Sometimes the holidays provide the perfect time to get away for an overnight or weekend to someplace you have been planning to visit but never quite got around to and it is always more fun when everything is decorated for Christmas!
The Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, North Carolina had been on our radar for years and we were lured by the fact that it was so close (only 2 hours from our home in East Tennessee) and promised an evening of fun in the casino.
The Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, North Carolina had been on our radar for years and we were lured by the fact that it was so close (only 2 hours from our home in East Tennessee) and promised an evening of fun in the casino.
Even though the casino was calling out to me, we did actually spend time checking out the hotel and enjoyed our lovely room as well. We were pleased to find the accommodation very nice and the bed was extremely comfortable. The bathroom was modern and sparkling clean.
The Casino Resort is made up of three towers of rooms with shops on the lobby floors of the towers and connecting corridors featuring local artwork, which lead into the central lobby area. The casino, spa and meeting rooms are accessed via walkways with lovely views, that lead from the lobby.
above photo credit: 1320am.com
I have to admit, I love casinos and I love gambling, so I had a pretty nice time. The casino was large, with lots of slots, a video-card-game bar, and a number of gaming tables. Since Harrah’s Cherokee is a Native American casino, the alcoholic drinks are not free as they are in Las Vegas, so cocktail waitresses circulated throughout, offering drinks for 5$ each.
above photo credit: https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee/casino/table-games#.VnMcGzbSlPY
The resort has a large performance venue with a constant variety of entertainers. You can view the schedule and reserve a ticket online. For those who wish to go out and play in the evening, Essence Lounge, the Harrah’s Cherokee nightspot, presents some of the very best lounge acts and live DJs.
For those who love to shop, the resort also has a variety fun shopping opportunities.
And there are lots of delicious goodies to shop for also!
The Casino Resort also has some really good restaurants and cafes that cater to catching a quick bite such as the Selu Garden Cafe or the Lobby Cafe, UNO Pizza, and Johnny Rockets, which are among the several choices available.
You can also find upscale dining experiences at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Brio Tuscan Grill, or Asian cuisine at the Noodle Bar. We chose to enjoy a delicious Italian lunch at Brio Tuscan Grill. The setting was elegant, the service impeccable and the food very tasty.
**I have to be truthful here…… Jim wanted to try the Chef Station Buffet for dinner, so I graciously gave in and unfortunately it was as unappealing as I expected it to be. The setting is basic diner and the food we tasted was mediocre at best which was surprising considering how nice the other eating venues were.
Hotel amenities include the fitness room that is open 24/7, an indoor pool and a new outdoor pool featuring a zero entry pool, cabanas and bar area. You can also relax enjoy being pampered at the Mandara Spa.
above photo credit: https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee/things-to-do/the-pools#.VnMlozbSlPY
The Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort is not only all about gambling. It is well located for booking Smokey Mountain year-round activities like hiking, whitewater rafting, canoeing, and some of the best trout fishing in America. You can also golf at the Sequoyah National Golf Course. If you are interested in the culture and history of the Cherokee, be sure to visit the Museum of the Cherokee Indian or the Oconaluftee Indian Village.
above photo credit: https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee/things-to-do/local-attractions#.VnM67DbSlPY
The Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort is a fun place to visit, especially if you enjoy gambling, but even if you simply want to relax at the pool and spa, attend a performance or book some of the exciting Smokey Mountain activities it is definitely an interesting destination!
Author’s note: Please be aware that since Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort is a casino property where smoking is allowed, there is a very faint smell of cigarettes throughout the hotel. This bothered me, but would not necessarily prevent me from staying there again.
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