Insider's Guide to Horseshoe Tunica

Located less than an hour outside Memphis, Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino draws visitors from throughout Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi searching for a weekend casino getaway. With thousands of slots, a dedicated poker room, and player-friendly table games including blackjack, craps, and routlette, Horseshoe Tunica is a worthy destination for both serious and casual gamers.

But a visit here isn't just about testing your luck at the casino—there's plenty of other things to do, from evening entertainment to fine dining to a world-class spa. Follow this itinerary to get the most out of your trip to Tunica (and click here to snag our Horseshoe Tunica Hotel deal):

Friday Night: Hit the Slots & Catch a Show

After checking in: You're probably here to do a little gaming, so after freshening up in your room (we recommend a 15th-floor Skyline Suite), go hit the casino floor and check out the Slots. Horseshoe Tunica boasts more than 1,100 games, ranging from video poker to Triple Cash to Monopoly!-themed slots. But it signature game is "Who Wants to Be a Binionaire?", a game with a progressive jackpot that could land you up to $150,000.

For dinner: The Horseshoe Tunica Buffet (aka the Village Square Buffet) is a guest favorite, offering five different stations representing different cuisines. Want to nosh on Italian, Chinese, and American comfort food, all at the same time? Go here.

Late night: Tunica sits in the middle of the Mississippi Delta, where American blues music was invented, so it's altogether fitting the hotel hosts the Bluesville Showcase Nightclub. Check the box office for tickets at the club, which also features pop, rock, and country music. Upcoming shows include Trace Adkins (Oct. 21), Willie Nelson (Nov. 17), Herbie Hancock (Oct. 14), and Gladys Knight (Dec. 15). If there isn't a show to your liking scheduled, catch the nightly entertainment at Legends, an onsite bar.

Saturday: Steak & Spa Time

During the day: Start with breakfast at JB's Cafe, the hotel's newest restaurant, and dig into its southern-influenced menu, with dishes ranging from shrimp n' grits to country-fried pork chops.

Then, take it easy, recharge, and find a little serenity at The Spa at Horseshoe, which invites visitors to listen "to the voice that guides you to peace and harmony." Guests can sweat off any stress in the sauna, pamper their nails with a mani-pedi, or unwind with a hot-stone massage. Best yet, the spa weaves southern charm into several of its treatments—try the Gardenia Woods Signature mani-pedi, which incorporates chamomile and sandalwood, or the aromatic Elemis Hot Mineral Body Boost, which relies on a relaxing amber and quartz crystal bed.

For dinner: Indulge in a Angus-beef filets or a 24-ounce Rib Eye at Jack Binion's Steak, the hotel's premiere upscale restaurant. Steaks are the norm here, but it's also known for its "seafood tower," a customizeable dish built on a foundation of crabmeat, shrimp, lobster tail, oysters, and more. Pair your meal with a barrel-fresh wine from Jack's exceptionally long wine list, with more than 150 different options.

Late night: Check out the Horseshoe Tunica Poker Room, where you can play Texas Hold 'Em while enjoying complimentary tableside drink service. If poker is your game, try to win $10,000 at the weekly tournament, running every Saturday.

Sunday: Day Trip to Memphis

During the day: Take a day trip to Memphis, Tennessee (known as the "Birthplace of Rock n' Roll"), to pay your respects to the King of Rock at Graceland, one of the holiest of musical sites. Elvis Presley's estate offers tours of his beloved mansion, the second-most-visited home in the United States (behind only the White House). You'll see Elvis's vintage car collection, his Meditation Garden, and his tiki-inspired Jungle Room studio. While you're in town, drop by historic brick-layered Beale Street, famous for its timeless blues clubs and saloons crowned with neon-lit signs.

For dinner: After heading back to Tunica, enjoy dinner at one of two restaurants: the laid-back 24-hour Burger Bar, or the Lucky 8 Asian Bistro, a snazzy eatery specializing in roast duck, Vietnamese pho, and other Asian classics. Consider ending your weekend with a top-shelf drink at the Founders Club, located on the second floor of the Bluesville Showcase.