15 Fun Things to Do with Teens in Kansas City
Finding new and exciting things for teenagers to do isn’t always easy. You want to get them out of the house and away from their screens. Maybe they’ll even learn something, too.
But finding the right outing is a balancing act. There’s a fine line between activities being too childish and too mature. Thankfully, the Kansas City area is ripe with activities for all ages—and especially perfect for those in-between years.
For the active teen
If your teen is filled with energy and enjoys being active, there’s plenty to do in Kansas City. Try Topgolf in Overland Park or T-Shotz in Kansas City’s Northland to get some practice at the driving range. Even if your teen isn’t a golfing pro, it’s still fun to take a few swings with the various golf games and enjoy a great meal.
Kansas City is a hoops city, and that’s evident at the College Basketball Experience in Downtown KC. Bring your basketball fan to explore two floors of interactive exhibits where they can try to slam dunk, challenge friends in a full-court press and broadcast live from the ESPN desk.
Challenge your teen’s brain and body at BRKTHROUGH or Activate in Overland Park, which feature dozens of challenge rooms with a tech twist. There are games with lasers, climbing walls and more—think “The Floor Is Lava” or “Red Light, Green Light.” Competitive teens can even track their points and progress, seeing how they stack up against others.
For the creative teen
Enroll your crafty teen in a DIY class at one of the KC area’s local studios. Paint pottery, decorate a stylish hat or make a piece of wall art at Creative Culture before enjoying a massive milkshake. Create a custom candle at Embers Candle Bar or paint a welcome sign at Hammer & Stain.
Is your teen constantly dreaming up new inventions? Take advantage of the equipment in the Johnson County Library’s MakerSpace. It features tech like 3D printers, laser cutters and specialty software, all free to use. Reservations are required.
Take your talented photographer or social media-obsessed teen to Selfie WRLD in Lee’s Summit. KC’s first selfie museum is filled with interactive, Instagram-worthy art installations where your teen can strike a pose.
For the foodie teen
Challenge your teen to learn new skills with a cooking class at the Culinary Center of Kansas City in Overland Park. Or learn to bake pies and roll sushi at Taste Buds Kitchen in Leawood.
Hungry? Kansas City’s food halls offer a wide range of cuisines, everything from African dishes to Thai food. With so many options, your food-crazed teen will have plenty of new choices to try. Check out Parlor in KC’s Crossroads Arts District or Strang Hall, which has three locations across the metro.
Explore Kansas City’s signature cuisine with the KC BBQ Experience app. Your teen can check in at over 100 local restaurants, earn badges, post photos and even take on themed BBQ trails.
For the clever teen
Put your mind to the test with KC-area escape rooms like the River Market’s Breakout KC, special effects-heavy Tick Tock Escape Rooms in Overland Park, spooky The Basement in the Crossroads and The Escape Game on the Country Club Plaza.
There’s also FlipSwitch VR in the Crossroads, Double Tap KC in the River Market or Sandbox VR in Leawood, which utilize free-roam, multiplayer virtual reality. Your video game-obsessed teen can suit up with a headset to fight against hoards of zombies and other enemies in a growing catalogue of games.
If you’re tired of buying so many new board games, consider taking your teen to a local tabletop gaming space where they can play hundreds of games. Cardboard Corner Café in Overland Park and Lenexa, Pawn and Pint in Downtown KC, and Mission: Board Games in Mission and KC’s Northland are favorites, but adult supervision is required at many businesses.
For every teen
Grab your four-legged friend and head to Kansas City’s Bar K dog park. You and your teen can enjoy a bite to eat while your pet runs free in the off-leash play area with other pups.
You don’t have to be an expert to take a swing at pickleball. It’s a sport for all ages and abilities. With other 100 courts in the Kansas City area, there’s likely one nearby. For snacks and serves, try Chicken N Pickle in North Kansas City and Overland Park or SERV in Overland Park.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art collection contains nearly 40,000 works, which means there’s bound to be something to interest your teen. Plus, it’s totally free. To add to the fun, find the famous shuttlecocks in the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park or play mini golf on the Art Course.