Wow I never use this one...actually I hardly ever update anywhere but when I try I'll do it for a few days in a row ;-) sometimes. Soooo, teh hubby, Michael, is in New Orleans again, or at least he's almost there by now. He got there directly after (or as close to directly after as our government can achieve) Hurricane Katrina, worked downtown for a few days (he's a medic in the national guard) then they made their way to a makeshift base in Metarie. He brought a woman back when she lost pulse after receiving an I.V., so I think that makes it all the more worthwhile...anyway he was there for a little over three weeks, got to come home for some R&R for about 10 days, and headed back today via bus. Rumor is they will be working four weeks on, one week off...I don't like it and I'm tired of the Army not knowing their ass from a hole in the ground as far as scheduling and that type stuff goes, but I'd much rather he be there than in Iraq. He is now doing what the National Guard was made to do, can't argue with that.
So when he was home on pass, we took a little mini vaca to Tunica. We stayed and played at both the Grand Casino and Hotel and Sam's Town. The Grand Veranda Hotel is the one we stayed at there, and it has really gone downhill...either that or they just need a whole new janitorial staff! Sam's Town wasn't bad. I really really wanted to stay at the Horseshoe Hotel but there was some stupid Tennessee Energy convention going on, plus all the evacuees, and they didn't have a room available :-( Their beds are so amazingly soft for hotel beds, it's just the best hotel in Tunica in my opinion.
So we went to each and every casino during our 4 day 3 night stay and got player's cards. We both sat down at a new game for us called Pai Gow Poker (site has detailed description of the game, plus a link to play for free, i.e. no downloads required). It is so fun!! The odds are pretty good, plus there's a handy dandy sucker bet that I just love! It was the first card game besides blackjack that I've ever played at a casino. Now at our dining room table growing up, in between my brother's two-a-day football practices at the end of summer, against all the sexy football players crowded into our house because my mom fed them all, that's a different story...I kicked a little jock ass at some acey-deucey, bullshit, etc. *lol*
For anyone within a day's drive of Tunica, I would recommend it for a weekend/long weekend getaway. Several of the hotels have nice spas, there is outlet shopping, and it's only 15 miles from Memphis! Not to mention all the fun fun gambling! I think it's my favorite place right now...except I don't really have all that much to compare it to right now.
It was just really nice for me and Michael to get away for a while and not have to go a'visiting everyone in south Arkansas while he was home. That's not to say we didn't visit everyone when we got home...well almost everyone but we'll get around to that next time he gets some R&R.
2 comments:
Bless your heart, Honey. It's tough having your heart tied to an Army medic, but I guarantee those folks in New Orleans appreciate him. Tell him we all appreciate the sacrifice both of you are making.
Glad you had some R&R time alone. If you ever do have to head back up to Arkansas, it may not be so bad.
Until my husband got transferred to Hot Springs three years ago, I thought Arkansas was mostly your basic Bubbaville.
We were pleasantly surprised by the wealth of hidden gems here in our new home town. For example, as professional cellist who used to live only three hours away, I was shocked to learn of the first-rate Hot Springs Music Festival, an annual event that attracts 200 pre-professional classical and jazz musicians from around the world.
(Note: Although I am a travel writer and public relations professional, I am not paid to promote our city nor any of the properties or events I've listed. These are just our personal favorites!)
Ours is a unique demographic here in Hot Springs, where the median age is 42. A healthy percentage of us have incomes of $100K or more, and we support 12 championship golf courses and 27 non-profit organizations directly related to the visual and performing arts. Having hosted a Historic District Gallery Walk the first Friday of each month for nearly 16 years, Hot Springs was recently named #4 Art Town in America.
There are definitely other great things to do in addition to the Hot Springs Music Festival, held the first two weeks of June each year. Early September brings the annual Bluesfest and Hot Springs Jazzfest.
By late October, the city swells with nearly 20,000 people for the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, one of four preliminary sites for the Academy Awards in the documentary category.
From January through April, hotels and restaurants are booming with racing fans at Oaklawn Jockey Club, a 102-year-old thoroughbred racetrack.
Cradled by the Ouachita Mountains, three pristine lakes lure the likes of FLW Bass Fishing Championships. a breathtaking bounty of botanical beauty known as Garvan Woodland Gardens. is located on a 210-acre peninsula of Lake Hamilton.
Our particularly outstanding accommodations include Lookout Point Lakeside Inn, one of only three Arkansas inns listed on the Select Registry. Many folks enjoy the convenience of Embassy Suites Hot Springs, an all suite hotel adjacent to Summit Arena, was ranked #1 Embassy Suites worldwide for 2004. You'll find adult locals politely congregating in the atrium around the piano bar during happy hour.
Looking for lunch? For eclectic urban cuisine, check out the award-winning Cafe 1217, recently featured as one of the best deli's in the country on The Food Network!
Best of all, Hot Springs is packed with people who understand hospitality. Sure, we have attractions. But without the people who live here, we'd be a ghost town instead of a resort town.
Local people. Local events. Hot Springs' REAL attraction.
Come see us!
Rebecca McCormick, Executive Editor
Hot Springs Life & Home magazine
ha, yeah I know all about Hot Springs. I was born there, one of my best friends was married there, my mom grew up there, I love the races...And we do live in Arkansas.
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