With a new excuse to visit San Diego – my son recently started his doctoral program at the University of California San Diego – I figured it was time to check out an area casino, and Sycuan Casino Resort came highly recommended by my viewers. The timing of my trip lined up perfectly with its 42nd-anniversary celebration.
The drive from San Diego International Airport was surprisingly easy. I grabbed a cab from the airport for about $50 and just enjoyed the stunning views along the way. I had no idea what to expect when I arrived and was blown away by how beautiful it was. The resort feels tucked away, yet totally accessible.
What began as a simple bingo hall back in 1983 is now a full-scale casino-resort with a 12-story hotel tower, multiple dining options, an entertainment venue, conference space, and a beautiful pool area complete with a lazy river. Of course, I also need to mention the massive gaming floor, featuring 2,400 slot machines, 52 table games, a poker room, and a seriously huge bingo hall.
Gaming floor at Sycuan Casino Resort (courtesy)
The energy was contagious from the moment I walked in. The casino floor was alive with entertainment, hot-seat drawings, and giveaways everywhere you turned. That weekend, Sycuan Casino Resort gave away over $220,000 in slot free play, hosted a $50,000 bingo blackout game that came with a shot at a brand-new Genesis GV70, and even had table-game giveaways worth $25,000 in free play chips. Unfortunately, my name wasn’t drawn for any prizes, but I did score a special anniversary-edition T-shirt and mug, and let’s not forget that free cupcake from the sports bar, Rank & File.
One of the highlights was watching the Kumeyaay bird songs and dances, performed in both the Bingo Hall and the main casino lobby. A sacred tradition in which men sing while women dance to mimic birds, often with the accompaniment of gourd or tortoise shell rattles but never drums, the songs tell stories, teach lessons, and are a meaningful nod to the Sycuan tribe’s heritage and the community that built this property into what it is today.
Sycuan Casino Resort’s 40th anniversary celebrations on Saturday, November 18, 2023. (Chadd Cady/Sycuan Casino Resort)
Of course, I couldn’t visit a resort without checking out the spa and let me tell you, it was heavenly. The warm stone massage melted every bit of tension from traveling. The spa itself had a peaceful modern vibe that made it hard to leave, but my son called and said he had arrived on property.
The spa at Sycuan Casino Resort (courtesy)
Speaking of my son, having him join me for the weekend made the trip even more memorable. Between casino time, meals, and wandering the property, we also squeezed in some local exploring. One of the best aspects of Sycuan’s location is that it’s an easy home base for classic San Diego must-dos: San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, Old Town, and Sea World. It’s the kind of place where you can relax at the resort all day or go adventure around the city without feeling like you’re losing precious vacation time.
Shutterstock
Before I knew it, I was checking in for my return flight and I definitely wasn’t ready for the trip to end. I’m already looking forward to returning for another visit to enjoy some of the things that we didn’t get a chance to do, like float on that lazy river or play a round of golf at Singing Hills Golf Club.
Kelly Koffler was a guest of Sycuan Casino Resort, where her visit was complimentary.
