Category Archives: Casino

The Neon Museum in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a city meant for fun and exploration. Most often, when we think of Vegas, we think of drunken debauchery and hiding the evidence of what we did while there. Clearly, with the development of Facebook, there is no longer any true way to hide your crazy escapades, so why not opt for something a little less sinful? What, you ask, would I recommend? How about the Neon Museum?

To visit the Neon Museum, you must book your time-slot in advance. They run on a tight schedule and you will get the best bang for your buck if you plan to go at night and you also plan to watch the, Brilliant, light show. You absolutely have to add Brilliant to your ticket. It is worth the viewing.

You will see many different signs from throughout Las Vegas history. Several of which have been restored. The guide will humorously tell stories about where the signs are from and other stories regarding the owners of the casinos. You will be allowed to take photographs of everything, and of course, that was one of my favorite parts.

The museum is located in downtown Las Vegas and can be walked to from many locations. You can buy a single visit pass, or an annual. We opted for the annual, since it came with other perks as well. It allows you to visit other museums throughout the country, which sounds great to me.

To find more information on the Neon Museum, or purchase tickets, visit the below website:

The Neon Museum Las Vegas | The history of Las Vegas through neon

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Updates On St. Croix Casino Hotel, Turtle Lake

Previously I have written a couple of different articles about St. Croix Casino’s hotel at Turtle Lake. This article is an update on the hotel’s current condition and what to expect upon checking in. I am going to be very straight forward and honest in this article, so bear with me.

My husband and I have stayed at this hotel many times over the past six months. We always have a good time. The hotel is clean, and it has an appealing look to it. The rooms are finally finished being updated and I very much like the look of them. The couches and chairs are elegant and have nail head accents on them. The furniture is simple, but nice and I like the colors they chose.

What I am not pleased with is the fact that I walked up to the front desk to check in; there was no one in front of me and three people working behind it, and no one acknowledged me for about five minutes. They just let me stand there while they were messing around with I’m not completely sure what. It looked like spilt change and cell phones.

I don’t have a problem with waiting, but if you aren’t on a phone helping a customer or helping someone who is in front of me, then the courteous thing to do is to acknowledge me, the patron, who has just arrived. There is no excuse for poor service, especially when there are three people available to help.

Aside from the fact that I think the front desk help needs some serious work, this wasn’t the first time this had happened to me, the rest of the actual stay was mostly comfortable and pleasant. The image I used for this article does show that the bed could have been put together a little bit nicer; it looked that way when we checked in. It was however comfortable and I liked the whirlpool, and the various other amenities in the room. One thing I will note is that you can hear people in overhead rooms at times, but they didn’t really bother us. Other than a little light noise, I slept great, and enjoyed myself.

The last thing that I found to be distasteful about this stay was the breakfast. The first time we stayed and partook in the morning breakfast, there was no hot food, but they weren’t completely done with their modifications either. This time they had eggs and sausage, as well as waffles, hard boiled eggs, yogurt, bananas, toast, and cereal. The issue I have is that the eggs were powdered eggs. If you are going to serve breakfast at a hotel that you just took the time to remodel and bring up to a more pleasing standard, then the least you can do is serve actual scrambled eggs.

I truly hope that Turtle Lake realizes that these issues exist and takes the time to quickly remedy them. I won’t stop visiting, but I don’t like reporting such practices to the community either. On a side note, we ate the broiled chicken dinner in the café, at the casino, and that was very good.

For further information on, Turtle Lake Casino, St. Croix, please visit:  https://turtlelake.stcroixcasino.com/

 

Updates At St. Croix Casino, Turtle Lake, Hotel

If you like Turtle Lake Casino, St. Croix, and you stay at the hotel there; you know what the rooms were like. While they were not the worst, they really weren’t the best. For those who haven’t visited recently, requests have been heard and the hotel is going through some changes.

While changes can be a bit frustrating while in progress, the outcome will be completely worth the hassle for future visits. I recently stayed during Valentine’s week and we stayed in the Egypt suite. The whirlpool tub was brand new, as were the counters and sinks. The look is much nicer, though the sinks do seem to spray water all over the place; it didn’t seem to matter how lightly I turned the water on.

