Are you feeling lucky? Then you’re in the right place. Casinos in Southern California, Arizona, and Las Vegas are filled with hot slots and glitzy games, and their luxurious suites, golf courses, nightclubs, pools, and spas really raise the ante. Plus, live entertainment is back on the table, so get ready to buy in and plan that vacation or staycation. Here are a few of our best bets.
Harrah’s Resort
STAY CLASSY
San Diego County isn’t exactly known as a gambling destination, but local casinos are looking to change that. In recent years, the region’s tribal casinos have bet big on renovations and expansions. Sycuan Casino Resort underwent a $260 million revamp that expanded its gaming area and added a 12-story luxury hotel tower, an event space, a full-service spa, and a fitness center. The East County landmark also joined forces with Vegas-based Clique Hospitality to open a swanky steakhouse, a high-end lounge, and an outdoor pool complex where guests can float along a lazy river or lounge on the sun-soaked deck with a cocktail in hand. Harrah’s Resort Southern California, near Valley Center, has raised the limit by forming its own city named Funner. It’s had a series of celebrity mayors, most recently actress and comedian Jane Lynch. The 86,000-square-foot resort features more than 1,000 luxury rooms and suites, the region’s first swim-up bar, and a full-service spa; it’s also home to the first tribal-owned brewery.
The Cosmopolitan
VIVA LAS VEGAS
Vegas is back to business as usual. High rollers will enjoy luxury accommodations, creative dining concepts, premium shops, and world-class entertainment along the iconic Las Vegas Strip. For a contemporary and elegant stay, visit The Cosmopolitan. The chic hotel and casino in the heart of the strip is dripping with sparkle and intrigue, filled with thrilling slots and table games and loaded with ultramodern innovation, including the latest in sports-betting technology and a digital concierge that can make restaurant reservations, suggest nightlife hot spots, and fill you in on special events in the area. Vegas, baby!
Talking Stick Resort
DESERT ROSES
Visitors to the Grand Canyon State can get in on the gambling fun, too. Arizona boasts more than 30 casinos, with the largest being the 240,000-square-foot Talking Stick Resort and Casino in Scottsdale. The region’s top entertainment destination features a 36-hole championship golf course, a variety of bars and restaurants, and a luxe spa. It’s part of an even larger activities-and-attractions district that has a Major League Baseball spring training facility, life-size animatronic dinosaurs, an aquarium, virtual reality experiences, indoor skydiving, and a go-kart track. Another reason to visit Arizona: Sports betting was legalized last year.
Sycuan resort
SYCUAN CASINO RESORT
Experience the ultimate Retreat at Sycuan Casino Resort. Retreat’s unique layout features two beautiful pool areas and a cleverly designed slow-moving lazy river. The expansive pool deck is furnished with pool chairs, oversized daybeds, and plush cabanas for a more exclusive experience for up to six guests.
Since no getaway is complete without delicious food and drinks, guests can enhance their experience with a variety of creative offerings. The Pool Bar & Grill menu features seasonal bites and a full bar serving everything from fresh mojitos and margaritas to Champagne-infused cocktails. Enjoy other one-of-a-kind amenities, including relaxing spa services in a private luxury cabana—or try your hand at blackjack at Retreat Casino, an indoor-outdoor gaming venue that’s only steps away from the pool.
For even more fun, be sure to check out Retreat’s popular poolside entertainment and events. Go for a dip during San Diego’s only country pool party at The River, dance to live DJs every Saturday at Night Swim, and take advantage of exclusive deals during Industry Mondays.
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Studio S
SEPTEMBER 9, 2026
Meet ArtsConnect, UC San Diego’s Invitation to SoCal Arts Lovers
ArtsConnect brings those experiences into view, helping residents discover what they can see, hear and create at UC San Diego while experiencing the campus in a new way.
Ask most people what UC San Diego is known for, and the arts may not be the first answer. Yet this fall, San Diegans can watch Ghostbusters with a live orchestra, try their hand at glassmaking and wander among more than 20 works of public art woven throughout the university’s La Jolla campus.
ArtsConnect brings those experiences into view, helping residents discover what they can see, hear and create at UC San Diego while experiencing the campus in a new way.
Courtesy of UC San Diego | Photo Cred: Erik Jensen
“The arts are at the heart of UC San Diego’s student-centered mission and vision,” says Alysson Satterlund, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life. “Whether creating, participating in, or experiencing performances, the arts are essential to a healthy and truly fun Triton student experience.”
That invitation often begins where the arts intersect with other fields.
