- Animals, Architecture, Art, Beach, Culture, Dessert, Drink, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Fitness, Food, Latest News, Mexico, Nature, Restaurants, Style, Travel
Fly to Puerto Vallarta Airport and Explore Nayarit, Mexico
Story, photos, video by Cassie Hepler Flying on an early morning flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor, Arizona to Puerto Vallarta Airport went pretty smoothly with a hosted American Airlines aisle seat. Mind you, international flights call for a two hour arrival buffer time although it makes no sense as you can check in online and just find your gate fast especially with TSA pre-check but airlines haven’t caught up yet I guess. Also, try not to check your luggage. You really don’t need all that stuff you packed, trust me. I’ll make a basic bitch carry on travel bag blog post soon, I promise. Much like the Cabo San Lucas…
- Arizona, Culture, Day Trips, Dessert, Drink, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Fitness, Food, Health, Latest News, Nature, Restaurants, Travel
Polish Your Soul and Your Plate in Sedona, Arizona
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler When you receive a last minute press trip invite to Sedona, Arizona on 11/11, you go. Those in alignment numbers represent a powerful opportunity to connect with your inner self and begin some kick ass spiritual growth. It also signifies that a period of change is about to start within you. And literally earlier that week, the shift was already in motion. So I delved into the energy vortex abyss that is the high vibe of Sedona for a magical weekend! But first we had to swing by the brand new Cove Mesa Vineyard in Cornville, AZ to enjoy a wine tasting and meet the…
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Cool Down Inside Pristine Kartchner Caverns in Benson, AZ
Story by Cassie Hepler, photos & video submitted by AZ State Park Super hard to pronounce but worth the drive South, Kartchner Caverns was a very memorable highlight of exploring Cochise County in Southern Arizona. So much so that it has been on my mind through the sale of my condo, purchase of a house and finally getting settled again in North Phoenix, AZ! The attention to the ecological preservation was amazing to me coming from Pennsylvania where people just jump into caves with no real care for the ecosystem at all. I also recall a family vacation to Arkansas where my brother was allowed to climb all over the…
- Animals, Arizona, Casino, Culture, Day Trips, Drink, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Fitness, Food, Health, Latest News, Nature, Restaurants, Sports, Style, Travel
Four Diamond We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort Offers Stay and Play Adventures
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Because everyone seems confused, let’s address the We-Ko-Pa namesake first! The name We-Ko-Pa means four peaks which is the popular mountain that borders the eastern skyline of Phoenix. The fabulous new 166,341-square-foot We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort replaces the original Fort McDowell Casino that many remember from 1984 as a bingo hall. Eight years later, the proud Yavapai Nation peacefully held off the attempts of federal agents to seize their slot machines, protecting their right to operate a casino on their reservation and provide livelihoods for their tribal members. That sentence alone infuriates me… freaking ‘Merica, but that’s a whole other story. Let’s focus instead…
- Arizona, Dessert, Drink, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Fitness, Food, Health, Latest News, Restaurants, Style, Suburbs, Travel
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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Outstanding CRUjiente Tacos May Be the Best in Arcadia, Arizona
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler Sometimes as a journalist, you just follow your nose for news. And other times, you get by with a little help from your friends like Christina Barrueta from WriteonRubee.com, the original foodie and real deal officiano about everything food, chef and drink related in Arizona. I was traveling at the time when she invited me to a media dinner featuring Mezcal Carreno, the champagne of agave, but later connected me with the impressive duo who are hustling hard all over the valley. (Hint: If you haven’t tried their mezcal yet, go to a tasting they have them for free all the time!) So we connected…
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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.…
- Architecture, Arizona, Culture, Day Trips, Dessert, Drink, Explore with Cassie, Food, Latest News, Nature, Restaurants, Style, Travel
Relax, Reconnect and Repeat at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort in Arizona
Story, photos by Cassie Hepler Once I moved across the country, I soon ended up living near Camelback Mountain in the trendy Arcadia section of Phoenix, Arizona as everyone said I would love it and they were right. I could see the telltale mountain from my farm casita rental. Shortly thereafter, I purchased property nearby. And big surprise, I ended up staying near Camelback and now have views of Papago Park and am kind of nestled in between both. I was also told (in new age land of Sedona of course) that Camelback is an amazing energy vortex mountain and wholeheartedly believe that. So when Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort…
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Hotel Adeline Adds Boutique Flair with Secret Speakeasy to Scottsdale, Arizona
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler My East Coast crew is always asking me where to stay when visiting sunny Arizona. Now I finally have a place to direct people who like to play, stay and enjoy Cambelback Mountain views at all times in Scottsdale, Arizona! Enter Hotel Adeline, which revamped and opened in January 2017, ironically the same time I moved across the country. Formerly a Days Inn, then Clarion Inn, and lastly Scottsdale Inn, the 4.5 acre property underwent a $12 million renovation. With a gated car valet (or open guest parking in the front), you don’t have to worry about your car which is nice. Just park and play!…
- Beauty, Culture, Drink, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Latest News, Music, Style, Technology, Travel
A Unique, Online Gift Guide for Last Minute Holiday Shoppers
Story by Explore, submitted photos/video The year of 2018 has been our best yet for Explore! While our publisher Cassie Hepler moved across the country to Phoenix, Arizona, it has helped expand the blog and gaining more traction and faithful followers every day. We have made some new partnerships and awesome blogger/influencer friends in the Valley of the Sun to California and beyond. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all who have helped us succeed in this crazy, exciting blogging world. From the East Coast to the West Coast, we looking forward to exploring more and outside the USA for 2019. In the meantime, as we…
