Adventure in your own backyard
Southern California’s casinos are a perfect starting point for fall fun
Why drive all the way to Vegas when you can get a 24-carat casino experience just a county away? As a bonus, So Cal’s numerous casino resorts are the perfect home base for all the outdoor fun the region has to offer. More than a dozen gaming resorts in the Palm Springs area and Inland Empire offer the same bells and whistles as the Strip — posh gaming rooms, great restaurants, showroom entertainment, shop till you drop retail and various recreation options — at drives of no more than two hours from most points in the Southland.
San Manuel Casino in Highland is a star in the Southern California casino scene. They have the typical slots and VIP rooms for the high rollers in the building, but it’s no one-trick pony. Dining options run the gamut from the fine dining of The Pines Steakhouse to casual eats at George Lopez’s Chingon Kitchen. The music scene is even more of a smorgasbord — salsa, country, rockabilly and DJs. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, who own and operate the casino, also sponsor of San Manuel Stadium in downtown San Bernardino, home to the Inland Empire 66ers of minor league baseball.
Morongo Casino in Cabazon blends gaming, headliner concerts and almost endless shopping right next door at Desert Hills Premium Outlets, where more than 180 designer stores feature the biggest names in global fashion at great prices. You can also get your picture snapped with the humongous and famous Cabazon dinosaurs or roll for a perfect 300 at Canyon Lanes at Morongo.
One of the region’s most diverse casino resorts, Agua Caliente in Rancho Mirage boasts its own golf course, showcases A-list comedians and soothes aching muscles at the Sunstone Spa, where treatments like the Desert Turquoise Sage Salt Scrub and Prickly Pear Hydration Wrap utilize the age-old traditions of the valley’s Native American people. In addition to its various gaming options,
Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella is renowned for its top-notch Latino acts (Paul Rodriguez, Mariachi Vargas and Espinoza Paz coming up this fall) and tribute bands (Bee Gees, The Beatles and Abba).
But what really makes the desert and valley casinos so cool is their proximity to all the other things you can do in the area. They’re ideal jumping-off spots for exploring the Southland deserts and mountains. Rock climbing, mountain biking and desert hikes await in Joshua Tree National Park — legendary not just for pristine nature but also because of its eminent role in the history of rock music (no, the famous U2 album cover wasn’t shot at Joshua Tree, but yes, the cover of the Eagles first album most definitely was).
Speaking of music, Coachella is more than just a weekend festival — it’s a whole valley full of year-round outdoor activities. Tee off at more than a hundred golf courses. Shout “game, set, match” at some of the world’s most renowned tennis courts. Go dune bashing on quad bikes. Cycle down the middle of the San Andreas Fault. Fish the mystical Salton Sea. Ride the famous Palm Springs Aerial Tram to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto and take in spectacular views over the entire Coachella Valley. Or simply laze around your casino-resort swimming pool.
The indoor scene is just as active. El Paseo in Palm Desert is one of the nation’s chicest shopping streets. The sculptures of Henry Moore, the incredible glass art of Dale Chihuly and Wild West works by Frederic Remington are just a few of the treasures at the highly regarded Palm Springs Art Museum, which is also home base for the annual Palm Springs Film Festival.
In the same vein as Las Vegas, the California desert casinos are well placed to entertain the whole family. If you’ve brought the kids along for the weekend, consider a trip to the Living Desert (one of America’s best small zoos) or Wet’n’Wild Palm Springs, with its giant water slides, wave pool and lazy river — before heading off to the buffet or showroom that evening.
Casino resorts in the San Bernardino/ Riverside area offer an entirely different take on the great outdoors — perfectly poised for a day at Arrowhead, Big Bear or Idyllwild. San Manuel Casino is just a 40-minute drive from Arrowhead and Morongo no more than a 50-minute cruise up to Idyllwild.
During the warmer months that means boating, swimming, fishing and hikes along the lakes, through the surrounding forest or the summit of the highest mountains in Southern California. During the winter we’re talking snow sports, snowmen and snowball fights.