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8 Budget Hacks for Last Minute Getaways
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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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…
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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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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,…
- Destinations, Education, Entertainment, Explore with Cassie, Food & Beverage, Latest News, Lifestyle
Marriott Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Offers Beachside Relaxation Minutes from the Airport
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Nestled on a sandy strip between the Sierra Madre Mountains and Banderas Bay in Mexico, Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa offers a combination of zen, nature and fun in the sun. We had been discussing this visit for months, finally making it a reality seemed so surreal and I was psyched. I ended up talking to a former teacher turned principal on the plane most of the flight down, discussing philosophy and the meaning of life. Pretty heavy travel talk, but I loved it! This mountain-meets-ocean resort is only 7 minutes from the Puerto Vallarta airport which is a relief in itself…
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All Aboard the Moshulu, the World’s Oldest & Largest Tall Ship with Restaurant in Philadelphia
Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler The last time I visited the Moshulu Philly, it was to attend the launch of The Deck Philly which was in 2017, right before I moved to Arizona that New Year. Since then a lot has happened including Covid knocking out a ton of amazing restaurants and locations across Philadelphia which I’m discovering as I’m digging through archives on Explore with Cassie (formerly Explore-Philly.com) and having to throw in the digital trash sadly. The timing of all of this is very odd or maybe serendipitous, a lot of photos that are not supposed to be attached to the old site are somehow breaking…
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Explore Islas Marías, Former Prison Islands in Nayarit, Mexico
Story, photos, videos by Cassie Hepler If you have a dark edge to your soul like me, this all-the-feels Islas Marías (Mary Islands) will resonate well. I have this new thing I do, where I say yes to everything and figure it out later. This trip was one of those yes moments while I was still on a private press trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I had no clue what I was agreeing to but I’m always up for an adventure, twice if I like it. Here’s the thing about Mexico: it’s got a bad rap in the United States even though honestly, the United States is starting to…
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Drive a Boat in Lawless Lake of the Wild West in Lake Havasu City, Arizona
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler When London Bridge Resort reached out for a tour of now nearby to me Lake Havasu City, AZ, it was a no-brainer. Sparking turquoise water flanked by majestic copper canyons? It’s like a photographer’s dream so of course I was all in! One tourism tweet later on Twitter, I was connected to the lovely Jillian Danielson who is an amazing storm chasing photographer who also owns the well-known Lake Havasu go-to guide, River Scene Magazine. Lake Havasu City is in western Arizona about four hours west of Phoenix, AZ and near the border of Eastern California. It’s known as a base for trails in the…
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Save on Lodging, Food in Bermuda with Celebrity Cruises
Photos, story by Cassie Hepler This Spring and Summer have been really heating up in my world! Since getting back from Breathless Resorts in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and catching the traveling bug again, I’ve been doing a lot more travel which alway makes my soul happy. I promised one of my besties to go on a cruise with her through Celebrity Cruises which were very nice… and old. Not so much the ship itself but the crowd. Our favorite couple at dinner asked us why we were on this ship with a bunch of old people and we immediately adopted them as our cruise parents. Celebrity is known for…
