Travel America: On a roll, Southern-style: Mississippi and Louisiana resorts bring glitz, glamor, an

Together, Mississippi and Louisiana boast over 40 casino resorts that rival those in Las Vegas and Atlantic City for gaming excitement, fine accommodations, and star name entertainment. And just when it seemed the casino action in these Deep South states couldn't get any hotter, along came Pearl River Resort in Philadelphia, Mississippi.

The resort is due east of the state capital of Jackson and is home to the Silver Star Resort and Casino (800-557-0711), owned by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Inspired by the success of that casino, the tribe has added Golden Moon Hotel & Casino to its vast resort complex. The newest kid on the casino block boasts 572 luxury hotel rooms, seven restaurants, a lake, water park, fitness/wellness center, and car museum with vehicles used in such films as Batman and Rebel Without a Cause. The Golden Moon complex connects with the Silver Star via a climate-controlled air bridge. The Silver Star itself has a 36-hole golf course, 500 hotel rooms, 2,800 slot machines, 96 table games, six restaurants, and a health club.

Though much smaller by comparison, the casinos of Natchez and Vicksburg along the Mississippi River continue to charm thousands of visitors each year. Perhaps that's because you can tour the famous antebellum homes of Natchez by day and enjoy casino action and a fine hotel room at the Isle of Capri Casino (800-722-5825) by night. Southern style is also the key to the appeal of Vicksburg, where Civil War buffs can re-live the siege of the city at the Vicksburg National Military Park and then relax in a riverside suite with whirlpool bath at the Isle of Capri Casino (800-946-4753). Other excellent options in Vicksburg include the 89-room Rainbow Hotel Casino (800-667-4657) and the 150-room Ameristar (800-700-7770).

With a dozen resort casinos strung along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the hardest thing to do here is choose. Since the resorts are just a few miles apart, however, it's easy to sample several during a stay on the coast. One of the grandest is President Casino Broadwater Resort (800-843-7737) in Biloxi. The 260-acre complex includes the Broadwater, a landmark hotel built in 1939 and renovated to 21st century standards. Guests can choose from 500 luxury rooms, enjoy golf at the resort's own 18-hole course, play tennis, indulge in water sports at the resort marina and beach, and dine at five restaurants.

A stay at the Isle of Capri Biloxi (800-843-4753) may be the next best thing to a Caribbean getaway. The tropical-style resort is filled with waterfalls, fountains, and palm trees indoors, and white sands and blue waters of the gulf are just steps away from its front door. The resort features a 370-room hotel, a casino with over 1,000 slot machines and 50 game tables, three restaurants, and a health spa. For more excitement along the coast, there's also Casino Magic Biloxi (800-562-4425) and Casino Magic Bay St. Louis (800-562-4425), located in a quaint little town noted for its art galleries and antique shops.

Tunica's ten casino resorts draw tens of thousands of visitors annually to this tiny northwest Mississippi town. All the major names in the casino resort business are represented, including Isle of Capri (800-843-4753), Grand Casino Tunica (800-946-4946), and Harrah's Casino Resort (800-427-7247), just to name a few of your choices here.

All the resorts are near Tunica's newest outdoor attraction--the 168-acre Tunica River Front Park. The $22-million development features a marina, interpretative center with a museum and aquarium, and miles of nature trails. The main park attraction is a non-gaming riverboat docked at the marina that offers four cruises daily. Just south of Tunica, you can combine blues music and casino fun by staying at the Isle of Capri (800-789-5825) in Lula. The little town is near Clarksdale with its excellent Delta Blues Museum and summertime blues music festivals.

Casino choices are just as varied in Louisiana, although you'll find a Cajun or Creole accent to many of the resorts here. Harrah's Casino New Orleans (800-VIP-JAZZ), for example, surrounds visitors with the look of the French Quarter and Mardi Gras as they enjoy all the usual gaming fun. The casino also surrounds you with tempting dining choices, including the Magnolia Buffet, where you can enjoy everything from/traditional New Orleans dishes to Oriental cuisine. For a fine dining experience, slip into a quiet table at The Manor Room and choose from prime rib, fresh Maine lobster, and decadent desserts. Or enjoy local fast food favorites like Popeye's spicy chicken and fluffy biscuits and Lucky Dogs hot dogs at Barataria Cove food court.

At Treasure Chest (800-298-0711), located in the eastern New Orleans suburb of Kenner, you can sample seafood and steak in an elegant setting at Bobby G's or indulge at the Treasure Island Buffet, an all-you-care-to-eat extravaganza of Cajun and Creole specialties and traditional American favorites. You can work off those calories at the casino's slot and video poker machines and game tables, and enjoy live entertainment nightly. Since the casino is on the banks of beautiful Lake Pontchartrain, the views are as spectacular as the food and gaming fun.

Cypress Bayou Casino (800-284-4386) in Charenton, just west of New Orleans, is an ideal stop on the way from the Big Easy to Cajun Country. Though the casino has no hotel, it does have plenty of gaming features, including 1,280 slots and 46 table games, plus five restaurants.

Grand Casino Coushatta (800-584-7263), just east of Lake Charles, offers luxurious accommodations at the 223-room Coushatta Grand Hotel. Besides the marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and colorful artwork in the lobby, the hotel features suites with marble-lined baths with raised Jacuzzi tubs and separate glass-walled showers and in-room refrigerators.

Those who prefer a more casual stay can pull into the casino's Red Shoes Park, a 156-pad luxury RV resort with 50 chalets, or book a room at the new 197-room Coushatta Grand Inn. Casino facilities include 3,200 slot machines and 80 table games, plus a 12-table live Poker Room. You'll also enjoy six restaurants, including the elegant Seven Clans, and a supervised children's activity center. The Isle of Capri (800-843-4753) in Lake Charles also offers elegant accommodations, lots of gaming fun, and Farraday's for prime rib, certified Angus steaks, and lobster, and Calypso's for a fabulous seafood buffet.

Paragon Casino Resort (800-946-1946), formerly Grand Casino Avoyelles, has changed its name, but it's still one of the best casino resort bets in the state. Located in Marksville, just north of the state capital of Baton Rouge, the resort boasts a 218-room hotel, four restaurants, and a complete RV resort. The casino areas recently received a glamorous makeover that includes the Diamond Room, filled with stained glass, beveled mirrors, and majestic columns and high-denomination slot machines. By contrast, the new Emerald Room is a peaceful retreat with subdued lighting and elegant decor for high buy-in table game players.

In Baton Rouge, you'll find Argosy Belle of Baton Rouge Casino (800-676-4847), a three-deck, riverboat-style casino with over 800 slots, video poker, keno machines, and table games including blackjack, mini-baccarat, and roulette. The casino is adjacent to the Sheraton Convention Center Hotel, a full-service 300-room hotel. Dining choices include LeMarche, for steaks and classic Creole and Cajun cuisine; Riverview Sports Bar for ,sandwiches, soups, and salads; and Butler's Pantry Deli for delicious po-boys and soups created by Louisiana's world-renowned chef John Folse.

If you're in northwestern Louisiana, you'll find plenty of casino action in Shreveport-Bossier City. Consider a stay at Casino Magic (877-8-MAGIC-8) where the 188-room hotel's garden suites include Jacuzzi tubs, in-room coffeemakers, and Gilchrist & Soames toiletries. Rooms also feature custom-made cherry furniture and luxurious linens. Another enticing option is Isle of Capri Casino Resort (800-475-3847), with 310 luxury rooms, three restaurants, a tropical pool, professional childcare, and a fitness center.