Photo courtesy of the WNDR Museum

Top Indoor Places for Tweens and Teens To Hang Out in Chicago

1. Visit an offbeat museum, like the Ballooon Museum, Museum of Illusions or WNDR Museum

Sure, we all know about MSI, The Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Adler Planetarium, but there's a handful of newer, smaller museums that have recently popped up and may not be as filled with tourists and elementary kids as the Museum Campus. Teens and tweens might want to check out The Museum of Illusions, EmotionAir: The Balloon Museum, or the WNDR Museum.

2.Take a swing at indoor mini golf or a golf simulator.

We all miss being able to play outside at one of our favorite mini golf courses, but in the winter, teens and tweens can check out Big Mini Putt Club in Wicker Park or Puttshack in Oak Brook for some indoor fun. Play 18 in the Loop is supposed to be the most realistic golf simulator in Chicago, or teens can visit Top Golf in Schaumburg or Naperville or the punnily named Game of Irons. Be aware that some of these places impose a 21+ age limit after 8 or 9 p.m. 

See a movie, but somewhere cool and unique! Photo courtesy of The Music Box Theatre

3. See a movie at a unique theater, like the Music Box or the Tivoli Theater

Want to look artsy and cool? Check out an old classic like The Music Box Theatre on Southport or a new trendy spot like Alamo Drafthouse in Wrigleyville. The suburbs also abound with unique places to catch a movie (mainstream or indie), like the Glen Art Theatre in Glen Ellyn or the Tivoli Theater in Downers Grove.

4. Go bowling at Pinstripes, Lucky Strike, or 10 Pin.

Bowling in Chicago can take on many different vibes. You can visit a big bowling center, like the AMF locations in Hillside, Addison, or Naperville, or you can go back in time at a kitschy, old school alley like Timber Lanes in North Center or Diversey River Bowl in Lincoln Park. Or check out an upscale bowling lounge like 10 Pin in River North or Pinstripes, which has locations in Streeterville, Oak Brook, Northbrook and South Barrington. We have a full list of our favorites here.

 
This odd game keeps them moving, interacting, and having fun. Photo courtesy of the Whirlyball

5. Play Whirlyball!

It's like lacrosse in bumper cars. Plus, its locations usually also include laser tag, arcade games and pizza. You can play this weird game in Lincoln Park, Naperville, or Vernon Hills.

6. Visit the world's largest arcade, The Galloping Ghost

Brookfield is home to The Galloping Ghost, the largest arcade in the world with 885 games, all set to free play so you can enjoy unlimited games for the $25 entry fee. You can also check Odyssey Fun World in Naperville or Nickel City in Northbrook, which offers some classic games for free and others for just five cents. 

 
Teens can use the 3D Printer at the Woodson Regional Library. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Public Library

7. Make your own media at Chicago Public Libraries with YOUMedia

Chicago Public Library has 29 locations with YOUMedia teen spaces where teens can explore digital media and have a space to create videos, play games, or interact with other teens online or in person. The original space is a 5,500 square foot center at Harold Washington Library downtown. Many suburbs, like Elmhurst and Naperville, also have libraries with teen-oriented spaces.

8. Try to get out of Escape the Room in Oak Brook

We recently got out of The Theater in the nick of time! The great thing about Escape the Room in Oak Brook is you can share with people you don't know, so even if you have just one friend to try it with, you can have a fun experience. We have a whole list of great escape rooms for kids in Chicago and the suburbs. 

9. Learn to roller skate at MLK Park & Family Entertainment Center

Kids who are loving Stranger Things right now might revel in the retro fun of roller rinks. Although they may be using skates older than they are, kids can enjoy a skate at Fleetwood Skating Rink in Summit, Aurora Skate Center, or MLK Park & Family Entertainment Center's skating rink, which has different themes for each day of the week and even different times of day, so teens don't have to skate with Princess Poppy. Or, take a glide on the ice at McFetridge Sports Center in North Center, Glenview Community Ice Center, or Darien Sportsplex.

 
Climb the walls when you need to, just not at home. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Boulders in the South Loop

10. Climb the walls at Brooklyn Boulders

Teens and tweens who miss hiking around outdoors when the weather gets too cold can build some muscle indoors at Chicago climbing gyms like Brooklyn Boulders in the West Loop, Vertical Endeavors in Glendale Heights, or one of the five First Ascent locations throughout the city and suburbs.

11. Shop at Chicago Fashion Outlets, Old Orchard, or Yorktown Center

It isn't the '80s, but there are still some interesting malls in and around Chicago. Rosemont's Chicago Fashion Outlets has designer stores for lower prices. Lombard's Yorktown Center retains some of the '90s vibe but still has a fun variety of shops. And Block 37 includes lots of teen friendly shops, from Akira to Zara, along with a First Ascent climbing gym, an AMC Theater, and an extensive food court connected via the underground pedway to several State Street shops. 

12. Try a game rooms experience, like Activate in Oak Brook or Time Mission in Mount Prospect

Both of these include multiple rooms where you are the player. Activate is mostly active games, like shooting baskets, throwing things at digital space ships, or running across a light up floor to stand on a certain color of square before time runs out. Time Mission has many active games, but also includes some intellectual puzzle-based games, like full-room Simon or trying to figure out how to get a ball through a maze. They're both amazing ways to burn off energy and have fun for tweens and teens

Best neighborhoods for indoor teen activities

In general, we think the best neighborhoods for tweens and teens are the ones closest to home, or shopping centers where they can walk to multiple activities safely. If your teen(s) want to be dropped off somewhere and not see you for a while, try Parkway Bank Park and the adjacent Chicago Fashion Outlets in Rosemont, Oak Brook Center, which has places like Immersive Gamebox and Activate game rooms, or Woodfield Mall, which has lots of unique shopping and experiences. Parents can stay in the mall or get a coffee nearby in case something goes wrong.

Safety and supervision considerations

Consider having at least one parent in the building or area if you're letting your teen or tween hang out somewhere with friends. We love that our kids have smart watches now so that we can track where they are, but that doesn't prevent bad things from happening. Having tweens and teens hang out in a group can be helpful because they can look out for each other, but it's still a good idea to have a curfew and/or an adult with the group to ensure that teens are staying safe and not wandering to locations they shouldn't be.

Transit tips for teens navigating the city

Before you let your teen travel on the L or a CTA bus, make sure they know how to use a Ventra card or app and how to get where they're going. Consider doing a test run so your teen can prove they are responsible enough to use public transit. Make a plan for using any public transit before they go anywhere, making sure they let you know which train or bus they'll take in which direction.

If you're using the Metra to come in from the suburbs, make sure your teen knows when the last train leaves, and when the trains transition from running every 30-60 minutes to running every two hours. I've been stuck at Union Station at 10 p.m. when the next outbound train is at 11:40, and it's less than ideal even for an adult. 

Planning activities for groups vs. solo teens

If your teen and their friends want to go somewhere together, it's easier for you to drop them off somewhere and come back in a couple of hours. For kids who are bored and don't have a buddy to go somewhere with, it can be fun to go as a family to one of these locations. Teens can even go by themselves to the library, a museum, or a movie by themselves while you find something to do in the same venue or nearby.