California
East County San Diego – There’s a lot going on at Viejas Casino. On a recent visit I started the day by sitting in on an Omaha tournament. I managed to finish third. The poker room is well run with a friendly and helpful staff. Additionally, they serve complimentary soft drinks and coffee and feature highly discounted meals. For gaming fans there are lots of slots, table games and off-track betting. After the tournament, I had a great lunch at The Grove Steakhouse (don’t miss the crab bisque). It’s a rustic-clubby feeling and its menu features aged prime meat and fresh seafood. Note: there are five additional restaurants at Viejas. I wandered over to the outlet shops and got a super deal on a fleece jacket. If you are an ice-skater, you will enjoy the largest skating rink in Southern California at Viejas. There’s also a bowling alley. Viejas’ new hotel is well underway and its grand opening is scheduled for this spring. Look at the website, www.viejas.com, for the never-ending array of promotions, including specials for the military. While online or in person, join their free V Club to earn points towards discounts and benefits.
San Diego – Restaurant Week is back, January 8 – 13. Over 180 restaurants offer set menus for lunch and dinner. This year, I’m heading to The Shores Restaurant ($15 for lunch), Deborah Scott’s newest hot spot, Vintana, for lunch ($20), 100 Wines for dinner ($30) and Nine-Ten for dinner ($40). The list of participants, prices and menus can be found at www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com.
Nevada
downtown is the fabulous Mob Museum, located in the historic U.S. Post Office and Federal Courthouse; a must-see attraction. There are three floors featuring fascinating law enforcement and mob history with high-tech theater presentations, iconic one-of-a-kind artifacts and interactive exhibits; plan on spending at least three hours. For further information about the area, logon to www.plazahotelcasino.com, www.elcortezhotelcasino.com, and www.themobmuseum.org.
Hope you enjoy the new coverage. Happy new year, safe travels and enjoy the journey…
Howard Hian
Our guest post and monthly column comes from Howard Hian who was recently awarded a Gold Medal/First Place Award from the North American Travel Journalists Association’s annual international writing contest.