If swirling lights, bells, and non-stop music sound like a fun environment, it’s time to visit one of the East Coast casino resorts for families. These traditionally adult venues provide an immersive indoor, weather-proof getaway that packs in a lot of vacation value because rates are cheaper than comparable resorts.
In the past few months, we visited Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun and Resorts World Catskills, three of the top East Coast casino resorts. Each welcomes families in its own way with robust gambling facilities plus some kid-friendly amenities.
Let’s look at what each of these East Coast casino resorts offers so you can decide if your family would enjoy an escape there.
One of the First East Coast Casinos: Foxwoods Resort
The Foxwoods Resort Casino, built on land owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation in Ledford, Connecticut, is one example of a family-friendly casino. The Native American tribe founded Foxwoods in 1986 as a high-stakes bingo hall after regaining control of their reservation a few years earlier. While Atlantic City predates Foxwoods, this resort proved popular.
Over time, Foxwoods has expanded into one of the world’s largest casinos. It is managed by 12,000 workers who also oversee two hotel towers with 2,000 guestrooms. Rooms are bright and spacious with flatscreen TVs, coffeemakers and views over the wooded reservation lands.
Size is one of the reasons its resort facilities are good value. The location is convenient to the port, historic Submarine Force Museum, and attractions around New London and Mystic Seaport in Connecticut.
What Makes Foxwoods A Fun East Casino Resort
One of the top reasons families enjoy Foxwoods is that it clearly embraces its Native American roots. The resort is decorated with different types of woods, scenes of animals and Native American symbols on fabrics and carpeting. Birch bark wallpaper, greenery, stuffed wolves and bears, and rocky grottoes with flowing water permeate the public spaces.
This décor creates a forest-like setting around the dimly lit gaming floor. Although the casino area is restricted to ages 21+, guests of all ages are swept up in the sensation of timelessness as they pass by on the way to other attractions.
What’s Special About Foxwoods Casino Resort For Families
The most unusual Foxwoods facility is Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, a must-do family activity. It combines serious research into the tribe’s heritage with fun exhibits children will enjoy.
Most impressive are the displays of native crafts, tools and clothes, photos and videos that immerse guests in the tribe’s culture and traditions. The story of how this proud tribe nearly lost its identity as tribal members moved away to find employment, and how reclaiming land reaffirmed their culture, is fascinating.
Beyond Gambling: Activities For All Ages At Foxwoods
There’s a large outdoor pool that attracts families all summer long. Other traditional family-friendly facilities require some walking to appreciate. One summer thrill ride is the zip line, which zips about a mile in length at 45 mph as you admire the woods 350 below you. Winter brings a large skating rink, with available rental gear, right outside one of the many lobbies.
With teens, consider a splurge at the Monza World Class Karting track. Race these very slick electric go-karts up, down and around entangled tracks in a warehouse. (An 8-minute session costs $30.) Got more allowance? Spend it on axe-throwing. The manned lanes have staff on hand to show you how to do it. Foxwoods also has a theatre for live entertainment, talks and more.
Imagine crossing seven football fields to check out the shops located between the Grand Pequot Tower and Fox Tower hotels. This is the popular Tanger Outlets mall, busy year-round with families shopping for clothes and toys. Look for high-end designer clothes and accessories at discount among the 80 shops. Both the mall and Foxwoods casino resort are themed at every occasion so window shopping is always a fun and free activity.
Dining Well At Foxwoods, An East Coast Casino Resort
Expect fine dining at reasonable prices at any casino resort. Once the temperature drops, book a Foxwoods’ Breakfast with Santa. The photo ops, Christmas cookies and brunch take over the classy Cedars Steaks & Oysters restaurant throughout the winter season.
There are several celebrity chef dining options, in addition to the many fast casual places. We had fun watching the video feeds of live flames while dining on very tasty small plates at Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen. David Burke Prime — an outlet of the famed New Jersey based chef — is a favorite for its steak selection.
Treats for all ages range from Sprinkletown Donuts & Ice Cream to the barbecue at Guy Fieri’s Foxwoods Kitchen + Bar. The extensive cocktail list and variety of burgers makes The Sugar Factory, located strategically between both hotel towers, one of Foxwoods’ most popular family options.
What Makes Mohegan Sun A Glamorous East Coast Casino Resort
For more kid-friendly facilities at an east coast casino head to Mohegan Sun in Uncasville by the Rhode Island border. Mohegan Sun is operated by the Native American Mohegans, whose long tribal history extends beyond their reservation in Southeastern Connecticut.
Mohegan Sun’s décor, shops and dining make it more glamorous and upscale than most other resorts. The resort’s design is also family friendly because two enormous gaming areas are connected in a circular layout with attractions at every turn.
Kid-friendly programs, shops and restaurants are scattered throughout and keep families near the grand Earth and Sky Casino floors. More than 30 high-end shops include Coach, the chocolatier Chocolux, the Clay Pipe Cigar Bar, Swarovski, and Tesla. The casual Lids is the place to buy souvenir ballcaps.
What’s Special About Mohegan Sun Resort For Families
A truly Las Vegas quality casino for ages 21+, Mohegan Sun has several options for affluent family play, too. Spacious, luxurious guest rooms are contemporary in style and comfortable. Some feature extra seating, a work desk or sofabeds. The Insta-worthy Royal Suite has two Jacuzzis, one for each bedroom. Views of the reservation’s wooded hills and the Thames River make guests feel truly isolated from the busy gaming facilities.
