17th-century country residence on the hillsides of Cortona, Tuscany! This was truly a hidden countryside gem in Italy and welcome restful retreat of relaxation, nature and wellness, carefully crafted to be delightful fairytale couture by Silvia and Benedetto Baracchi. Cypress trees, umbrella pines, olive trees and vineyards as far as the eye can see are spotted with stone buildings with terracotta-colored walls while the healthiest, shiniest chickens and roosters roam the grounds. Flowers were blooming everywhere for spring which was intoxicating to the senses. Relais…
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Explore 24 Hours in the Beautiful French Provençal Town of Lourmarin, France
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler After our amazing experience in Cotignac, France, our press trip group was whisked away by our amazing driver Sophie to experience the charming small town of Lourmarin, France. It is located in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in Southeastern France. The people who live there are called Lourmarinois, which is très (very) difficult to pronounce. Part of the Luberon region, it is composed of three mountain ranges: Lesser Luberon, Greater Luberon and Eastern Luberon. There’s a whole lot of Lou’s happening here and it can be very confusing – especially when you’re not driving and following maps. Just try to…
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Instagram Worthy Vacations Could be Killing Wildlife
We know… you absolutely LOVE corporate conglomerate bootlicking Meta via Instagram and getting that my-life-is-so-perfect photo for your grid however there seems to be some basic decorum in empathy lacking in today’s society. I don’t know if it’s bad manners or just plain lack of respect but it can be seen from something as simple as going to the grocery store (like move your cart out of the middle of the lane while you shop, for the love of God) to traveling where a stranger will literally elbow you out of the way – or worse in your shot – to get a good pic. It’s been the bane of…
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International Pet Travel Challenges, Tips & Tricks from a Digital Nomad
The Challenges of International Pet Travel: Lessons I’ve Learned Photos, story and video by Lauren Anders Brown As a digital nomad, traveling the globe has always been my passion. So why wouldn’t I want to share the thrill of travel with my best friend Paddington, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel? For years, Pads and I globe trotted across multiple continents. Together, we took more than 75 flights: from the United States to the United Kingdom to Europe, and Bermuda. I remember our first international trip was especially difficult. I didn’t know what I was doing and had no one to help guide me. Hours of research later, I felt some…
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Indulge at The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler I was forced to visit Tucson, Arizona for a few nights at The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa! Oh, no… A truly stunning resort on the inside, the Westin Paloma as locals call it, is a great place to settle in for a relaxing visit to Southern Arizona. With an inclusive resort shuttle, you can even explore some more without driving which means more tequila – or mezcal – tastings with their over 70 bottles available. Each room is nicely anchored at a cool 65 degrees and my room had a great balcony space overlooking the mountains and the pools. It’s also…
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Harvest the Moon’s Energy to Live Your Best Spring Equinox Life
Tune in to the moon and how to live and garden in harmony with our nearest celestial neighbor, using The Old Farmer’s Almanac Lunar cycle to-do list. I’ve been a long time follower and fan of this brand and happy to be working with them on sharing these amazing ideas below! Harvesting Moon Energy People who live near the ocean know that a full Moon pulls tides higher. Landlocked Midwesterners cannot see this phenomenon, but the same thing is happening to water below the ground’s surface. This ebb and flow is a natural result of the magnetic pull of the monthly alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon and is…
