- 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
What To Do in Saint Martin Island in the Caribbean Sea
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler I’m finally starting to share my “vacation” experience in Saint Martin! Saint Martin is part of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea and is actually two separate countries, divided between its northern French side, called Saint-Martin, and its southern Dutch Netherlands side, Sint Maarten. I say vacay in quotes because it was perhaps the strangest travel experience I’ve had yet so prepare for a doozy of a story. I had won a week stay on some random online raffle and one of the only intriguing options to me among many more plain places was Saint Martin/Sint Maarten. Originally my photographer friend was…
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Relax at the Low Key Westin Hotels & Resorts in Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler First things first, let’s talk about location as there are many Westin hotels in Cancun, Mexico and this one is tucked away on its own slice of heaven. The Westin Hotels & Resorts in Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico is where I escaped on an I-forced-myself-to-take vacation which internally I was kicking and screaming not to go as there was so much work to be done. Once you become a lifestyle and travel blogger, it is hard to turn if off when not traveling for work but I am happy to say I did create and take content but only because I wanted to…
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Hondo Rodeo Fest Debuts in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona
By Sylvia Lenore, submitted photos Yee-haw! The inaugural Hondo Rodeo Fest made its debut in Phoenix in November bringing a mix of Western rodeo and country music to Chase Field in Downtown Phoenix. Yes, you read that right … they brought a rodeo arena inside the baseball stadium, home to the Arizona Diamondbacks. (Don’t forget the stadium’s bag policies for a stress-free experience). The three-day event running from Thursday to Saturday was a first of its kind indeed. The Hondo also took over the streets outside the stadium for the general public to experience their Stillery Street Festival. It’s a family-friendly market showcasing Western-themed wears and jewelry, food trucks, a…
- 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…
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Cruising the Mediterranean to Greece, Italy and Turkey with Royal Caribbean
Story, photos by Dave Brosius Twenty years of marriage calls for something bigger than a mere sampler platter and a couple umbrella drinks. I know, you think I mean “also the cheesecake”. And while not wrong per se, you can do better. We say, plan an adventure that would be sure to put a mammoth-sized dent in the savings that you’ll have to explain to your accountant later with a car. The kind with the heavy card stock and embossed gold foil. Sorry, Sheila! So how did we mark our first 20 years? After a little debate, we came to a conclusion: A two week Mediterranean Cruise to Greece, Turkey,…
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Toast of Philadelphia at Cherry Street Pier Benefits Caring People Alliance
Proposing a toast … “… I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house. So I have spent almost all the daylight hours in the open air.” ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne Story, photos by Sharon Kozden Talk about finding an inspiring quote with which to set an opening mood for an article. Mr. Hawthorne, I could not agree more with your eloquent depiction of an autumnal day. I felt said quote’s powerful message on November 2nd while meandering the length of Cherry St. Pier for several hours on a fall apple-crisp sunny day during Toast of Philadelphia, an event—as states the banner in the…
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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…
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Barking Up the Right Tree with 2024’s National Dog Show at Greater Philadelphia Expo Center
“A dog’s love isn’t about what you can give, it’s about who you are to them. It’s loyalty, comfort, and understanding, all wrapped into one quiet, constant presence that never asks for anything but to be near you …” — R.M. Drake Story, photos by Sharon Kozden I’m here to talk about dogs. But first, monkeys must be mentioned. Say wha …? Give me grace while I explain. Remember when Conchata Ferrell’s character in the film Mystic Pizza announced to her trio of employees, “It’s tradition, and you don’t monkey with tradition?” Nope: no monkeying with tradition. Never-ever. Traditions comfort in many ways, which is why, despite not really…
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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.…
