5 Reasons to Get Away to Black Hawk and Central City, Colorado [PHOTOS]

Have you ever been to Black Hawk or Central City?

The former mining towns have become scenic destinations blending the thrills of Las Vegas with the beautiful mountains of Colorado. Here are 5 reasons you should get away for a little rest and relaxation.

1. Scenery: The number one reason to visit the mountains of Colorado is the gorgeous scenery. We saw spectacular vistas around every curve as we cruised down the Central City Parkway. In Black Hawk, they have a smooth, wide walkway right next to the raging river which is conveniently close to the casinos.

2. Pool & hot tub: If you like your water on the calmer side, the Ameristar Hotel & Casino has it's 4-foot deep pool on it's 34th floor rooftop. There are also fire pits on the outdoor balcony around a large steaming hot tub for their guests.

3.Mining History: Blackhawk and Central City both have histories of mining, gambling halls and brothels starting during the 1859 Gold Rush and you can still see evidence of past fortune seekers among the current swarms of tourists rushing into the glamorous new casinos. There are several small museums with lots of great stories to tell.

4. Great food: Many of the hotels and resorts that house Black Hawk's casinos have world-class food too. The Ameristar offered an all-you-can eat buffet that included shrimp, beef brisket, ribs and fried chicken that rivaled the old days of Las Vegas when you could fuel up in order to be able to continue to gamble more. They also had a Starbucks right among the slot machines and across the street, the Mardi Gras Hotel & Casino had it's own Dunkin' Donuts.

5. Gambling: The more than 18-casinos in Black Hawk and Central City offer 24-hour gaming including $100 limit blackjack, craps, roulette and poker tables along with slot and video machines. Just like in Vegas, while you're gambling waitresses will be by to serve you free cocktails as long as you keep putting in money. Many of the newer video machines feature animation, graphics and movie clips. It's a nice getaway and it's closer than Las Vegas.