A question for my readers:
If, hypothetically, I wanted to meet up with Cardgrrl for a few days over the year-end holidays somewhere other than Vegas, Atlantic City, or Washington, D.C., where might we go? Requirements are that it have poker reliably available most of the time, but also have enough other interesting things to do in the vicinity to keep us entertained. Also, it needs to be a Harrah's property, which is perhaps the most limiting criterion. The most obvious choices are New Orleans, Biloxi, and Tunica. But there are less-famous possibilities in places such as Council Bluffs, Joliet, Kansas City, Phoenix, and Hammond.
Recommendations welcome via comments.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Where to go?
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27 comments:
hammond has a sick , I mean diseased, poker room. tons of action, busy all the time, and only 15 mins from downtown chicago....
New Orleans without a doubt. I'm not a fan of their timed rake at Harrah's, but there's so much great food, music and sights to see, it's hard to pass up. I recommend the W Hotel there as it is right across the street from Harrah's and close to everything.
I'd vote New Orleans. I think the 2 of you would have a terrific time exploring the city. There is lots of fodder for interesting photography, and the casino's poker action is fairly juicy, with more than just hold'em if you get bored. Based on my experience i that room, you could likely pay for your trip unless the cards really turn against you.
Plus, the food options will make your head spin.
Chicago/Hammond. Plenty to do for a "meet up". Stroll the Mag Mile, great places to eat, museums, 20 minutes to Hammond with shuttle buses available.
I recently stayed in Tunica with the family during a cross country trip. The poker room probably had about 8 tables. I overheard one guy who had stepped away from the table towards where I was watching indicate that it was a great place to earn money from the tourists. The place is pretty remote though. Not that many eating options unless you're a buffet type.
As far as getaways, Memphis is only 30 minutes away.
- I'm no Elvis fan, but Graceland is worth the trip. Really interesting.
- The Civil Rights Museum was also interesting although they have a really odd/strict no photography policy.
- The kids were tired so we didn't stop on Beale street but it looked like a great place for a couple of adults to get some BBQ and a beer.
Nawlins is always fun, but the new rooms in the Philly area are offering some juicy action. Parx has good ring action and Delaware Park is very nice and a short drive wit both regular tourneys and a wider variety of ring games. Harrah's Chester is poorly run, but good action if you can put up with the crap (see the 2+2 fora for details).
I would be inclined to suggest you stay away from cold weather, but thats just my personal preference.
I liked Tunica as a quiet little spot away from everything. But there isn't much to do outside of the casinos. Memphis is 40 minutes away or so, but Memphis was the filthiest most disgusting city I have ever been in, and I remember NY's Times Square before the clean-up.
I would be suggest Biloxi and/or New Orleans though i have never been to either. You could easily check out both locales in one trip.
I would pick New Orleans as well. Awesome food, sites, ambiance and decent weather unless you happen to be there during the nastiest winter ever on record (I might be exaggerating but I lived there during a storm that left inches of ice everywhere).
Phoenix has awesome weather but I prefer to go there during the summer. Additionally, traffic sucks and everything is so spread out.
Hammand is a few minutes away from downtown Chicago but the weather can be brutal. We did a Palooza there in January a few years ago and it was -3 for a low and below 20 for the high.
I'm sure you two will have a great time where ever you go.
New Orleans AINEC. You may be something of a social nit, but you won't find food and entertainment choices like those in Nawlins in any of Harrah's other locations.
Wrong time of year for Chicago, I say Nawlins.
There's always St. Louis! They have a Harrah's and another casino nearby, though not within walking distance. Bonus: I'll be in STL for a week at Xmas to visit my family. :)
But if I take my bias out of the equation, I'd say New Orleans would be fun for you two.
I would strongly recommend New Orleans. The poker room is comfortable and has a lot of visitors and the city is fantastic! Do a city tour which is highly enjoyable. Also, the food is a great attraction and you can eat very well quite reasonably.
Chicago/Hammond without a doubt. Now weather is a concern, as I would much rather go to Chicago in the summer than the winter.
If weather is a factor hit New Orleans and save Chicago for mid June.
