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Explore With Cassie

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

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

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

    January 26, 2026 /

    Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Taste one of the best wines in France at Châteauneuf du Pape! We started with a leisurely lunch at Château des Fines Roches with an outstanding selection of fine French cuisine paired perfectly with each outstanding glass of wine. The red with the chocolate dessert was so decadent, it’s almost felt naughty eating it and enjoying the wine pairing! Only a half hour from Avignon, it makes a great day trip to explore more of the French vineyards and countryside in South of France. Using rocks on top of the soil, it is how they capture the unique and rich earthy flavors in…

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    Cassie Hepler

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    Visit the Eccentric Fonthill Castle Built Out of Cement and Trash in Bucks County, PA

    July 25, 2018

    Prescott Pines Inn Gets Makeover, Adds Vino Prescott Wine Bar to Northern Arizona

    April 21, 2025

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

    April 25, 2019
  • Day Trips,  Education,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Weft and Warp Transports Guests to Portugal Passport Wine Dinner at Andaz Scottsdale

    June 23, 2025 /

    Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler I almost married the mayor of Lisbon, Portugal‘s son. Before you come at me, yes I am aware they don’t have “mayors” per say like in the USA but close enough translation without going into a Portuguese political rant. Anyway, I met this gentleman fresh after a breakup and visit to New York City to hang with my fashion designer friend. He had an accent – and abs of steel and came to the Big Apple to chase his dream of becoming a model and actor, leaving an almost finished law degree and his pissed off family behind him. He chased me for…

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    Cassie Hepler

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    Don’t Steal from the Petrified Forest in Arizona

    April 23, 2021

    Lehigh Valley Humane Society Hosts Second Annual Garden Party

    September 20, 2022

    Interior Vehicle Design Ideas to Make Your Car Have a Vibe

    March 1, 2023
  • Day Trips,  Destinations,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Exploring Overland Expo West as a Woman Who Wanders

    June 16, 2025 /

    Photos, video, story by Cassie Hepler My first experience at Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, Arizona was overwhelming and awesome! Sponsored by Subaru, I had no idea what I was getting into expect for camping in the woods at the Flagstaff Extreme campgrounds where I previously climbed around in the trees like an Ewok. With over 400 vendors and created by a woman, it’s “educating and inspiring through overland and adventure travel events” which means you will learn literally every camping thing, gadget, gear, RVs, trucks, off-roading and more at this massive moving outdoor convention. After this Overland Expo West 2025, it shifts across the USA to the Pacific Northwest…

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    Cassie Hepler

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    Hopping into Spring with Fishtown Hops at Sugarhouse Casino in Philadelphia, PA

    May 9, 2019

    Escape to a Private Island in San Diego, California at Loews Coronado

    December 30, 2024

    Tropicana’s Chelsea Tower Brings Atlantic City, New Jersey Good Luxe

    December 5, 2018
  • Day Trips,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Supporting Small Businesses at Pecan and Wine Festival in Camp Verde, Arizona

    May 12, 2025 /

      Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler I come from a family of entrepreneurs who owned small businesses. My grandfather Hepler owned his own carpentry company and my father started Hepler Geothermal heat pumps and air conditioning in central Pennsylvania before being green was considered cool. My brother now runs it and is slaying – without any advertising needed. My grandmother on one side was a nurse and the other was working for a bit as a paralegal, without the formal education. We’re natural born hustlers and even my niece when she was in elementary school started a side hustle selling slime! Pecan And Wine Festival So supporting small…

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    Cassie Hepler

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    Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee Shows the King’s Impressive Wealth

    July 11, 2019

    Make the Most of Your Visit to Los Angeles, California

    September 20, 2019

    Exploring The Sedona Film Festival for a Weekend in Sedona, Arizona

    March 23, 2026
  • Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Dramatic Fine Dining at Elvira’s DC Ranch in North Scottsdale

    May 5, 2025 /

    Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Family owned since 1927, Elvira’s has been a staple in Tubac, Arizona located 30 minutes south of Tucson which is a long hike for even the most eccentric foodie from Phoenix!  Now open in DC Ranch Scottsdale, Chef Ruben Monroy takes the lead as the grandson of the original founder, keeping this family-run fine dining establishment running like a smooth sailing ship. Master Sommelier Thomas Kaufman is in charge of the beverage program and even with some mocktails, we were impressed with the taste. Opened in January of 2025, it features signature dishes from the Tubac menu, including its iconic Chile en Nogada.…

