Experiencing Vegas on a Smaller Scale at Pechanga

Everyone has seen the ads for gaming resorts: Casinos on reservations hidden somewhere out in Temecula or San Diego. And most people half-heartedly listen to the ads thinking the experience is probably for older people or hardcore gamers when in fact, casinos such as Pechanga in Temecula actually offer a surprising amount of entertainment and things to do.

Sure, this isn't exactly like going to Las Vegas, but you'd be surprised at just how close it comes to being inside a casino on The Strip right down to the sound of the slot machines and that smell of cigarette smoke you can't escape from in Las Vegas.

For people who are looking to inject a little action into their weekends, but can't see making the four-hour drive to Las Vegas just for the day (it's not worth it), try some of the Southern California casinos as they offer a great option for a Saturday.

First off, Pechanga in Temecula is a great place to start off with. It's located in Temecula and if you leave by around 11 a.m., you will hardly hit any traffic on the way there. Once you get off the freeway, you'll drive for a couple of miles and then hit the casino which will be on your right.

The parking situation is a little confusing, but if you pay attention to the signs, you shouldn't run into too much trouble.

Pechanga actually has two casinos. One is an addition to the original and offers several more slots. Now, obviously, if you are going just to gamble, then have at it.

Unlike the Vegas casinos, there aren't really any retail options other than the hotel gift shop. However, the casinos have a lot of nice bars and really great restaurants serving more than just fast food. And the restaurants at Pechanga offer every type of food a person could want. There's the typical buffet fare (which is around $15 and actually has more than just decent food), an Italian restaurant, seafood and a regular cafe.

Most of the restaurants don't open until around 5 p.m. and if you're not looking to stay for the entire day, the buffet is a good option for lunch.

As far as other things to do, if you plan your trip right, the cool thing about Pechanga is that they have an upper floor where there is a club and also a theater. Sometimes they having boxing events or singers performing. Check their web site if you want to plan a whole day around the casino.

Otherwise, if you're they're to just gamble and get a bit to eat, you really can't spend more than a few hours there. So, make sure to stop by Lake Elsinore and Tom's Farms (that is, if home, means heading northbound away from the casino).

The Lake Elsinore outlets offer everything from Sony (where you can find some deals on refurbished products), to clothing (like Old Navy and Nike). You won't find designer stores, but if you're overly label conscious, you'll find some really great deals and you don't have to dig too hard to get to them.

After Lake Elsinore, Tom's Farms is only a few miles away off the freeway. Tom's Farms has an incredible selection of produce, meats, cheeses, wines and (believe it or not) furniture. It kind of has an old, farm-style vibe where good food is the main attraction. Stop here to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables for the week.

The wine shop also makes fresh bread on a daily basis and usually, you can get a loaf that is still warm from the oven. Towards the back of the wine and cheese store, you can sample wines for $5, which is fun to do.

The only downside to all of this is that because you're in Temecula, it is ridiculously hot, but if you overlook that (since you're inside most of the time), taking a visit to Pechanga and then doing some light shopping is definitely worth the high temperatures.