Teens and tweens can be a tough bunch to please, especially when it comes to entertainment. If you’re able to pry your adolescent away from their mobile device and get them outside of the house, consider that a parenting win! But once they’re out of their room, you’ll probably need something to do with them. Playgrounds and play dates no longer cut it, so you’ll have to be creative.
Don’t fret! There are plenty of fun things to do in Indianapolis with your teen or tween. Whether you’re looking for an outdoor adventure or an indoor experience, here are just some of the fun and exciting things to do that will score you major cool-parent points.
Duckpin Bowling
Duckpin bowling is a fun, low-cost activity to enjoy with teens and tweens. What makes it different from the traditional game? Instead of using 10 pins, you’ll use only three! (The name “duckpin” refers to the small size of these pins.)
Pins Mechanical Company
- 856 Carrollton Ave, Indianapolis
- pinsbar.com/indianapolis
Pins Mechanical on Mass Ave is the newest entertainment venue to offer duckpin bowling, and is located in the Bottleworks district. You’ll also find lots of other old-school entertainment here, including foosball, pinball, ping pong and bocce ball.
Atomic Bowl
- 1105 Prospect St, Indianapolis
- fountainsquareindy.com/atomic-retro-duckpin-bowling-indianapolis
Atomic Bowl in Fountain Square is a retro midcentury duckpin bowling alley in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. They offer duckpin bowling on Tuesdays through Sundays, and also have a full menu to order from — including appetizers, burgers and pizza — so you can snack while bowling.
Laser Tag
Laser tag is a great activity for teens and tweens, as it’s both fun and a great way to get some exercise. The game can be played in groups or individually, so your kids can bring their friends if you want to make it even more fun.
Laser Storm Laser Tag
- 5261 Elmwood Ave, Indianapolis
- royalpin.com/Play/Laser-Storm
Laser Storm Laser Tag is located inside Royal Pin Entertainment, so not only will you find a laser tag arena, but you’ll also find a bowling alley, Pirate’s Quest miniature golf and arcade games.
Laser Flash
- 617 3rd Ave SW, Carmel
- laser-flash.com
Laser Flash in Carmel has a big laser tag arena, as well as an arcade and a Noble Roman’s restaurant on site. Buying admission to laser tag for one day allows you to come back and play all month for free!
Go Karts
For older kids that have a need for speed, go-karting is a great way to spend an hour or two. This is a fun activity for older kids because at many go-karting locations, you need to meet minimum weight and height requirements.
Fastimes
- 3455 Harper Rd., Indianapolis
- ftik.com
offers indoor go karts that are perfect for all ages. They also offer laser tag, soft play area and arcade games so there’s something for everyone in this fun environment.
K1 Speed
- 9998 E 121st St., Fishers
- k1speed.com
K1 Speed has a race track that features a long track with plenty of twists and turns to challenge the most seasoned go-karting driver.
Speedway Indoor Karting
- 1067 N Main St, Speedway
- sikindy.com
Speedway Indoor Karting features two separate tracks: a European-style, multi-level road course sure to provide a challenge for any skill level, and an oval slick track which guarantees an adrenaline rush. Finish your visit with a slice of New York-style pizza from Brozinni Pizzeria, which shares the building with Speedway Indoor Karting.
Zip Lines & Obstacle Courses
When you’re looking for an activity that will take you to new heights (literally), look to zip lining.
Go Ape
- 5855 Delong Rd, Indianapolis
- goape.com
Go Ape offers dangling obstacles and invitations explore the trees from a new perspective as you fly around on multiple ziplines from exciting heights. Once you’re back on the ground, you can try one of the location’s other activities, like axe throwing or outdoor escape room.
Zip City Indy
- 6650 Bluff Rd, Indianapolis
- zipcityusa.com/indianapolis
Zip City Indy offers an indoor zip line park, as well as an indoor trampoline park with trampoline dodgeball, a ropes course, climbing walls and laser tag in an over 70,000-square-foot facility.
Koteewi Aerial Adventures
- 11800 Koteewi Dr, Noblesville
- koteewiadventures.com
Koteewi Aerial Adventures in Noblesville provide thrills and fun for everyone at every skill level. The adventure park is a series of obstacles built into the trees, and changes depending on which course you take.
Trampoline Parks
Trampoline parks are great places for tweens and teens to get their bounce on. Most trampoline parks offer open jump sessions that allow you access to all of the facility during designated time periods — usually one hour long — for one flat fee per person. This is definitely worth it if you have multiple kids.
Urban Air
- 14450 Mundy Dr, Noblesville
- urbanair.com/indiana-noblesville
Urban Air in Noblesville has trampolines, as well as zip lines, a ninja warrior course and a ropes course, so there are lots of heart-pumping activities to try. There’s even a virtual reality experience and an arcade for those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground.
Adrenaline Family Adventure Park
- 10080 E 121st St Suite 182, Fishers
- adrenalineactionpark.com
Adrenaline Family Adventure Park in Fishers offers different areas to jump, climb and get active. Along with trampolines, you’ll find a warrior courses, an extreme basketball court and an arcade.
