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Hotel at a Glance: Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa

The Argosy has been building a great gaming experience since 1994, when it opened as a riverboat casino with tables games and video poker. The casino came on land two years later with an 85,000-square-foot expansion that added restaurants. A Mediterranean-themed update doubled the size of the gaming floor in 2003, and a spa and 4-star hotel elevated the Argosy’s amenities in 2005.

• Casino stats: 1,500 slots and 37 table games available 24 hours a day
• Deluxe rooms are outfitted with mini fridges and 42-inch TVs.
• Six restaurants include a steak house and a pub with 99 craft beers.
• Signature spa treatment: a hot-stone massage with Aveda aromatherapy
• Live music on Friday and Saturday nights ranges from country to Top 40 and classic rock.

Kansas City, Missouri: Barbecue, Jazz, and Nightlife

In Kansas City, the ratio of fountains to barbecue joints is roughly 2:1—as in, 200-plus public fountains and more than 90 restaurants where you can order the city’s signature slow-smoked meat. Though Kansas City is known for its aquatic architecture and barbecue, it has also evolved into an artistic hub. Here, you’ll find a legendary history of jazz and blues, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, prized for its European paintings and Imperial Chinese art. Add a die-hard sports community and a downtown area named one of America’s best by Forbes magazine, and the at-times overlooked Kansas City has all the makings of a memorable getaway: culture, Midwestern charm, and an endless supply of sauce-slathered ribs.

Though the storied jazz scene continues to thrive in numerous clubs around 18th and Vine, it’s the flashy Power and Light District that draws a fashionable late-night crowd. This nine-block neighborhood in the middle of downtown is home to more than 50 shops, restaurants, and bars. If the weather is warm, head to the open-air rooftop lounge at Elements for a drink under the moonlight.