Notre-Dame Island is the setting. The casino building grew out of the French and Quebec pavilions from Expo 67, and its angular glass still stands out against the river.

A stay here is about the island as much as the property. Parkland, the rowing basin and cycling paths are close by, with downtown Montreal a short trip across the water.

Restaurants, bars and a performance venue sit inside the complex. The gaming floor is one part of a larger evening out.

The view gives the resort its name. From the hotel tower, upper rooms look straight out over the Horseshoe Falls and the gorge.

Inside there is a spa, a long run of restaurants and a theatre that hosts touring acts. Shopping arcades link it all together, so bad weather barely matters.

Gaming is part of the mix, on a large floor below the tower. Outside, the falls, the boats and the Niagara Parkway are minutes away.

Set on the Fraser River in Richmond, River Rock is close to Vancouver International Airport. A Canada Line station sits next door, so downtown Vancouver is an easy train ride.

The hotel tower has suites with river views. There is a pool area, several restaurants and a show theatre. A marina on the river adds a different kind of arrival.

Gaming takes up its own floor, separate from the hotel spaces. Many guests use the resort as a base for flights or for exploring the Lower Mainland.

On the land of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation, near Orillia, this resort sits in lake country. Lake Couchiching is close, and the drive from Toronto runs through farmland and forest.

The hotel offers rooms and suites, a spa and several places to eat. An entertainment centre brings in concerts and comedy through the year.

Gaming is one feature among these. Summer brings cottage-country visitors, while winter stays tend to centre on shows and the spa.