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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

    Enjoy Caribbean Sea Views in Every Room at AVA Resort Cancun, Mexico

    August 4, 2025 /

    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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    Cassie Hepler

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    May 7, 2020

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

    November 23, 2016

    Hudson Valley Gains Hip, Hamptons Style Hotel The Time Nyack in Upstate New York

    August 14, 2017
  • Day Trips,  Destinations,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Relax at the Low Key Westin Hotels & Resorts in Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico

    February 3, 2025 /

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

    March 2, 2026

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

    December 1, 2025

    Feeling United by Flowers at the 195th PHS Philadelphia Flower Show

    April 20, 2024
  • Destinations,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Baby Sea Turtle Season Enchants Everyone in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

    December 2, 2024 /

    Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Releasing baby sea turtles into the Pacific Ocean has been on my bucket list since I was a child! And I felt extremely blessed that Marriott Puerto Vallarta helped make this now adult gal’s dreams come true. We were talking about it for months and it felt almost out of reach toward the end of the summer and also my second trip to Mexico (early that month I took a Cancun birthday trip was the first week of September which I’ll post about soon). Just loading up that passport with stamps before it needs renewed again in fall of 2025! At some point…

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    Paris, je t’aime! An American Reminisces on Her Love Affair with France

    March 15, 2021

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

    March 2, 2026

    Hotel Adeline Adds Boutique Flair with Secret Speakeasy to Scottsdale, Arizona

    March 20, 2019
  • Destinations,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Marriott Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Offers Beachside Relaxation Minutes from the Airport

    November 4, 2024 /

    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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    Escape to a Slice of Heaven in Catalina Island, California

    February 5, 2023

    Hurricane Irma Displaces Single Dad, Daughter to New Jersey

    September 25, 2017

    Elvis is Alive at Wild West Town Blazin’ M Ranch in Cottonwood

    August 11, 2023
  • Destinations,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Explore Islas Marías, Former Prison Islands in Nayarit, Mexico

    October 30, 2023 /

    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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    Things to Do in Las Vegas, Nevada Besides Gambling

    March 9, 2026

    Stay and Play on North Mountain with Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort

    November 13, 2023

    Behind the Scenes Interview at Atlantic City Boardwalk Con with Founder Mike D’Alessio and Mayor Don Guardian

    May 16, 2015
  • Destinations,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Fly to Puerto Vallarta Airport and Explore Nayarit, Mexico

    September 15, 2023 /

    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…

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    October 28, 2024

    Enjoy Desert Zen at Rancho de Los Caballeros Ranch Spa in Wickenburg, Arizona

    November 18, 2024

    Views and Chews for Days with Hilton San Francisco Union Square in California

    April 17, 2019
  • Destinations,  Education,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

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

    September 5, 2023 /

    Story, photos by Cassie Hepler Imagine being whisked away from the Cabo San Lucas, Mexico airport by a private driver in your air conditioned SUV via Transcabo with an ice-cold bottle of water waiting for you. Then you are delivered to a Spanish style resort with 11 sprawling acres and a pretty darn private beach because there are no other resorts around. And you’re only 35 minutes from the airport and 20 minutes away from town! If you like to hunker down and just relax, this is your dream escape from the daily grind. My first trip to Cabo was in 2017, right before I decided to move to Arizona…

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    Relax and Enjoy Slow, Southern Style in Clarksville, Tennessee

    September 26, 2018

    Online Gift Guide for Covid Quarantine Creatures

    December 21, 2020

    Hitting Up Virginia Beach, VA Early in the Season Makes Bonding with Locals a Breeze

    April 25, 2019
  • Day Trips,  Destinations,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Explore Chacchoben Ruins and Blue Lagoon in Costa Maya, Mexico

    April 4, 2023 /

    Photos, story by Cassie Hepler When I was planning which cruise to take with Princess Cruises, I was obsessed with the 10 day cruise from Galveston, Texas because it included the Cayman Islands and Belize. As part of the press trip package, we were limited to 7 days so I chose the one that included Costa Maya which borders Belize and shares the same reef territory, great for snorkeling and diving. Costa Maya is also free from high rise chain hotels leaving its lagoons, archaeological gems and coastline free from clutter. And the 7 day cruise still stopped to see Roatan, Honduras so most bucket list items were checked off.…

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    Drop Down South to the Wine World of Willcox, Arizona

    October 11, 2021

    Don’t Steal from the Petrified Forest in Arizona

    April 23, 2021

    Relax, Reconnect and Repeat at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort in Arizona

    December 30, 2019
  • Destinations,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Falling in Love with Breathless Resorts in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

    March 27, 2017 /

    Story, photos by Cassie Hepler Since I was a teen, I wanted to live a bi-coastal life with my favorite seasons on the East Coast (Spring, Summer and Fall) and escape chilly Philly to somewhere warm in the winter (usually California and sometimes Florida). Perhaps I don’t own any warm weather property (yet) however I can escape the cold to the land of sunshine and lollipops, especially now that my back is fixed up with no pain and I’m literally less than 5 degrees curved now from scoliosis fusion surgery! So this trip was extra special and an encouragement from my Scoliosis Inspire & Inform group to take a one-year…

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    Enjoy a Girls Getaway to The Cassara Carlsbad in San Diego, California

    June 12, 2023

    Drink the Pope’s Wine at Châteauneuf du Pape near Avignon, France

    January 26, 2026

    W New York Launches Exclusive Collection with THE CXX Hotel’s Fashion Collaboration

    August 28, 2017

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