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Enjoy a Low Key Vibe at Villa Cosy Hotel and Spa in Saint Tropez, France
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler I went back to the airport in Nice, France to meet the rest of the press trip crew before this Côte d’Azur adventure officially kicked off! With some rest (and exploring Nice) under my belt already, I felt ready and refreshed for once since I flew in that Friday. I arrived early as usual from the Novotel Nice Arénas Airport hotel shuttle. While I thought maybe I booked too many nights ahead of time, it turned out to be just right as Spring Cassie would have needed a day or two max to recover but Fall Cassie is much more jacked up on…
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The Mob Museum in Las Vegas is like Mafia School with a Speakeasy
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Once upon a time, I worked for a South Philly political rag of a newspaper called the Philly Record. I was assistant editor and also there to bring some new fangled social media and ideas to the joint. The owner, the late Jimmy Tayoun, was once was a ward leader, Democratic member of Philadelphia City Council and of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He also had quite the rap sheet afterwards as he spent 40 months behind bars for: obstruction of justice, mail fraud, tax evasion, racketeering, taken bribes, paid bribes, and told an ex-associate to lie to a grand jury. So imagine…
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Marriott Irvine Spectrum Offers Restful, Upscale Hotel to Explore Orange County, California
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler I’ve been a Marriott Bonvoy member since I was a teenager. Starting at Penn State University at 17 years old because my birthday is in September, it’s been a no brainer to rack up points with a brand I can rely on for this extra picky back – and now neck. So I don’t have to stress out over is the bed good? Will I be in more pain? Those issues don’t exist when booking with Marriott. I already know and that’s what keeps me coming back. So when Destination Irvine reached out, it was easy breezy and my first press trip…
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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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Explore Copenhagen, Denmark without leaving the USA in Solvang, California
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Welcome to Danish Disneyland aka Solvang, California! According to our spooky tour guide, Casey, from The Haunt Ghost Tours, that is what Michael Jackson allegedly called it. MJ’s Neverland Ranch (now Sycamore Valley Ranch) is located about 12 miles North of Solvang in the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County, California. Allegedly, the king of pop even lived in self-imposed solitude at the ranch, sometimes visiting the town of Los Olivos and also Solvang. Casey said the reason there is a Subway and Domino’s but no other major corporate food chain stores is town is because those two were his favorites and…
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Pennsylvania’s Top 10 Fall Foliage Spots to Visit this Fall
Pennsylvania’s Top 10 Fall Foliage Spots We all know the East Coast has some of the best leaf peeping area across the USA. But nothing can relate to Pennsylvania’s breathtaking fall landscapes where the mountains and trees are lined with various autumn colors glowing in the sunshine. From the Pocono Mountains north of Philadelphia to the Laurel Highlands, it’s a must-see for anyone who is obsessed with exploring fall colors across the world. It’s the little things like nature’s beauty in life that make life worth living. Sometimes you have to step out of the rat race and regroup in peaceful serenity. Growing up in Central Pennsylvania and then living…
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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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Radisson Lackawanna Train Station Hotel in Scranton, Pennsylvania is Hauntingly Majestic
Story, videos by Cassie Hepler After I booked a flight to Central Pennsylvania to visit my family, a long-lost Philly friend and photographer reached out randomly to say hello. We decided to meet up on one of the hottest, record-breaking days in June over 100 degrees with humidity which is pure, sweaty Betty hell outside. The best bet place to meet halfway was Scranton, Pennsylvania and I asked him to find somewhere good to go and that he did! I was not expecting such an amazing, dreamy location existed but here we are – and it’s haunted to boot. And yes, Scranton is the inspiration city where The Office was…
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Enjoy Caribbean Sea Views in Every Room at AVA Resort Cancun, Mexico
Photos, story, videos by Cassie Hepler The best things about AVA Cancun is that each upscale room looks out over the turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean Sea and it’s located 5 miles from Cancun International Airport. And it’s an all-inclusive resort located right below the hotel zone giving it island-style privacy from noisy neighbors. It’s definitely not a crazy Cancun party spot which I appreciated, especially not really being in a very celebratory mood which I will share that debacle story at a later date. The pool closes pretty early and things settle down shortly after sunset. However, the pool music “boots and cats” sounding bass kicks on right after sunrise…
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How to Plan a Visit to Cinque Terre, the Italian Riviera’s Hidden Gem
How to Plan a Visit to the Cinque Terre (and What to See) Cinque Terre is perhaps the most quintessential spot along the Italian Riviera. Here’s what to see and where to stay. The Italian Riviera offers travelers a plethora of beauty, with eye-feasting blue waters, rugged coastlines, and brightly colored villages for as far as the eye can see. Perhaps the most quintessential spot is the Cinque Terre – a string of five fishing villages: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore – connected by its own scenic trail. The Cinque Terre villages were once a well-kept local secret and are now an unspoiled Italian gem – with perfectly preserved…
