Very rarely do Joanne and I have a chance to escape and spend time as a couple. Don't get me wrong, we love our family but sometimes a mom and dad need to get away. Recently we were able to spend some time at the Desert Diamond Casino & Hotel in the Tohono O'odam Nation located south of Tucson. Our weekend started on Friday, and we made the most of our time until Sunday afternoon.

The Tohono O'odam Nation has two casino properties, both with unique gaming and entertainment opportunities. Our weekend plan consisted of one thing, enjoying our time together. Whether it was trying our luck at the casino or enjoying the many food options, we were determined to make the most out of it. The main activity for the weekend was to watch entertainer and comedian Bill Engval at the Diamond Center. With all these things to do, maybe we would have time to sleep in. Believe it or not, it is one of the most relaxing activities when you vacation sans children.

Friday night was a whirlwind with doing some last minute packing and making sure my mom had instructions while she watched our boys. It amazed me how the closer we drove to the casino, the less stressed we felt from our busy work week. As it was dusk when we drove to the casino, we could see the welcoming neon lights as we approached. The hotel is located on the south side of the complex and has a beautiful stone entry. Since we had dinner reservations at the Steakhouse, we quickly checked in and strolled to the Steakhouse. The staff at the Steakhouse was friendly and courteous. We were shown to a secluded booth that matched the evening ambience of the restaurant. The service was impeccable, and our cuisine of either crab legs or filet mignon was a delicious delight.

Having passed on dessert, we strolled out and walked over to the Monsoon Night Club. It just happened that a funky, high-energy band was playing live that night. The nightclub was pretty packed, but we made our way to the dance floor and danced. Afterwards, we left the night club to try some slot machines. We were both amazed at the amount of action and people. We found a couple of fun slots and enjoyed our time. Much later and not realizing the time, we headed back to our room.

If you have never stayed at the Desert Diamond Casino, the rooms are pretty amazing. Ours was spacious and overlooked the inviting pool. We were treated to a nightcap of champagne on ice and a tray of chocolate covered strawberries. What a great way to end our week! After sleeping in, we decided to explore the area until the show Saturday night. We enjoyed a great Sonoran lunch at El Merendero on 12th Ave. We then decided to spend some time in Tubac, south of Tucson on I-19. After some light shopping we headed back to enjoy our evening entertainment.

The Diamond Center is located at the Tohono O'odam's second casino on Pima Mine Road, fifteen minutes from the casino hotel. We dined at the on-site Agave Restaurant before the show. The menu had many savory options, and the service was exemplary. From the restaurant, we walked to the Diamond Center to enjoy our show. Bill Enval once lived in Winslow, AZ as child. His simple yet funny humor had everyone laughing for an hour and a half. The show was worth every minute.

We had one last night at the hotel, and it was heaven. We managed to sleep in again and then enjoyed the property's on-site breakfast buffet. As we checked out and drove away, Joanne and I retold our favorite parts of the weekend. We loved our escape and the staff at Desert Diamond made the stay memorable. If you need a bright-light getaway, a desert gem called the Desert Diamond Casino and Hotel is not far away.

This week's prize is a Summer party in the Javelina Cantina for up to 15 people! Includes one hour of complementary appetizers, plus a $50 Texas Roadhouse gift certificate.