The hotel room was not finished. Several of the installations have been a work in progress and should be near completion by this point. All I know is that I cannot wait to go back and see the final product. I shall send further updates and show you the outcome of the next suite we stay in, which will most likely be in April.

While I cannot vouch for the completed room feel, I can vouch for the front desk area. The room is much more appealing with a fireplace and area for sitting. The feel is much cleaner and I feel at peace while going through the check-in process.

For more information on Turtle Lake Casino and Hotel, St. Croix, please visit: https://turtlelake.stcroixcasino.com/

Regular Rooms At The Isle Of Capri

While visiting Colorado in October my husband, Neal, and I, ventured away from Winter Park for an evening to visit Black Hawk. Black Hawk is like a mini Las Vegas. The town is completely made up of casinos.

I have written about the Isle of Capri before, but in my previous post we were staying in one of their suites; this time around we stayed in a regular room with a King size bed.  This stay was not nearly as pleasant as the previous experience.

As far as I can tell the temperature is only controllable by opening a window to the outdoors, unlike some hotels where you cannot open a window, you can in these particular rooms. The thermostat did nothing to cool things down. Despite having the window open all night, and despite it being cold outside, we felt like we were being roasted. I wanted to go back to Winter Park just to get away from the uncomfortable temperature of that room.

Our prior stay at the Isle of Capri was in the middle of July, and we were completely comfortable. The temperature was great and we both slept well. I have no idea what the actual difference was between these rooms. Perhaps the upgraded rooms have some sort of special cooling system. Next time we visit, I will be sure to look into this situation further.

Beyond the temperature issues, we greatly enjoyed our visit. The food at the buffet was tasty as always. They had updated their dining room since our previous visit; it is now more secluded from the rest of the casino, which I greatly appreciated.

For more information on the Isle of Capri, please visit: https://www.isleblackhawk.com/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=isle%20casino%20hotel%20black%20hawk

An Overnight Trip To Turtle Lake Casino

We all know that casinos are out there to make money, and one of the ways they do so, is by taking ours when we go overboard and pump too much into the machines, or we spend too much time on a losing table. I’ve never lost a large sum of money at the casino, because I learned quickly that casinos are there to take money, not give it. With that said, I still love casinos.

Turtle Lake Casino is located a mere thirty minutes from my current home. I have checked it out twice now and I find certain aspects of this particular casino to be quite wonderful. First off, it’s not very big, so you won’t get lost, like you could in some of the Las Vegas Casinos. Secondly, they give you some decent perks for playing their slots. I recently received a free night stay for September and October.

Last Thursday night, my husband and I went to Turtle Lake and we upgraded our free night stay to a whirlpool suite. The room was huge. It had a beautiful carved bed frame, microwave, fridge, walk in shower, and separate areas for sleeping and lounging. The window in our room overlooked the pool area, which was kind of neat. I enjoyed the room. I slept very comfortably, but was not happy about being woken at 4am by the outright brawl going on in the room above us. We did call the front desk and it was quickly dealt with, though it didn’t stop someone from stomping around angrily at other points throughout the night.

This casino is separated from the hotel, by roughly, one block. It is definitely in walking distance, so we chose to walk instead of taking the shuttle. The actual casino has three food options. You can choose to dine at the buffet, the concession stand, or the Me-Ki-Noc Restaurant. If you are staying in the hotel, they also have Heggie’s Pizza available as well as a continental breakfast in the morning.

The only food option I have taken advantage of has been the buffet. It is by no means a large buffet; it is actually quite small. I think the best option is to go on Thursday nights for surf and turf. I have eaten the surf and turf and it is well worth it. The regular buffet however, had what appeared to be frozen Chicken Kiev and instant mashed potatoes. I did very much enjoy the desserts, but they are also hit or miss, and I believe none are actually made on premises.

Despite Turtle Lake’s buffet, I do enjoy visiting and I loved the hotel room we stayed in. The whirlpool was quiet and very relaxing. The view of the pool from our room was a fun addition. I will definitely go back and stay again sometime soon.