Hammond has a large, popular and reasonably well run poker room with about 30 tables but the obvious attraction is Chicago which Hammond borders. There are free shuttle buses from various spots in Chicago and good shopping, excellent eateries, endless theater, innovative pubs and many other things. It is however quite cold during late December.
One potential limiting factor is that the Hammond property does not have a Hotel although I have heard gossip that they have some deals with nearby places but you might not be able to sue comp money for your accommodations.
Cincinnati is an option. Plenty of old world German attractions, plus the city has been undergoing a lot of renovation lately. Hollywood Casino is less than 30 minutes away, and the poker room is always jumping.
That really depends on your interests. For example, I love skiing so Lake Tahoe/Reno area might be a consideration, but I would decide against it if you're not nature freaks and like those things like snowshoeing hikes, skiing and similar.
Another option is San Diego area, but the drive can be quite long to Rincon (the Harrah's property) as it is in the middle of nowhere, but San Diego itself is great.
And of course, if you have to do one of the options you suggested, well, then go for New Orleans.
Rakewell: I'm kinda with Bellatrix. Why not my neighborhood, the LA/OC area? More than enough for you and Cardgrrl to do, and you could check out some of our 'card clubs' and indian casinos (such as my faves Hawaiian Gardens and Pechanga), plus take one full day out to drive to Harrah's Rincon in SD county. Plus given you're already in LV, I assume the trip wouldn't be as hard on you mileage-wise.
South Lake Tahoe. Period. End of discussion.
Harrah's Rincon in San Diego? I live in San Diego because I think it is, truly, "America's Finest City." But I am only a casual poker player, so I can't comment much on the Rincon possibilities. But for non poker content, SD is a wonderful city.
Tunica....liberal comps loose games plus Memphis is close with Beale street
Harrah's Rincon, near San Diego. Can't go wrong with Southern California.
Harrah's Rincon is a nice casino, but their poker room is subpar at best. Other casinos in the area have far superior rooms (see Pechanga, for instance). On the other hand, if the idea is to use Harrah's comps for rooms, but not necessarily to play poker in the property, then Rincon might do very nicely: the weather should be fabulous, and while you are fairly removed from the urban bustle, you're only a 90 minute drive from either San Diego (a quite lovely city in its own right, plus some good poker action in its poker rooms) or the outskirts of LA. Plus, you're only a 30 minute drive from Pechanga and some great poker action.
For "winter fun" activities (e.g. skiing and snowboarding), you're not going to beat Reno/Tahoe, a mere hop and skip from your current abode. I don't know much about the poker action there, but there are a number of poker rooms in the casinos.
Come to London ! I'll be your personal guide :-)
I would definitely advise against Tunica. It is in the middle of no where and the poker is mediocre at best.
If you are at all interested in a good holiday experience I would say Chicago/Hammond. Chicago is fantastic during the holidays if you can deal with the cold. Seeing as how you're not living there and only visiting, I would say go for it.
New Orleans would be the best choice if you're snow averse. NOLA is a fun town and the food is outstanding. Poker room is well run and always busy. I'd be happy to send you some "Things to do" recommendations if you decide to go.
Reno/ Lake Tahoe.
Just got back from N'Awlins and it was a blast. Didn't play poker there, but, as others have pointed out, there's so much to do and awesome food to eat in that great city. Please they're grateful for the tourism dollars as they're still hurting from the Katrina debacle..
I vote New Orleans or Tahoe. I spent a few days in Tunica when I did the cross-country drive, and the casinos are literally in the middle of nowhere. The immediate surrounding area is rather depressing, and although the drive to Memphis doesn't take that long, it's not at all scenic.
Both New Orleans and Tahoe (Reno) are in the Southwest Airlines network, so that should be suitable given both of your departing cities.
I haven't been to New Orleans, but I've been meaning to make the trip. Poker + food + music = plenty of ways to stave off boredom (not that spending time with Cardgrrl would approach boredom). My brother lives in Reno, so I've been to Tahoe several times. Breathtaking. You'd have to factor in a rental car for Tahoe, as it's not that easy to get from place to place.
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