The Tree House is the one area at Foxwoods that is truly geared toward children. This action-packed arcade features more than 100 video games and games of skill, including pinball machines, driving games, basketball and Skeeball. Kids earn tickets based on their scores and can redeem the tickets for prizes including toys, clothing and high-end items like iPods and video gaming systems. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult to go to the Tree House.
High Rollers (highrollersfoxwoods.com), the sleek, upscale bowling alley at Foxwoods, features 20 lanes, billiards and big-screen TVs. The alley allows families to bring children before 7 p.m. only; after 7:00, guests must be 21 years of age or older. Your kids can be active outside by taking a walk through the Pequot Trails; paw prints lead the way from the casino to the wooded trails surrounding the property. Lantern Hill Trail takes you up 491 feet for spectacular views of the Connecticut countryside and Block Island Sound. In winter, Foxwoods sets up an outdoor ice skating rink and offers skate rentals for the whole family.
If you would like to give your kids a lesson in history and culture, Foxwoods features a museum for visitors to learn more about the Pequot Tribal Nation. The Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center (pequotmuseum.org) showcases interactive exhibits and films about the traditions and everyday life of this tribal nation. Kids can explore outdoor villages to see how the Pequot people lived from the 16th through 18th centuries. The museum features a family-friendly restaurant and a gift shop offering Native American souvenirs and crafts.
While shopping at Foxwoods mostly leans toward high-end jewelry and apparel, The Candy Shell (no website; 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket; 860-312-3053) is a wonderland of M&M candy and licensed products, and Kidstuff (no website; 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket; 860-312-3000) features toys and clothing for little ones. If you have teen or tween girls, take them to boutiques like Regalia (no website; 250 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket; 800-369-9663) and Panache (no website; 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket; 860-312-8685) to check out trendy clothing, makeup and accessories including brands like Juicy Couture, BCBG, Smashbox and Tory Burch. When it is time to eat, Mommy Poppins, a Connecticut parenting website, recommends family-friendly dining options such as California Pizza Kitchen (cpk.com), Fuddruckers (fuddruckers.com) and Hard Rock Cafe (hardrock.com). You can also finish your meal with a cool treat from Ben & Jerry's (benjerry.com).