Sky Zone
- 8356 Masters Rd., Indianapolis
- 4150 Kildeer Dr., Indianapolis
- 851 S. Columbia Rd, Plainfield
- skyzone.com
Sky Zone — with two locations in Indianapolis and one in Plainfield — is the home of wall-to-wall jumping action. Featuring multiple trampolines, participants can dunk basketballs, play dodgeball or just jump the day away in this indoor trampoline park.
Food Halls
Food halls are an ideal foodie destination for teens and tweens because they can cater to both indecisive eaters and those who want to branch out and try new foods. And if you have an older teen who wants to flex their independence, this is a good option, because they have multiple choices of what to eat and where to sit.
The Garage Food Hall
- 906 Carrollton Ave, Indianapolis
- garageindy.com
The Garage Food Hall is a culinary hotspot located on Mass Ave in the Bottleworks District. It features a variety of food vendors and cuisines, from classic burgers and fries (Clancy’s Hamburgers) to Asian-Mexican street food (La Chinita Poblana) to lobster rolls (J’s Lobster and Fish Market).
Fishers Test Kitchen
- 9713 District N Dr., Fishers
- fisherstestkitchen.com
Fishers Test Kitchen is open for lunch and dinner, and offers a place to find food and fun. During the warmer months, you’ll find games like corn hole set up on the second-story outdoor patio. The restaurants change seasonally, but you usually always find diner-style smashburgers, tacos and tortas, and Modern American Cuisine.
The AMP at 16 Tech
- 1220 Waterway Blvd, Indianapolis
- theampindy.com
The AMP at 16 Tech features local food vendors serving up everything from pizza and poke to burgers and boba tea. The communal atmosphere is adorned with colorful shipping containers, food stalls, lots of seating, a sound stage and more.
Movie Theatres
Going to a movie theater has been a popular pastime among teenagers for decades. It provides a fun and social activity that allows them to hang out with friends and escape into a different world for a few hours. There are several movie theatres around Indianapolis to choose from:
Living Room Theatres
- 745 E 9th St., Indianapolis
- ind.livingroomtheaters.com/nowplaying
Located across the street from the Bottleworks District and The Garage Food Hall, so you’re close to food and entertainment.
Flix Brewhouse
- 2206 E 116th St, Carmel
- flixbrewhouse.com/carmel
A luxury theatre with great food that’s served directly to your seat.
Studio Movie Grill
- 3535 W 86th St, Indianapolis
- studiomoviegrill.com
This theatre also offers food delivered right to your seat.
Keystone Art Cinema
- 8702 Keystone Crossing, Indianapolis
- landmarktheatres.com
Located in the Keystone Fashion Mall, this is a great place to see independent and foreign films in Indy.
IMAX Theatre at Indiana State Museum
- 650 W Washington St, Indianapolis
- imax.com/imax-indiana-state-museum-oo
This theatre has the largest movie screen in the state: It’s six stories tall and 84 feet wide!
Kan-Kan Cinema and Brasserie
- 1258 Windsor St, Indianapolis
- kankanindy.com
This three-screen arthouse cinema, film education complex, and European-inspired restaurant is Indy’s only locally owned arthouse theatre.
Arcades and Virtual Reality
Arcades are a classic activity for teens and tweens.
Boss Battle Games
- 6020 E 82nd St, Indianapolis
- bossbattlegamesarcade.com
Boss Battle Games lets you play more than 100 arcade, console and pinball games with no need for quarters or cards. Just pay admission, and you can play at this retro arcade ’til your heart’s content!
The Paddock
- 150 E Market St, Indianapolis
- www.paddockclubracing.com
The Paddock blurs the lines between the virtual world and reality with racing simulators that offer a truly immersive experience.
Sandbox VR
- 850 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis
- sandboxvr.com/indianapolis
Sandbox is a futuristic VR experience for groups of up to 6 where you can see and physically interact with everyone inside, just like the real world.
Escape Rooms
Escape rooms are a great way to give kids a chance to practice problem-solving skills. Teens can use their teamwork skills as they work together with other players in order to solve puzzles and find clues that will lead them out of the room.
The Escape Room Indianapolis
- 200 S Meridian St., Indianapolis
- escaperoomusa.com/in/indianapolis
The Escape Room Indianapolis has seven different themed escape rooms including “Contagion,” in which teams have to solve clues in hopes of avoiding a national outbreak.
Twisted Room Escapes
- 3145 E Thompson Rd, Indianapolis
- twistedroomescapes.com
Twisted Room Escapes offers eight different themes, each sending you on a family-friendly mission to solve clues and unplug from the outside world.
Breakout Games
- 8455 Castlewood Dr., Indianapolis
- breakoutgames.com
Breakout Games offers different rooms that follow unique storylines, allowing players 60 minutes to escape by cracking codes, solving puzzles and following clues.
