Who knew such luxury could be positioned so close to the I-5?

With the opening of its 370-room hotel two years ago, Tulalip Resort Casino and surrounding area became the largest and most attractive gaming, entertainment and shopping destination in Washington State. It's all in Quil Ceda Village at exit 200 of the north-south interstate, adjacent to the brand-name magnet that is Seattle Premium Outlets.

A recent media tour revealed Tulalip as a place for ultra-fine dining, soul-soothing spa treatments and nightlife on par with some addresses on Las Vegas Boulevard.

I was pleasantly surprised to find such high-end furniture and fixtures in Tulalip's hotel rooms, which boast colourful tribal art, decorative resin door panels and the kind of three-head body showers that can easily lead to 30 minutes of watery bliss (just try to be mindful of conservation, folks).

At Tulalip Bay, chef Dean Shinagawa's sophisticated menu includes heavenly hazelnut-crusted lamp chops and a soup that fills the mouth with flavours of Shepherd's Pie. Equally delicious dishes are served at Blackfish Wild Salmon Grill & Bar, the resort's other fine-dining restaurant. More casual fare can be found at Cedars Café, Eagles Buffet and Mpulse lounge/nightclub.

A short drive away, at the bustling Port of Everett, is Jetty Island. The longest sandy beach in the Puget Sound is a haven for kiteboarders and families who dig the warm shallow waters, reachable by free passenger ferry at the 10th Street boat launch.

Aboard a larger ferry, we toured Tulalip Bay for a closer look at Hat Island and new Tulalip Tribal Center, the nerve centre for these development-minded native Americans.

At Tulalip, the casino is large, loud and smoky. If that's not your thing, consider retreating to the resort's T Spa, an earth-inspired sanctuary with 14,000 square feet of full-service treats for the body.

The resort is always busy with special events, including concerts in the cozy outdoor amphitheatre (next up, Chicago on Aug. 25 and Lynyrd Skynyrd on Sept. 2). The charity Auction of Washington State Wines 2010 happens this weekend (Aug. 19-21), followed in November by the two-day Taste of Tulalip event.

For resort and event details, visit www.tulalipresort.com or call toll-free, 1-866-716-7162.