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Leave your misconceptions of tee-pees and feathered hats at home because only place you'll see those items are on display in a shop. As a true oasis in middle of nowhere, Pechanga Hotel and Casino offers more than just a weekend getaway. It's hidden among endless hills of dry brush in a rural town by name of Temecula, in southern California, known for its vineyards. (Click photos to book The Pechanga Hotel and Casino.)

Upon entering hotel, I passed by copper-colored statues of Pechanga band of LuiseñBook The Pechanga Resorto Indians. The characters portrayed are participating in rituals common in their culture. One of statues is caught frozen in time; he's artistically drawing some sort of tribal message on a rock near a waterfall.

Continuing inward, I walked along a covered illusionary bridge surrounded by flowing water. The pleasant trickle prepared my ears for clinking of many slot machines. The automatic doors opened and immediately I was sucked into exciting world of entertainment. On my right was entrance to Pechanga's 90,000 square foot casino, but deciding to save money I went to front desk to check in.

I learned that 14-floor hotel boasts 522 spacious rooms. I was fortunate enough to be housed in a one-bedroom suite on 12th floor, one level below rooftop lounge. After inserting my magnetic keycard, I entered room, surprised to find suite seemed more like a luxurious apartment in uptown New York.

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Reflected sunlight from water outside dances on chestnut ceiling of my cabin first morning I awaken aboard luxury barge La Belle Époque. I get up to look out open porthole window and am greeted with a friendly squawk. A large white swan approaches expectantly, followed by several mallard ducks. We are eye level with each other. Having no bread to offer, I quickly close window.

After a shower in tiled bathroom and rub-down with a thick nautical blue towel, I head upstairs. On an antique oak sideboard in main salon hostesses Fanny and Barbara have laid out a breakfast of granolas, yogurt, and fresh fruit. While I was still gazing at ceiling of my cabin, Captain Lee had been in village of Auxerre buying fresh baguettes, croissants and pain chocolate.

La Belle Époque is one of several luxury canal barges operated in France by European Waterways. Once a working canal barge, it has been redesigned with both elegance and passenger comfort in mind. The salon is hunter green, rose and mahogany, with comfortable banquettes and vases of fresh flowers. There are a sun-deck, Jacuzzi spa, sauna, fitness studio, and bicycles for guests to ride along canal paths.

It's a fine fall day in France, still summer in afternoons, with nights that offer a crisp reminder of winter to come. This state-of-the-art hotel barge carries just twelve passengers, with six crew members to take care of every possible passenger need.

Nick, our guide, had picked us up in Paris previous day in front of Hotel Ampère. A two-hour journey by minivan through rolling French countryside had brought us to medieval town of Auxerre, where La Belle Époque and her crew awaited. We enjoyed a champagne welcome accompanied by freshly-baked popovers. After meeting crew and getting settled into our cabins, we explored cobblestone streets and fashionable shops of Auxerre.

At junction of Canal du Nivernais and River Yonne, Auxerre was a pivotal town on ancient north-south road through France. It was a big market town for lumber and wine as well as an important spiritual center. Surrounded by timber-framed buildings are a 15th century tower with a large decorative 17th century clock.