Tucked along a picturesque shoreline in Suquamish, on the Kitsap Peninsula not too far from Poulsbo, is the Clearwater Casino and Resort - the Puget Sound's only waterfront casino. Just a short drive from Tacoma or a ferry ride from Seattle, and you can kick back on a water-view deck overlooking the Agate Passage, dine on delicious steak and seafood, relax at the spa, or maybe even gamble away an evening or two. Whatever the case may be, the Clearwater Casino Resort is a fine vacation destination that doesn't involve a flight. Residents of Tacoma, Olympia, and other South Sound cities are within a relatively short drive - as is Joint Base Lewis McChord.

"Our military men and women deserve a place to relax and have fun. As we expand, we are giving them a destination with even more spectacular views, delicious dining options, a relaxing spa and entertaining night life," says Irene Carper, Port Madison Enterprises COO and Suquamish Tribal Council member.

Starting in 2014, Clearwater Casino started to get a whole lot better.

In March of 2014, renovations started with a new 700 car parking garage, allowing more space for visitors to keep their cars safe from the elements, but the new garage is only the tip of the iceberg. Renovations will continue for the next few years.

Set to be complete in the summer of 2015 is a brand new, six-story wing to the casino that will add 98 rooms, all with water views. The new wing will also include new restaurants, adding to the property's already impressive lineup of dining establishments. New restaurants will include the Beach Glass Café and Beach Bru Coffee, a café and a coffee shop respectively. The cream of the new restaurant crop will be Cedars PNW, a fine dining establishment with windows overlooking the spectacular scenery around the casino. Cedars PNW will replace the current Cedar Steakhouse and open up the menu beyond typical steakhouse fare. Existing restaurants will also get a facelift, including the Longhouse Buffet, which will get new carpet, more seating, but most importantly - more food stations and a Mongolian grill station.

The hotel lobby will relocate to this new wing, but perhaps best of all is that the new developments will allow visitors to get between the casino, spa and parking facility without having to go outside or under the cover of a protected walkway. This is important as not all vacations take place in the summer. In fact, you can often find great room rates in the Northwest winter - and yet all the rain does make a covered walkway much appreciated.

Also part of the summer 2015 expansion will be 10,000 square feet of meeting space, which can function both as one large room or four smaller rooms. For receptions or other large events, the space will be able to handle up to 600 people. There will also be both the indoor space as well as an attached outdoor terrace.

In 2015 and continuing into 2016, the casino will get a complete remodel and expansion. A new lounge is among the first additions, adding space for about 300 people to enjoy live entertainment with both ground level seating up front and raised seating around the edges.

There will still be a non-smoking section with about 100 slot machines, which will have direct access to the lounge and a window where non-smoking guests can order food without having to cross into the smoking zone, if they prefer not to.

Expansion of meeting and entertainment space will continue into 2017 as well.

Clearwater Casino Resort is at 15347 Suquamish Way NE, Suquamish, WA 98392. Because the location often requires crossing the Narrows Bridge or taking a ferry, the casino offers reimbursement if you keep your receipts (limitations do apply). For more information, go to www.clearwatercasino.com/.