If you find yourself wandering south of Memphis with an appetite for fun, free drinks, and fake Chihuly sculptures, look no further than the Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Mississippi.
A group of friends and I made the four-hour drive from Nashville to the Magnolia State for a weekend sojourn in the Paris of the Mid-South.
Allegedly, this parcel of land rests on some unseen body of water, but all we could locate was a moat and maybe some marsh lands. Potential legal issues aside, the Gold Strike an exciting place to spend a weekend.
For what Tunica has to offer, the Gold Strike is one of the classier joints in which to try your luck. The rooms are comfortable, stylish and modern. The ground floor is full of craps tables, roulette wheels, and thematic slot machines (my personal favorite was the “Sex and the City” slot).
In addition to the myriad of games available for you to blow your paycheck, there are other ways to spend your time. While listening to a live band play one-hit wonders from the 90s near the bar, you can take a break from gambling and enjoy a refreshment at no cost to you.
The Chicago Steakhouse is an upscale dining venue in the casino, but if you want to get away for the evening, check out historic downtown Memphis. Several other casinos are within walking distance, but frankly, you have no reason to ever leave the Strike. Be careful if you step outside for some fresh air (the casino floor can get a little smoky). You may bump into a cadre of college-age girls in argyle. (We did, anyway).
I lost $60 there, but my friend won $300. You never know how Lady Luck will strike. Regardless of the outcome, the memories you make at this resort will be golden.
All aboard!
Truth Train 
We need a reunion!