Category Archives: Beat the Heat

Choctaw Casino in Durant

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Are you looking for a Las Vegas style getaway?  How about Choctaw Casino in Durant, Oklahoma? Located off US Highway 75 just beyond the Texas state border, Choctaw Casino Resort is hard to miss. In fact, it’s the only tall building in the area!

Choctaw Casino. The sights, smells and sounds of the casino can be overwhelming. Enter the main foyer and a white buffalo statue grabs your attention. The bison is the North Texas Ramblings Choctaw Casinocenter attraction in the casino’s 22-foot high water wall and fountain.

And then there is the smell. Smoking is allowed on the casino floor. A powerful ventilation system helps, but if cigarette smoke really bothers you, Choctaw Casino is not your place.

And what about those ringing bells? The casino floor itself is a maze of slot machines all ringing and whirling with light and sound. Talk about sensory overload! According to Choctaw’s website, the casino boasts having 3,500 slot machines and over 200,000 square feet of gaming space. That is almost twice the gaming space of the Bellagio in Las Vegas!

Neophytes. As a novice, I found Choctaw Casino challenging. One cent slots really aren’t a penny a play, and what’s up with progressive slots with a bingo line? You do have a choice of slots or table games like black jack, baccarat, poker, and Pai Gow. With a minimum bet at the black jack tables of $10, table prices discourage the timid.

While there may be no winning strategy for slot machines, they are certainly easier for the beginner. With options like 25 cent Poker slots, you can easily gamble for a couple of hours and only loss a few dollars.

Tip: If you aren’t a professional gambler, visit Choctaw Casino with a set limit on how much you are willing to lose. And to stick to that limit!

Players Club. Like most casinos, Choctaw Casino offers the opportunity to join their players club. Consider the casino players club even if you only intend to visit once. Why? At the time I joined, I received ten dollars free play, and discounts on the buffet and my hotel room. But, if you value your privacy and don’t want to end up on another email list, take a pass.

More than a Casino. Bring your swimsuit and enjoy the outdoor water park. Or if you just want to relax after a long night at the tables, the resort has a full service spa. The Choctaw Event Center serves as venue for the once-great bands on the casino circuit. Tickets to see headliner bands from the 1980s and 1990s are priced from $40 to $90.

Choctaw Casino Resort is located at 3735 Choctaw Road in Durant, Okla. Contact the resort at 580-931-8340 or visit their online site at choctawcasinos.com .

The Kimbell and Dallas Museum of Art

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Beat the summer heat with an outing to one of the area’s free art museums — the Kimbell in Fort Worth and Dallas Museum of Art in Dallas.

Kimbell Art Museum

The Kimbell is now better than ever. The Renzo Piano Pavilion, added in November 2013, allows the museum to organize and more fully display its permanent collection. If European art is your thing, then you’ll enjoy wandering the Louis Kahn building (the main building). The museum’s eclectic collection contains a smattering of works from European artists from Bernini (terra cotta angels) to Rembrandt (Bust of a Young Jew). And its European collection includes Impressionist masters like Sisley, Monet, and Manet.

North Texas Ramblings Kimbell Art Museum in Fort WorthThe Kimbell gives guided tours of its permanent collection Wednesdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Visiting families can obtain an audio guide tailored to children ages 7 – 12.

The museums Buffet Restaurant is a great place for lunch. It uniquely offers a selection of soups, salads, quiche and dessert — the unique part — the cost is based on the plate size. Small plates are $9.50 and large are $12.

Details: The Kimbell is at 3333 Camp Bowie Blouvard, Fort Worth. The museum is closed Mondays. Onsite parking is free.

Dallas Museum of Art (DMA)

The DMA houses an extensive collection of over 24,000 pieces of art. In the heart of the Dallas Arts District, the innovative museum offers visitors an eclectic art experience far beyond just gazing at masterpieces. The innovative Center for Creative Connections (C3) lets you experience art from different perspectives. And it’s in the C3 gallery that you can make and take home your own piece of art. DMA supplies the materials; you the creativity.

Embracing technology, DMA has several self-guided tours accessible via your smart phone and the DMA mobi site. If you don’t have a smart phone, you can borrow an iPod Touch from guest services to take the web-enabled tour.

Details: DMA is located at 1717 North Harwood in Dallas. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on Thursdays (open until 9 p.m.). On the third Friday of each month, the museum offers special programming until midnight. Onsite parking is available for $10.