Thunder Valley Casino Resort sits on the outskirts of Sacramento, California, and it is also near the outdoor playground that is Lake Tahoe, so there are a lot of entertaining options available to players outside of the poker tournament while they’re here for the WPT Rolling Thunder Main Event. Here are a few things the World Poker Tour crew recommends checking out if you have some free time at this tournament stop.
If you have a few hours: One of the newest Topgolf locations has opened just down the road from the casino, and you can rent a bay there to enjoy the interactive golf driving range while you enjoy food and drinks. If you continue on down the road to historic Old Town Roseville there are a number of bars and restaurants that have great, food, drinks, and beer. There is the Boxing Donkey Irish Pub, Opera House Saloon, and Onyx Club just to mention few options, and the Monk’s Cellar Brewery makes their own Belgian-style beers. About 20 minutes north of the casino there is also the GoatHouse Brewing Company that serves beers out of a converted barn.
A little further afield: Downtown Sacramento is home to the NBA basketball team Sacramento Kings, and they play their games in the brand-new Golden 1 Center that opened this season. The venue also hosts concerts for the biggest names in music when the team is on the road. Thunder Valley Casino Resort even has a private suite in the arena right at half-court. The California State Capitol can also be found in downtown Sacramento, and tours of the building are available. The Crocker Art Museum is another cultural attraction downtown in addition to many restaurants and bars.
If you have your family along for the trip: Historic Old Town Sacramento and the California State Railroad Museum will definitely keep the kids entertained. The 28-acre National Historic Landmark District offers many dining and shopping options set within the time and architecture of the California Gold Rush. The Railroad Museum has many full-size trains and historic exhibits on display. Another good option if you want to explore the history of this area is Sutter’s Fort, which played a role in the Donner Party rescue, the discovery of gold in California, and served as a final destination for pioneers on the California Trail.
If you bagged Day 1A, and have Day 1B off: Two words – Lake Tahoe. This beautiful outdoor playground is still a winter wonderland this time of year (thanks to a few late storms in March). In addition to the beautiful scenery of the lake that sits at an elevation of 6,225 feet up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, there are many world-class ski resorts. On the North Shore you have Squaw Valley, which hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics, and has an ice-skating rink on top of the mountain right next to the main gondola, Alpine Meadows, Homewood, Sugar Bowl (pictured above), Boreal, Donner Ski Ranch, Mt. Rose, Diamond Peak, and Northstar. While South Lake Tahoe is home to Heavenly, Sierra-at-Tahoe, and Kirkwood.
And in addition to all these options, Thunder Valley Casino Resorts has a number of great amenities as well. From the spa, pool, and gym right here on property, to the AAA four-diamond High Steaks steakhouse, and every gaming option you could ever want. If golf is your thing, Thunder Valley Casino Resort can set you up with a round of 18 holes at the nearby Whitney Oaks Golf Club. Whatever you choose, there is definitely a lot to do here while you’re in town for the WPT Rolling Thunder Main Event.
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