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Explore With Cassie

Lifestyle & travel blog finding the unusual out of the ordinary.

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  • Destinations,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Marriott Irvine Spectrum Offers Restful, Upscale Hotel to Explore Orange County, California

    October 6, 2025 /

     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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    Cassie Hepler

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    Philadelphia’s 2018 Flower Show Just Adds Water

    August 16, 2018

    Interview with Author Irene Levy Baker of 100 Things to do in Philadelphia Before You Die

    November 23, 2016

    Get Your Wild West on and go Golfing at Rancho de Los Caballeros in Wickenburg, Arizona

    April 2, 2024
  • Day Trips,  Education,  Explore with Cassie,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Instagram Worthy Vacations Could be Killing Wildlife

    September 29, 2025 /

    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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    Cassie Hepler

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    Escape to Valley Kitchen at Carmel Valley Ranch Resort for Otherworldly Cuisine

    August 21, 2018

    Explore Down the Shore at Long Beach Island’s Daddy O Hotel in New Jersey

    August 19, 2024

    Things to Do in Las Vegas, Nevada Besides Gambling

    March 9, 2026
  • Day Trips,  Destinations,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Loews Hotel Philadelphia Sparks Red, White and Views at Fireworks Watch Party

    September 22, 2025 /

    Iconic, indeed! Loews Hotel Philadelphia’s 33rd floor really made for some exquisite panoramic views at the fireworks’ watch party. Story, photos by Sharon Kozden “I’ve learned through the years that it’s not where you live, it’s the people who surround you that make you feel at home.” – J.B. McGee “You must remember, family is often born of blood, but it doesn’t depend on blood. Nor is it exclusive of friendship. Family members can be your best friends, you know. And best friends, whether or not they are related to you, can be your family.” ― Trenton Lee Stewart Not to put too fine a point on it, but it’s…

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    Sharon Kozden

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    Take a Hike to Arathusa Falls & Explore Bethlehem and Littleton, New Hampshire

    October 14, 2024

    Best Las Vegas, Nevada Photo Spots from a Model and Photographer

    March 2, 2026

    All Aboard the Moshulu, the World’s Oldest & Largest Tall Ship with Restaurant in Philadelphia

    August 5, 2024
  • Destinations,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News

    Explore Copenhagen, Denmark without leaving the USA in Solvang, California

    September 15, 2025 /

    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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    Cassie Hepler

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    Top 10 Locations for Alfresco Dining in America

    June 24, 2024

    Walk to the Beach at Daddy O’s Boutique Hotel in Long Beach Island, NJ

    July 10, 2017

    Outstanding CRUjiente Tacos May Be the Best in Arcadia, Arizona

    June 9, 2020
  • Day Trips,  Destinations,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Latest News

    Pennsylvania’s Top 10 Fall Foliage Spots to Visit this Fall

    September 8, 2025 /

    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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    Cassie Hepler

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    Don’t Steal from the Petrified Forest in Arizona

    April 23, 2021

    Explore an Artists Commune La Maison de la Chapelle in Carcès, France

    December 1, 2025

    Barking Up the Right Tree with 2024’s National Dog Show at Greater Philadelphia Expo Center

    December 23, 2024
  • Destinations,  Education,  Explore with Cassie,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    International Pet Travel Challenges, Tips & Tricks from a Digital Nomad

    August 25, 2025 /

    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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    Cassie Hepler

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    Sleep in a Glamping Dome at Tirrito Farm in WillCox, Arizona

    July 1, 2024

    Save on Lodging, Food in Bermuda with Celebrity Cruises

    June 27, 2017

    Mardi Gras is Not all Boobs and Beads in Lafayette, Louisiana

    February 5, 2020
  • Destinations,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Radisson Lackawanna Train Station Hotel in Scranton, Pennsylvania is Hauntingly Majestic

    August 18, 2025 /

    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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    Cassie Hepler

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    Loews Hotel Philadelphia Sparks Red, White and Views at Fireworks Watch Party

    September 22, 2025

    Enjoy Epic Arizona Sunsets at Orange Sky at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale

    August 7, 2019

    Rejuvenate at Joseph Anthony Retreat Spa and Salon at Loews Philadelphia Hotel

    July 14, 2021
  • Destinations,  Education,  Explore with Cassie,  Latest News

    8 Budget Hacks for Last Minute Getaways

    August 11, 2025 /

    Story by Cassie Hepler This economy is complete shit and the American tourism world is taking a hit with no one wanting to visit our current fascist regime country. So if you’re itching to bust out of it, join the club! Whether you’re trying to get out of ‘Merica or just across the country for a change of pace, I’ve got you. I’ve been traveling the world since I was 16 years old when I caught the travel bug and have learned a lot in my many years since. Let me share some of my secrets with you! Escape the ordinary with last-minute getaways on a budget and stay sane…

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    Cassie Hepler

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    Escape to Paradiso at Hacienda Del Mar in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

    September 5, 2023

    University City Gets Smart with Chic, Sleek Study Hotel and Unique Co-Op Restaurant

    January 24, 2018

    Trippy Teatime in Wonderland Returns to Electric Playhouse in Las Vegas, Nevada

    February 17, 2025
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