“Some of the most innovative work and discovery happen where disciplines don’t usually share a stage,” says Cristina Della Coletta, Dean of the UC San Diego School of Arts and Humanities. “So through our unique intersection of the arts with science, technology, and medicine, we are improving lives, physically and emotionally.
Take The Inaudible Ocean, a collaboration between Department of Music Professor Lei Liang and Scripps Institution of Oceanography Assistant Project Scientist Josh Jones. Over eight years, the pair recorded earthquakes, ship noise, whale songs and other sounds in remote underwater locations. They transformed those recordings into a live music experience that allowed audiences to hear the ocean in an entirely new way. The work premiered on campus in May and continues to evolve.
The arts also connect the campus to the global art world and diverse perspectives. Chief Campus Curator Jessica Berlanga Taylor recently curated the Mexico Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale, featuring RojoNegro, the collective formed by Noé Martínez and María Sosa. The collective will unveil a compelling new permanent installation for UC San Diego’s celebrated Stuart Collection later this fall.
ArtPower offers another easy entry point, bringing touring performers to venues including the outdoor Epstein Family Amphitheater and the intimate Loft. The nearly three dozen performances featured through its 2026-2027 season span music, dance, film, theater and conversation.
Among the fall highlights is Ghostbusters in Concert on Sept. 25, pairing the beloved 1984 film with a live performance of Elmer Bernstein’s score. Tickets start at $35, and the amphitheater is located next to the UC San Diego Blue Line trolley station.
“Every member of our community should have access to world-class art, so we work hard to remove the barriers that stand in the way,” says Colleen Kollar Smith, executive artistic director of the Campus Performances and Events Office. “That means affordable ticket prices, and performances, voices and experiences where people see themselves reflected on stage and know they belong.”
The arts at UC San Diego are not only something to watch. The Craft Center offers public classes and workshops in ceramics, jewelry, woodworking, culinary arts and even surfboard shaping. At the new Glass Center, beginners and experienced makers can explore glassmaking through classes, demonstrations and studio experiences.
Whether you want to attend a performance, make something yourself or spend an afternoon exploring public art, there is an easy way in. And the invitation extends well beyond students and alumni.
Kollar Smith says it best: “Visit, participate, spectate or create. You’re invited, and we hope you’ll connect with us soon.”
Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice.
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Your feet and ankles probably aren’t something you give much thought to—until something goes wrong. Orthopedic surgeons at Scripps Clinic are on the leading edge of foot and ankle reconstruction, treating patients with sports injuries, deformities, traumatic injuries and other conditions. That includes repairing torn Achilles tendons with a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks the incision site to less than a centimeter, and performing advanced ankle replacement on some patients with ankle arthritis. Read more about Scripps’ innovations in foot and ankle care here.
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Mai Vue was just 34 weeks pregnant when she delivered her baby. Her pregnancy had been complicated, and she’d had a recent second trimester pregnancy loss, which led to her receiving specialized care from Sean Daneshmand, MD, a Scripps Clinic perinatologist who oversees high-risk pregnancies. Dr. Daneshmand and his team took care of Mai during her pregnancy, through the birth of her healthy baby girl and beyond. Mai was part of a program Scripps launched to provide support to new moms in the weeks and months after delivery. The postpartum program, known as Scripps Health’s Fourth Trimester Continuum of Care, provides care for women with high-risk pregnancies to optimize their health after childbirth and reduce the risk of complications in future pregnancies. Click here to learn more.
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It’s estimated that one in five people in the U.S. will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. When you factor in living in a sun-soaked city like San Diego and the outdoorsy lifestyle that comes with it, that figure can jump to as high as one in three, which makes early detection and intervention all the more important. Dermatologists at Bighorn Mohs and Dermatology Center are using innovative imaging methods and advanced surgical techniques to diagnose and treat skin cancer. For certain cancers in sensitive spots, like the face, dermatologists perform Mohs surgery, removing skin tissue layer by layer until reaching healthy, cancer-free tissue. They also use a process called immunohistochemistry to view tissue samples taken during Mohs surgery in far greater detail than previous methods. Read more about how Scripps is advancing skin cancer care here.
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When endurance athlete Isaac Sanchez learned he had cancer, he felt blindsided. He was healthy, surfed often and was training for an Ironman triathlon. But he had to put that on hold to undergo treatment. His physicians at Scripps Cancer Center developed a plan to treat the cancer in his tonsil and lymph nodes that included six-and-a-half weeks of near-daily radiation and weekly chemotherapy. He also worked with a Scripps Cancer Center dietitian to enhance his nutrition to promote strength and healing. Today, Isaac’s back to doing what he loves. Read more of his story here.
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