We stayed at a casino for my grandma's 92nd birthday. All three generations of my family found things to do.

07.11.2024 - 14:21 / insider.com

All three generations of my family spent three days at Foxwoods Casino Resort in Connecticut, celebrating my grandmother's 92nd birthday.

The resort casino is one of the largest in the world, with six casinos, over 2,200 hotel rooms, and dozens of restaurants. Plus, at the beginning of the year, the property announced it was investing $30 million in new renovation projects — including the luxurious Grand Bar that opened last month.

Although it might not be the first thing that comes to mind, a casino can be a great destination for a multigenerational family vacation.

Gambling is the primary activity at a casino, but the Foxwoods property also had a zip line, go-karts, axe-throwing, a smash room, bowling, an arcade, and more.

With a big group of different age ranges, we were conscious of how people wanted to plan their days: spending time at the casinos, shopping at outlet malls, relaxing by the spa, hiking, or trying one of the many interactive games and activities.

Most days, we broke up into groups based on what people were interested in — and were delightfully surprised when we ran into each other along the way.

Although there was more than enough to keep us entertained on the property, we also wanted to get some fresh air. It was peak New England fall, after all.

We tested some nearby hiking trails, taking in the gorgeous foliage. There are a few different trail options, and one took us right to the Mashantucket Pequot Native American Museum, one of the largest Native American history museums in the world.

The trails also looped back to the property, so we could easily check multiple activities off our list in one afternoon.

At the end of each night, the family reunited to celebrate my grandmother's birthday at different restaurants on the property.

Because we were a group of nine, we made sure to have reservations.

After dinner, my family split up once again — some enjoying more casino time and others trying their hand at bowling or arcade games.

The property was huge. It took us at least 10 to 15 minutes to get from our hotel to the various Foxwoods restaurants where we had dinner.

However, the resort had clear paths, elevators, escalators, and walkways for mobility. Our hotel also provided motorized chairs upon request.

Accessibility is important to my family, especially while traveling with someone in their 90s. It was easy to navigate the long hallways with the motorized walkways and the long flights of stairs with clearly marked elevators.

No matter your age, there's something for everyone to do at Foxwoods. Even families with younger children could have a nice getaway — just without the gambling.

Whether you're seeing a show, propelling yourself down a zip-line, trying your luck at casino