You may already know that West Virginia is wild and wonderful. And that couldn't be more true than at Charles Town Races & Slots in Charles Town, West Virginia.

The size of a Las Vegas casino, with 4,500 slot machines, it actually has more slots than most casinos out West, and it's all less than 90 minutes away from the Baltimore area. So, if you're 18 or older, it’s a fun trip for a little “gaming,” where there's always that chance of hitting a historic jackpot.

Each time I visit, it's a new adventure. They are continually adding on new gaming areas, and just recently, a new parking garage, and soon a hotel.

It certainly makes for a memorable day trip, or perhaps stay over night. There are plenty of reasonable hotels located just a minute or two from the casino, which itself is worth exploring before dropping a stream of bills into the frenzy of ringing, buzzing machines surrounding you at every turn. There are a half-dozen themed areas of game play, including the Western Slot City, the glitz and glamour of the Hollywood Slots area and Silver Screen Gaming. And you can take a break in Slot Central, too. Oh, and how can you forget the live horse racing on Wednesday through Sunday (evenings during the week and afternoons on the weekend), as well as simulcast and off-track betting for horse-racing, handicapping aficionados?

Entertainment is certainly the presiding theme over the entire place, and you're sure to get into the action within minutes. (Make sure you try my latest slot favorites, “Rich Little Piggies” and “Match Game,” which is based on the classic game show.) But remember to pace yourself! You might get overwhelmed at the selection and could be tempted to put in a little more cash than you were prepared for. (Call 1-800-GAMBLER if you have a problem. There are signs all over the casino to remind you. So think about that before you hit the ATM machines or cash advance!)

Also, if you find yourself wanting to return, or if you know you're going to be playing for hours on end, sign up for a Players Choice Card, where you can rack up points, good for food, gifts at the gift shop or through the special Charles Town catalog (I actually got a pretty nice watch for my birthday, as a free gift, part of being a Player), and someday, rooms at the new hotel.

With all this walking, winning and wondering what to do next, you're eventually going to have to take a break for a bite to eat.

And Charles Town has plenty to choose from, all at reasonable prices.

In addition to the overall cleanliness of the casino and variety of games, another definite winning aspect of Charles Town is the reasonably priced restaurants and food court (lines are sometimes long, especially at Cafe USA, and the Hot Subs stand, but the subs are made fresh to order), as well as the free soda bars located throughout the casino. And the two buffets (one of which is of “Epic” proportions), are certainly comparable to the best in Las Vegas, the city known for buffets the size of city landscapes.

There are several ways to get to Charles Town: Take I-495 to Silver Spring to 270 North to 340 West to Charles Town; or Route 70 West to Frederick, then 340 West, which turns into Washington Street, or even take Route 7 to Leesburg, following the Route 7 bypass to Route 9, and make a right on Washington Street.

No matter how you travel, make sure you make part of your journey through the mountains and over the bridges of the breath-taking and majestic Shenandoah River, and maybe a side trek for an afternoon in historic Harpers Ferry.

So, let's go! I'll race you.

For information, visit www.charlestownraces.com or call 1-800-795-7001.