Delaware may be a small state but it is big on fun-filled places to go. From First State heritage programs on the first Saturdays to many theater and arts events, there are lots of reasons to visit Dover, Del. this winter.

One place in Dover that you shouldn’t miss is Dover Downs Races & Slots. Have you been there lately? If not, then you are in for a surprise. As you pull into the parking lot, you will notice that it is not just a casino anymore. It has grown up and joined the big boys a la Las Vegas!

Like always, it’s a popular destination for gaming, entertainment, fine restaurants, harness racing and NASCAR. The casino, which has undergone a recent expansion, now offers over 2,700 slot machines plus all new electronic game tables. The casino is open 24 hours every day, except Sundays when it is open from 6 a.m. to noon.

Its recent expansion project has added 268 well-appointed rooms and suites in the $52 million expansion project, which broke ground in May. The Dover Downs Hotel now has 500 guest rooms and suites, making it the largest hotel in Delaware. Of the 44 new suites, 11 are distinctively designed “spa suites,” which feature a spacious gathering room, wet bar, flat-panel HDTV, luxurious bedroom and roomy bath area. Spa suites also include a fireplace, billiard table, massage lounge chair or track view options. The original rooms are also undergoing a makeover, which will be completed by February.

And, just opened is the Toppers Salon & Health Spa, an upscale spa that offers a break from the ordinary to reduce stress and soothe muscle tension. Covering 6,000 square feet, it includes nine massage therapy rooms including couples’ massage rooms, skincare treatment rooms, private bath areas and separate hair and nail salons, all anchored by a centralized, plus relaxation oasis.

“Our unique blend of luxurious spa and salon offerings, superlative hospitality and tropical, resort-like environment is sure to provide each guest with the relaxation and restoration of a week’s vacation,” says Kenneth Wyka, president of Topper’s Salon & Health Spa, Inc. For information, visit www.ToppersSpa.com.

Next fall look for the opening of The Colonnade, a magnificent 70,000-square-foot expansion project that will surely rival Las Vegas casinos with more slots, restaurants, shopping and “Fire & Ice Lounge,” a high-energy nightclub.

Dover Downs Hotel & Casino is located at 1131 North Dupont Highway, Dover, DE 19903. For information, call 800-711-5882 or visit www.doverdowns.com.