Travel Tips & Adventures

We’re coming down to the last two Wacky Casino Wednesday’s featuring casinos with hotels here in Arizona.

This week we’re featuring the only casino/hotel in southern Arizona.

DESERT DIAMOND CASINO & HOTEL

From a tent containing a bingo hall established in1984 to a $120 million hotel- casino, the Tohono O’odham nation completed its newest casino project in 2007 including its first hotel.

The quite new Desert Diamond Casino

Located adjacent to the Tucson International Airport, Desert Diamond Casino & Hotel is owned and operated by the Tohono O’odham Nation, the second largest tribal area in Arizona.  Another Desert Diamond Casino without a hotel property is located I-19 & Pima Mine Rd., approximately 10 miles south.

The 323,000-square-foot casino-hotel is located at 7350 S. Nogales Highway.  A 149 room hotel is connected to the 165,000 sq. ft. casino by an 8,000 sq. ft. conference center.

GAMBLING

The casino complex boasts over 1000 slot machines

• 500 Seat Bingo Hall
• 35 Seat Keno Room
• Separate non-smoking slot machine room
• Separate non-smoking poker and table game room

** Note: Smoke Alert!!!  After visiting several casinos over the last few weeks, all which allow smoking on the gaming floor, my opinion is that The Desert Diamond Casino ventilation system is not as adequate as the previous properties we have reviewed.

ENTERTAINMENT

Monsoon Night Club

Hours: Friday & Saturday 8:00PM

DINING

The Steakhouse

Cost: Prime Rib/Steaks: $16.95-$29.95

Hours: 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. 7 Days a Week

The Buffet
Cost: Lunch $9.99, Dinner $12.99

Monday Seafood Buffet $16.95

Sunday  Brunch $14.95

Lunch: $8.85
Dinner: $10.85

Food Court

Diamond Grill / Diamond Wok

Cost: Grill – Average Entrees 4.95   Wok – Average Entrees $5.95-7.95

Hours: 24 Hours

HOTEL

As an added benefit to your wallet, there is no lodging tax – a savings of 12.5% per room.

Desert Diamond Hotel with a Vegas kind of look

Facilities

Heated outdoor pool

Exercise facilities

Near the pool

Rooms

King and double rooms are available along with Executive Suites and Luxury VIP suites with one or two bedrooms.

Rooms include:

• Contemporary decor
• 32″ flat panel television (42” flat panels in suites)
• Large work desk
• Complimentary wireless internet access
• Refrigerator

www.desertdiamondcasino.com

When you are traveling – well, you gotta eat!  Where you’d like to eat is obviously determined by diet, preferences, and budget.

Scottsdale has every imaginable food opportunity in both chain and unique restaurants.  Today, we’ll feature two unique restaurants catering to two different culinary inspirations. (more…)

My first stay in Arizona was at the Camelback Inn when I attended a conference.  Let us say that I was not disappointed with my accommodations. Today’s blog will talk about the Camelback as well as an old timer that has been renovated, the Valley Ho. (more…)

We’re back with Wacky Casino Wednesday!  That’s Wacky Wednesday’s featuring casinos with hotels here in Arizona.

This week we’re featuring another casino that’s been around for a while with a hotel property that has a familiar name.

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Ft. McDowell's Indian commemorating when they asserted their sovereign nation status

Unfortunately for the state, five casinos were already in operation around the state so in a desperate move, the Governor asked the FBI to raid the establishments, including Fort McDowell.

When the FBI loaded up 349 slot machines into trucks they found that they were not going to get too far.  Yavapai members blocked the casino access road with all types of vehicles and stood their ground for three weeks.  The governor finally (and surely reluctantly) signed a compact with the Yavapai.  This in essence created the legalization of Indian gaming in Arizona.

If you want to celebrate with them, May 12^th is a tribal holiday!

GAMBLING

With a 150,000 sq. ft. gaming floor, there are 866 machines, 55 table and poker games, keno, poker, and bingo.

ENTERTAINMENT

Lucky 7 Saloon

Friday & Saturday: 9:00pm-1:00am

Sunday: 4:00pm-8:00pm

Outdoor Concerts

Throughout the summer outdoor concerts are presented with nationally known entertainers

FOOD

Fort McDowell Casino Dining

Cottonwood Café: Open Daily – Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Featuring: Asian, Italian, Mexican, Prime Ribs, Sandwiches

Redrock Buffet: Open Daily – Friday-Sunday Buffet with “All you can eat” Crab Legs $14.50

New York New York Deli: Sandwiches / Pizza $5.00 – $12.95

Noodles Sushiya: Sushi Bar in the non-smoking area of the casino $2.95-$7.95

Outside The Casino

Ah-Ha-Qwah-Ja Pool Bar and Café: Beverage & light entrees.
We-Ko-Pa Grill (We-Ko-Pa Golf Clubhouse):  Open daily serving breakfast & lunch.

HOTEL

Radisson Hotel at Fort McDowell Casino

In December 2005, Radisson opened its property next to the casino.  It’s interesting that although it is next to the casino, the Radisson is not physically connected to it or to the conference center that forms a buffer between the two buildings.  Fortunately, the southwestern desert climate makes inclement weather a rarity so even on a brisk winter evening the walk is invigorating.

- 248 rooms (4-star resort)

- Sleep Number Beds available

- $10 in casino play with free Fort McDowell Fortune Club membership

- Amethyst Spa

- Ahnala Mesquite Room restaurant

- Wassaja Conference Center (25,000 sq. ft.

- Heated outdoor pool/Jacuzzi

- We-Ko-Pa Golf Club (two, 18-hole courses)

http://www.radissonfortmcdowellresort.com

http://www.fortmcdowellcasino.com

http://fortmcdowelldestination.com

Tomorrow – We’ll take a quick look at what will soon be the newest, and largest, Resort Casino to open in Arizona.

We’re back with things to do at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino – besides gaming.

If you’ve exhausted your roll of pennies, nickels and quarters and are tired of standing in line at the ATM for more money, there are other distractions within and outside of the casino that are part of the Gila River Indian Community. (more…)

One of the best things about Portland, Oregon is just getting around!  Especially if you are in the downtown zone  – “Fareless Square,” where you ride for free, Portland is one of the most accessible cities in which we’ve traveled. (more…)

Bend has an interesting shopping area that was salvaged from a real old mill, a lumber mill.  

Called the Old Mill District, it has become the center for some upscale shopping, restaurants and  events.  

In an effort to be evocative, the old smokestacks are still there and there is a sign that says, “Can you smell the sawdust?”

Old Mill District

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On first glance, Eugene, Oregon would not appear to be a vacation destination. It is home to the University of Oregon and is located in the Willamette Valley.

Downtown Eugene from Skinner Butte

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Besides our visit to the Sea Lion Caves (see the September 15 blog), we stopped for lunch and a little sightseeing in Florence, Oregon. On the coast just a few miles south of the Sea Lion Caves, Florence just happened to have a Mo’s Restaurant, a regional chain with a waterside restaurant. We were hungry and headed to Mo’s.

Eating at Mo’s

There are branches of the chain in many towns and the advertising, including giant billboards, really pays off. The restaurant was extremely busy. We waited briefly and were seated way near the back. The wait staff moves briskly and so do the prep people, who were industriously sprinkling toppings on some entrees when I passed by.

"Greeter" at Mo's

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