It’s a Gaming Nation at Pechanga,

Written by Josh Edelson


It’s a Gaming Nation at Pechana, Temecula, California

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Leave your misconceptions of tee-pees and feathered hats at home becauserepparttar only place you'll see those items are on display in a shop. As a true oasis inrepparttar 133672 middle of nowhere, Pechanga Hotel and Casino offers more than just a weekend getaway. It's hidden amongrepparttar 133673 endless hills of dry brush in a rural town byrepparttar 133674 name of Temecula, in southern California, known for its vineyards. (Click photos to book The Pechanga Hotel and Casino.)

Upon enteringrepparttar 133675 hotel, I passed by copper-colored statues ofrepparttar 133676 Pechanga band of LuiseñBook The Pechanga Resorto Indians. The characters portrayed are participating in rituals common in their culture. One ofrepparttar 133677 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 forrepparttar 133678 clinking ofrepparttar 133679 many slot machines. The automatic doors opened and immediately I was sucked intorepparttar 133680 exciting world of entertainment. On my right wasrepparttar 133681 entrance torepparttar 133682 Pechanga's 90,000 square foot casino, but deciding to save money I went torepparttar 133683 front desk to check in.

I learned thatrepparttar 133684 14-floor hotel boasts 522 spacious rooms. I was fortunate enough to be housed in a one-bedroom suite onrepparttar 133685 12th floor, one level belowrepparttar 133686 rooftop lounge. After inserting my magnetic keycard, I enteredrepparttar 133687 room, surprised to findrepparttar 133688 suite seemed more like a luxurious apartment in uptown New York.

Immediately on my right wasrepparttar 133689 wet bar and kitchen area. I noticed a refrigerator nearrepparttar 133690 wet bar, packed with all sorts of goodies; from Snickers candy bars, to soda and beer, this thing was stocked. There also was a snack tray placed aboverepparttar 133691 refrigerator filled with even more snacks. Of course there is a charge for each ofrepparttar 133692 items, but being curious I decided to take out one ofrepparttar 133693 beers.

Wine Around The Bend – Burgundy Barge Bliss

Written by Carolyn Proctor


Wine Around The Bend – Burgundy Barge Bliss

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Reflected sunlight fromrepparttar water outside dances onrepparttar 133671 chestnut ceiling of my cabinrepparttar 133672 first morning I awaken aboardrepparttar 133673 luxury barge La Belle Époque. I get up to look outrepparttar 133674 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 closerepparttar 133675 window.

After a shower inrepparttar 133676 tiled bathroom and rub-down with a thick nautical blue towel, I head upstairs. On an antique oak sideboard inrepparttar 133677 main salon hostesses Fanny and Barbara have laid out a breakfast of granolas, yogurt, and fresh fruit. While I was still gazing atrepparttar 133678 ceiling of my cabin, Captain Lee had been inrepparttar 133679 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 alongrepparttar 133680 canal paths.

It's a fine fall day in France, still summer inrepparttar 133681 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 Parisrepparttar 133682 previous day in front ofrepparttar 133683 Hotel Ampère. A two-hour journey by minivan through rolling French countryside had brought us torepparttar 133684 medieval town of Auxerre, where La Belle Époque and her crew awaited. We enjoyed a champagne welcome accompanied by freshly-baked popovers. After meetingrepparttar 133685 crew and getting settled into our cabins, we exploredrepparttar 133686 cobblestone streets and fashionable shops of Auxerre.

Atrepparttar 133687 junction ofrepparttar 133688 Canal du Nivernais andrepparttar 133689 River Yonne, Auxerre was a pivotal town onrepparttar 133690 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.

Our first dinner aboard La Belle Époque introducedrepparttar 133691 talents of chef Guy. "Scallops Mating with Snails", followed by a charolet filet with red pepper purée and potatoes gratinée au dauphin. Dessert was shortbread with raspberry coulis. A white St. Veran and a red Aloce Coton (wines ofrepparttar 133692 Burgundy area) accompaniedrepparttar 133693 meal, and we discovered there is no limit torepparttar 133694 number of bottles we may consume.

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