Both the Sky and Earth Towers have large, elegant indoor pools open year-round for family use. The Sky Tower’s is enclosed by a bright atrium that leads to a large sundeck, open in warmer weather. This tower also boasts a large branch of Mandara, a world-class spa offering beauty services as well as wellness treatments.
The Wolf Den is another special facility for adult children. It’s an elevated club built above the casino floors where ages 21+ can have a drink and dance break to live music.
Beyond Gambling: Activities For All Ages At Mohegan Sun
The resort’s active 15,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena hosts live concerts, wrestling matches, regional sports competitions, comedians and more – attracting spectators from a hundred miles away. The Connecticut Sun, a WNBA franchise plays there regularly. Entertainers range from Paul Anka to Stevie Nicks, so there’s likely something for everyone in your crowd. We saw Pentatonix perform; you can’t imagine how great it is to leave an amazing concert, pause for a fabulous dessert and head up to bed without ever having to go outside.
Kids can be enrolled at Kids Quest, an active childcare center for ages 6 weeks to 12 years, and Cyber Quest, a busy arcade with dozens of game consoles. Teens can certainly supervise younger sibs here and spend hours doing so.
There’s plenty more to do for non-gamblers if you like the outdoors and hiking. Drive about 20 minutes with restless teens, where the resort operates Supercharged Indoor Karting, a private go-kart track and trampoline park.
Mohegan Sun does honor its Native American culture in the stunning lobby, which has some decorative elements and theming. Mohegan traditions are celebrated in the Earth Tower’s Convention Center where some interpretive tableaux of Native life and arts are on display.
Dining at Mohegan Sun, An East Coast Casino Resort
Dining venues should be booked in advance if you’re staying over a weekend or event night. All welcomes families with children and have varied menus. Celebrity chef dining ranges from the Asian TAO where kids can enjoy dumplings to Todd English’s Tuscany for an oven-baked pizza.
We enjoyed Bobby Flay’s Burger Palace for a casual, gourmet breakfast. It’s a great lunch spot, too. The on-site Carlo’s Bakery featured on the hit show “Cake Boss” puts on kids’ cake decorating classes for groups.
At our Christmas visit, the resort’s high-end shops were beautifully decorated. Like many families, we paused for a Christmas card photo in the hand-crafted gingerbread house nearby.
What Makes Resorts World Catskills Different From East Coast Casino Resorts
Resorts World Catskills opened in 2018 on the site of the historic Concord Hotel in Monticello, New York. (Genting Group’s Resorts World Hudson Valley and Resorts World New York City, have since opened in New York State.) There’s a different feeling and more Asian flair at this hotel and casino resort.
Like its competitors, Resorts World has hotel rooms tucked into a modern tower above a sprawling base full of gaming tables, restaurants, shops and activities. Unlike them, it’s in The Catskills, a well-known resort area packed with other family hotel and attractions options.
This East Coast casino resort is also not easy for families to navigate. The awkward layout puts more emphasis on gaming facilities for day-trippers than destination resort amenities. However, if a live show at the 2,500-seat RW Epicenter appeals, you might enjoy a night here.
Beyond Gambling: What’s Special About Resorts World Catskills For Families
The Resorts World Catskills’ 18-story tower is an all-suite hotel tower with spacious modern rooms. Next door is The Alder, an upscale boutique hotel that’s recently opened.
Those who remember The Concord will welcome the $40 million renovation of the Monster Golf Course, designed by Rees Jones and opened in 2023. Golfers like the rolling hills and dense greenery around the course, which has six Tee boxes at each of its 18 holes to suit all abilities. Of course, you can practice at the Topgolf Swing Suites as well. In addition to golf, facilities include a day spa, two indoor pools and fitness facilities for overnight guests.
In our opinion, the best thing about Resorts World for families is the proximity of the Kartrite Resort & Indoor Water Park nearby. The shiny new hotel on the same property tops a large and crowded, indoor water park that makes it a much more fun place to stay. Not that you’ll escape the hustle of the casino nearby. Kartrite has a pay-to-play games arcade, rock climbing wall, candy shop and fast-food outlets that call out to guests like slot machines. However, there are free seasonal arts n’crafts activities supervised by the friendly staff, and complimentary movies shown in the lobby at night.
Dining at Resorts World Catskills, An East Coast Casino Resort
The Catskills region has many restaurants so you can go out, too. If you want to keep it simple, book ahead to dine at one of the casino resort restaurants, the most notable of which is Cellaio Steak. All ages will enjoy this Italian steakhouse created by celebrity chef Scott Conant.
The new Dos Gatos Mexican Cantina is another popular option in The Alder Tower. Bar 360 and Empire Lounge showcase local bands and DJs for late night entertainment. And of course, there are the many eateries in Monticello which have beckoned tourists since the 1920s.
Casinos Near Scranton: Mohegan Pennsylvania
If you’re looking for a casino near Scranton, Pennsylvania, turn your attention to Mohegan Pennsylvania. The former Mohegan Sun Pocono opened in 2006 outside Wilkes-Barre as one of the state’s first slot casinos. While convenient for some families, we’ve heard that it’s hard to avoid the large smoking areas. Several restaurants and some facilities have limited hours so tables are hard to book. On the plus side, families with children enjoy watching a harness race at The Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. Kids will thrill to live horse races three or four days each week from spring until mid-November.
In conclusion, we hope that our in-depth look at three of the top East Coast family-welcoming casino resorts is helpful in planning your next vacation.
Whether you enjoy gambling or not, you’ll score big on family attractions at unbeatable prices compared to other resorts in the busy East Coast market.
Let us know where you decide to go and how your family enjoyed the trip.
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