For more information on Turtle Lake Casino, please visit: https://turtlelake.stcroixcasino.com/

 

Diamond Jo Casino In Worth, Iowa

Over the past seven years I have spent quite a bit of time in Iowa. My friends and family seem to think that it is so far away. In reality, it’s only about an hour from where I currently live, in Minnesota. There is more to this state than just corn fields, which is what people tend to think of when they hear Iowa. If you like casino games or checking out new places, Diamond Jo Casino, in Worth, Iowa, might be the place for you.

Only an hour and a half south of Prior Lake, Minnesota, Diamond Jo is a great overnight destination, or day trip. This casino offers a variety of food options, such as: Burger King, Subway, The Kitchen Buffet, and the Woodfire Grille. I tend to choose Burger King’s chicken nuggets, or the buffet. The food at the buffet is decent. They have one particular dessert that I look for any time I visit. It’s a chocolate gluten free dessert that is to die for. I most enjoy their brunch, which includes an omelet station and various other breakfast items. This buffet has gone through some changes and continues to evolve; my hope is that it will continue to improve, because there are a few items, such as the Crab Rangoon, that could use some work, but there are also items, such as the catfish, that I find quite delectable.

As far as games go, this casino tends to keep on top of trends. They do offer a variety of old and new games. I was a little bummed to find out that they appear to have gotten rid of their Pelican Pete games, which I love. They do have live table games and a poker room if you enjoy a little more action.

Diamond Jo provides free live entertainment at their Big Wheel Bar every Friday and Saturday night. If you are looking for some bigger names in music, they also have musicians and comedians scheduled in their event center, throughout the year. A calendar can be obtained on their website.

If you visit Diamond Jo and you would like to stay overnight, they have pretty decent accommodations. The casino is connected to the local Country Inn & Suites. I have previously stayed at this hotel and very much enjoyed my room, as well as the hot tub and pool area. I have also stayed at the Holiday Inn Express across the street, the first couple of days it was open, and the rooms there were very nice as well. Either place provided for some relaxing downtime after a night of fun at the casino.

This casino atmosphere is fairly comfortable. The gaming area is not as big as that of Mystic Lake or Treasure Island Casino, but it is enough to meet my standards. I have enjoyed many evenings checking out the music at the Big Wheel Bar, as well as dining with family and friends. I always have a great time at Diamond Jo.

For more information on this particular casino, or the B Connected Club, please visit: http://www.diamondjoworth.com/

 

Carlos’n Charlie’s At The Flamingo

When in Vegas, there are plenty of dining options to choose from. There is no shortage of buffets, bars, or any other type of food you might have a hankering for. If you have a particular love for Mexican cuisine, and you like the bar scene, Carlos’n Charlie’s might be the place for you.

Carlos’n Charlie’s is similar to Senor Frogs, and they are located in the Flamingo. They have the DJ who plays a lot of fun party music, they hand out free shots here and there and they may even have a silly contest or two. People in this bar tend to get a bit wild and crazy, from my experience.

The food is good. I’ve tried several different items on the menu and all are wonderful. I particularly enjoy there appetizer platter, everything on it is quite tasty. The ribs are also great. You will not be disappointed by portions.

If you look on Groupon, you may find a voucher for food and two hours of unlimited drinking. This can be dangerous because they tend to pour their drinks a little strong. They give you a choice of tap beer or the frozen margaritas.  I like the margaritas because they are served in a glass you can keep and you can choose to mix flavors together.

For more information on Carlos’n Charlie’s, please visit: https://www.caesars.com/flamingo-las-vegas/restaurants/carlos-n-charlies-las-vegas#.WUrzM9yQxhE

Check Out The Silverton

When I visit Las Vegas there are certain things I look for and very much enjoy. One of those things is a tasty buffet. The other is an atmosphere that can entertain me for hours. The Silverton Casino has both of these aspects, and much more.

If you are looking for a great buffet experience, check out the Season’s Buffet at the Silverton. I prefer to go on Sundays for brunch. Sundays the Seasons Buffet does a Bellini Brunch, and it is exquisite. They have five or six different Champagne drinks to choose from, including your typical Mimosa. My favorite is the pomegranate because it comes with strawberries on top.

