Quiet Rooms Connected to Casino & Greyhound Racing

When gates burst open at Mardi Gras Casino & Resort’s racetrack, a pack of greyhounds springs forth, kicking up dirt with a swift patter of paws. Race spectators can cheer on their hounds of choice from a vantage spot perched along the racetrack, or at the hotel’s First Turn restaurant, where televisions broadcast the races. The betting continues in the 24-hour casino, which encompasses 90,000 square feet of gaming, more than 1,200 slot machines, and a sea of tables featuring blackjack, craps, and roulette. Games of Texas hold'em, Omaha hi-lo, and seven-card stud are always underway in the Big Easy poker room.

An enclosed, elevated walkway connects the casino to the colorful Mardi Gras hotel, where deluxe rooms feature king- or queen-size beds draped in all-white linens and topped with double pillow-top mattresses. Amenities include a high-definition flat-screen television, Keurig coffeemaker, and daily cooked-to-order breakfast.

For a taste of New Orleans, visit the French Quarter restaurant, which serves creole and French-inspired cuisine, such as bourbon salmon ($22) and chicken rochambeau ($21). Drinks flow at the resort and casino's six bars, and 24-hour room service sates late-night cravings.

Greater Charleston, West Virginia: Cultural Capital in Appalachians

The undulating Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia embody the state's abundant natural beauty and colorful past. Charleston, West Virginia's capital and largest city, is tucked away in the mountains, only a 15-minute drive away from Nitro. At the West Virginia State Museum, 26 rooms of exhibits chronicle the mountain state's history, covering eras ranging from prehistory to frontier life and coal mining.

About 15 miles from the hotel, the Kanawha State Forest hums with life—it houses 9,300 acres of flora and fauna, including 19 species of wood warblers. Twenty-five miles of hiking trails and nine mountain-biking trails crisscross dense woodlands, streams, and chipmunk duplexes.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.