Fun Events for Teens & Tweens in Greater Cincinnati!
Oh no, my kids are growing up. I used to be able to just pick something to do and they'd happily go along. Now, everything is up for debate. While my kids aren't quite teenagers yet, it won't be too long before they are. I have a pre-teen (soon to be 7th grader) and a wanna be pre-teen (soon to be 5th grader). Some events I think they'd enjoy are met with raised eyebrows and comments like, "Mom, I'm not doing that", "Mom, that is just not cool", "Mom, seriously". Ahhhhh, I feel sad and nostalgic on one side and proud and happy on the other. I do want them to to form their own opinions and likes/dislikes but I'd sure love it if some of them still coincided with mine. After substitute teaching this year in middle and high school I asked a some students what they enjoyed doing and came up with this list. Please feel free to include any additional ideas in the comments so we can keep on sharing.
Kings Island - A definite favorite. It's fun to go to the amusement park with friends, ride some rides, walk around, and people watch. Check out their Dive-In Movies on Friday nighs (June 26 - July 31 around 9:30 p.m.).
The Beach Waterpark - Another fun place to go when the weather is warm. Check out Club Splash for teens on Friday nights (June 12-Aug. 28, 9-11:30 p.m., $10/admission).
Wake Nation - Adventurous teens get to show of their wakeboarding and water skiing skills at this fun waterpark in Fairfield.
Movies - It's nice to see that going to the movies is still a "teen" thing. I remember going as a teen and loved it. There are also free summer movies
offered this summer. While many summer movies are geared towards younger kids, there may be a few options that teens might enjoy as well.
Drive-in Movie - There's only a few of these left. There's one in Hamilton, Holiday Auto Theater, and one in Amelia, Starlite Drive-In. (See Kings Island above for Dive-In Movies on select Friday nights).
Concerts - A no brainer. There are many free summer concerts to enjoy this summer. We have a listing on our music and concert page.
Festivals - There are lots of summer festivals going on and plenty of events during the year. Find these events on our monthly top picks calendar page.
The Underground - A great venue for teens to enjoy music, faith and media (really cool film camps offered too).
Game time fun - There are few places to have fun with video games while socializing with friends. Check out Dave & Busters in Springdale (under 18 must be accompanied by an adult 25 years or older), GameWorks at Newport on the Levee, Arcade Legacy at Cicinnati Mills and The Place Retro Arcade on Galbraith Road.
Shopping:
Mall - Yes, going to the mall is still something teens (girls especially) like to do. Shopping and laughing with friends makes for a fun-filled day. Kenwood Mall, Prime Outlets in Monroe, Deerfield Towne Center and Bridgewater Falls all have great shopping.
Adventure:
Zipline - Getting outdoors and zip lining is lots of fun. You can zipline north of Cincinnati at YMCA Camp Kern with Ozone Zipline Canopy Tour or head to Dagaz Acres in Rising Sun Indiana. There is also an indoor zip park called Zip City located in Sports Plus.
Go Kart Racing - Zipping around in a go-kart is fun. You can visit Full Throttle (in Springdale), The Web Extreme Entertainment (in Liberty Twp.), or Scene75 in Dayton for some indoor go-kart fun. Parents may need to sign a waiver for kids 18 years and younger.
Rock Climbing - Grab a friend/belayer and head out for some rock climbing fun. There are a few indoor rock climbing facilities in Greater Cincinnati. Rock Quest Climbing Center, Blue Ash Recreation Center, and Cimb Time are all open to the public.
Trapped in a Room with a Zombie - Put your thinking caps on and try to figure out how to get out of the room before the Zombie gets you. This is a great group activity. Visit The Web Extreme Entertainment for more info.
Escape the Room Challenge - Another fun group challenge. Try to figure out the clues to get out of the room in one hour.
(Picture courtesy of The Web Extreme Entertainment)
Sports: Seeing a game with friends is a win-win. We've got lots of sports choices. We have professional, semi-pro, college, and high school sports to enjoy.
High School games - check your local school system.
Prasco Park Games - Cincinnati Spikes
Golf - Enjoy some mini-golf or head out to one of the many beautiful golf course we have in the area.
Bowling - Get a group of friends together for some bowling fun. We've got some local bowling alley's posted on our bowling page.
Nature: Visit a local park for hiking, biking, paddle boating, or playing frisbee.
Great Parks of Hamilton County - They have an extensive and beautiful park system.
Cincinnati Nature Center - They have great hiking trails.
Cincinnati Park District - There are many great parks in Cincinnati.
Note: Some venues require a parent to be on site or to sign a waiver. Just double check before heading out.