Beverages aside, this buffet has a lot more to offer. They have some of the best macaroni and cheese I have found, as well as some wonderful pizza. They have a vast variety of foods and they keep their food hot, or at least they did when I visited. They also have a great dessert bar with ice cream, cakes, brownies, cookies, pies, and for those who are looking for it, sugar free, or gluten free items.

If the buffet doesn’t grab you, then perhaps one of the other many restaurants will. I haven’t checked out the other possibilities other than dessert. The Gelato is amazing. They have several flavors to choose from. Three of my travel companions tried it and loved it. If the other food options are as good, then you are in for a real treat.

Outside of the buffet you have a vast variety of slot machines to choose from, both old and new. You can also go visit the Bass Pro Shop entrance to the casino. There you will find waterfalls with ponds of giant coy and a huge fish tank. On certain occasions you may even see a mermaid. This is a great attraction that a lot of people like to stop and view. There are jelly fish in small tanks above the bar near the pro shop entrance. You will find even more fish within a tank inside the actual store.

If you happen to be staying at the Silverton, or you just need to stop and rest for a bit, you will find several differently colored Adirondack chairs around fire pits at the entrance to the casino. This is a new addition in the past year. The Silverton has done a great job cleaning up their exterior and making it more inviting to their hotel guests, as well as those who are just visiting for the day.

I very much urge people to check out the Silverton; as an off Strip casino, it is a lot of fun and it’s one of my favorites.

For more information on the Silverton, please visit: http://silvertoncasino.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=places&utm_campaign=google_places_ms

 

Metro Breakdown

Often when on vacation, my husband and I will decide to do an evening in to relax and order pizza. While in Las Vegas we spent a little time researching the nearby pizza places so as to choose the one that would give us the most satisfaction. We decided to go with Metro Pizza, at Ellis Island Casino.

Now normally I don’t like to complain in my writing, but this was a poor experience. We were told that our pizza would arrive in 45 minutes, it was more like an hour and Ellis Island was literally three or four blocks from where we were staying. We were still nice to the delivery guy and tipped him on top of the delivery charge we had already paid.

I was pretty excited about this pizza because it received better ratings than any of the other pizza places in the area. We ordered Buffalo wings and a large supreme pie. The wings arrived without any dipping sauce, so I would not eat them because I do not like wings without sauce. The pizza was cold, I mean, not warm, cold. The flavor was okay, but I’m sure it would have been better if the food had actually been hot.

I am highly disappointed in this experience because I don’t really see an excuse for cold food. If you have given your delivery person too many things to deliver and they arrive with cold food because of it that is an error on management’s part. I may order from here again in the future, but I haven’t yet decided if it’s worth another try. I would be curious as to whether or not others have experienced this type of service from the Metro Pizza at Ellis Island.

Currently Metro Pizza’s website is conveniently unavailable, but here is Ellis Island’s: http://www.ellisislandcasino.com/

A Trip To The Emerald Island

Sticking to the theme of casinos in Henderson, Nevada, there is one more place my family loves to visit; the Emerald Island Casino. This casino is located in downtown Henderson right next to the Eldorado and the Rainbow. You can easily visit all three of these wonderful establishments in one day.

Much like the Rainbow and the Eldorado, the Emerald Island Casino also has a great restaurant. They run daily specials and the food is excellent. You can get breakfast any time. If you are playing at a slot machine and you find yourself wanting a bite to eat, you can order from their bar menu and they will bring the food directly to you.

This casino is very gracious in their giveaways. There are different times during the week where you can earn one hundred times points, or other point multipliers. They hand out free food on a daily basis. Sometimes they have donuts, other times it might be pizza or ice cream sundaes. If you visit on St. Patrick’s Day, they have a ton of great food all day long. This is the place to be for St. Patty’s Day, if you intend to go to a casino.

One of the nice things about the Emerald Island is that you can easily rack up points and use them in the restaurant. The atmosphere is clean and inviting and I can play here for hours without losing too much money. Their daily promotions and treats make this a fun casino to visit on a regular basis.

For more information on the Emerald Island Casino, please visit: http://www.emeraldislandcasino.com/