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    Cassie Hepler

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    Workhorse Brewing Company, a New Hidden Gem in the Philly Suburbs

    June 26, 2019

    Explore Cozumel, Mexico by Jeep and Snorkel

    July 25, 2023

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

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

    Corduroy Lodge Offers Cabins, Airstreams and Motel in Pinetop Lakeside, Arizona

    April 14, 2025 /

    Where to Stay in Pinetop-Lakeside Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler I stumbled upon Corduroy Lodge years ago when I booked a random night in-between blogging adventures in Pinetop-Lakeside and honestly just loved the vibe! So I kept in touch and we kept hoping for snow but it didn’t seem like Northern Arizona wanted to this year so I just booked random dates. Well… I got what I wished for! But fortunately the tail end of the snow as my Honda Civic is not the best low-to-the-ground car for icy roads. I wish I could tell my younger self to buy something more rugged but I was thinking fast…

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    Cassie Hepler

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    Why You Should Go Hiking

    March 16, 2023

    Your Packing List for Great Wolf Lodge in Scottsdale, Arizona

    November 11, 2024

    Polish Your Soul and Your Plate in Sedona, Arizona

    January 5, 2023
  • Education,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News

    Fine Dining Slays at Steak 44 at Camelback Mountain, Arizona

    March 31, 2025 /

    Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Everyone in Arizona knows that Steak 44 is one of THE best steakhouses in all of Phoenix. It’s a rite of passage to go there and has been on my bucket list for… 7 years now! I know some foodie out there wants to throw hands about who has the best steak in Phoenix and I’m all ears if you can find a better, endless selection. Good luck with that! First, let’s clarify the names of this meaty brand as it can – and does – get confusing. This iconic Phoenix steakhouse is named Steak 44, part of the Ocean 44 and Dominic’s…

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    Cassie Hepler

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    The Flower Fields

    Float Through The Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California

    February 20, 2024

    What To Do in Saint Martin Island in the Caribbean Sea

    February 10, 2025

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

    November 4, 2024
  • Destinations,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Explore the Rolling Countryside of Burgundy, France

    January 20, 2025 /

    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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    Cassie Hepler

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    Explore Weird Wichita, Kansas and Dive into the Heart of the Country

    December 18, 2023

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

    November 18, 2024

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

    August 25, 2025
  • Day Trips,  Destinations,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

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

    July 1, 2024 /

    Photos, story and video by Cassie Hepler The last time I drove down to Willcox, Arizona was a whirlwind press trip with Cochise County with a heavy focus on all the many wineries in Southern Arizona. Let me tell you, when your job is to drink wine for days, your body is like whoah Nelly what is going on here?! It was during the end of the chaotic Covid era, not that it mattered in Arizona. It was still the Wild West which reminded me why I moved here in the first place… laws are a little loosey goosey. That road trip also included an overnight in the wild, weird…

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    Cassie Hepler

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    Visit California Wineries the Classy Way with San Diego Beer, Wine & Spirits Tour

    June 12, 2019

    Award-Winning Treno Pizza Bar Features Fantastic Pig Roast in Westmont, NJ

    October 2, 2018

    Exploring the South End of the Strip at The Berkley, Las Vegas in Nevada

    February 23, 2026
  • Day Trips,  Destinations,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Polish Your Soul and Your Plate in Sedona, Arizona

    January 5, 2023 /

    Photos, story by Cassie Hepler  When you receive a last minute press trip invite to Sedona, Arizona on 11/11, you go.  Those in alignment numbers represent a powerful opportunity to connect with your inner self and begin some kick ass spiritual growth. It also signifies that a period of change is about to start within you. And literally earlier that week, the shift was already in motion. So I delved into the energy vortex abyss that is the high vibe of Sedona for a magical weekend! But first we had to swing by the brand new Cove Mesa Vineyard in Cornville, AZ to enjoy a wine tasting and meet the…

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    Cassie Hepler

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    Concord, California Offers Country Cool Coastal Vibes in Small City Setting

    October 3, 2018

    Explore the Buttercup Valley, Imperial Sand Dunes in Yuma, Arizona

    March 10, 2025

    The Mob Museum in Las Vegas is like Mafia School with a Speakeasy

    October 27, 2025
 Older Posts

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