Seattle Family Calendar
Subscribe
Independent summertime adventures
When my sons were younger, I remember being shocked that I had to start thinking about summer camp in February. Now that they are teenagers, the summer camp hustle is (thankfully) in the rearview mirror, but a new challenge roles around each June. What are they supposed to do all summer?
My sons are currently in one of those tricky in between phases — too old for most summer camps, but too young to get a summer job. And while I have always been a fan of a relaxed schedule and have no problem with unstructured time, these last few weeks of summer can drag on. By August we are all ready for an infusion of some new, fun ideas.
So here are my ideas for independent outing teens and tweens can take around Seattle to keep busy during these last few weeks of summer. I ran these ideas past my sample size of two at home and was met with head nods and vague positive remarks — a wildly positive endorsement from 14- and 15-year-old boys.
Click the arrow above the image or the link at the bottom of each page to see all my recommendations. Or, simply click the link below that you think will get your teens out of bed before noon and out the door:
First up: Gaming, IRL
More tween and teen entertainment:
Editor’s note: This article was first published in 2023 and was updated with a new introduction, entertainment ideas and photography in 2024 by ParentMap’s associate editor.
Gaming, IRL
Board games have come a long way, and choices today go way beyond Chutes and Ladders or Monopoly (yawn). And with such variety, there is something for just about everyone; straightforward, quick card games; games with so many pieces it takes an advanced degree to set it all up; and complex adventure games that can take hours to complete. Check out these stores for plenty of options, plus a variety of in-person gaming events:
Mox Boarding House, Seattle and Bellevue
Browse for new board games, check out the latest Magic the Gathering cards or come for an epic Dungeons & Dragons adventure. Mox has something for everyone, including a restaurant, where you can sit and chat with your friends over a beer while the kids go all in on a gaming adventure. My kind of place! But be forewarned: Some of the card and gaming events have an entry fee and often run until after 10 p.m.
Zulu’s Board Game Cafe, Bothell
A community-oriented board-game café for all ages, this venue offers a wide variety of board games, card-game tournaments, and even Dungeons & Dragons for young adventurers! This shop’s packed events calendar can keep your gaming teen busy every night of the week. Again, be sure to read all event details, as some have fees and late ending times.
Tacoma Games, Tacoma
This is a great game shop, filled with a wide selection of board games, card games, role-playing games and supplies for painting miniatures. This store also hosts weekly Magic the Gathering tournaments and events throughout the month; check the calendar for details. While there is no café located onsite, there are many nearby places to grab a meal or snack.
Up next: Get them moving
Get them moving
Sometimes even teens and tweens just need to get out there and move. While running around at the park may no longer be appealing, outdoor activity for tweens and teens is still beneficial to their physical and mental health. If your child is less than excited about exercise, see if any of these ideas help get them (and their friends) off the couch:
Ice skating or roller skating
There is no scoring, no winning and no pressure when it comes to skating rinks. And there is something about flying (or flailing) around a rink that brings out the kid in all of us, even the teen-iest of teens. Check out this roller skating guide, and don’t forget to tell your kids that roller skating really is cool. If ice skating might be more their thing, check out our guide to local ice rinks (scroll down past the seasonal pop-up rinks for the permanent ones).
Driving ranges
This is another laid-back, noncompetitive, no-scores opportunity for kids to get outside and do something fun while being social. No equipment? No problem! Everything you need is provided at the range, so just show up, grab a club and a bucket of golf balls, and start having fun. Interbay Golf Center offers 80 covered stalls and 40 heated stalls, allowing you to yell “Fore!” comfortably all year. If your kid is more into mini golf, discover awesome mini-golf spots around Seattle, the Eastside and South Sound here.
Skate parks
If you’ve got a skater in your house you know the skate park dilemma well. They can be a great place for kids to be active and burn tons of energy. But, sometimes you find other activities that are not great for tweens and young teens to be around (i.e., vaping). That’s why I am a big fan of places like All Together Skate Park. Kids pay $10 and can practice their skateboard tricks during Open Skate in a positive environment. New to skateboarding? They offer classes and camps too.
Up next: Live events
Live events
Living in (or near) a city like Seattle provides so many opportunities for live events that it is impossible to list them all. From live theater and musical shows to fairs and festivals, there is so much for tweens and teens to experience! And if your teen hasn’t yet signed up for TeenTix, they should do it today. Seriously. Stop reading this article and go sign them up right now. Here are just a few of the venues that welcome the teen crowd:
The Vera Project, Seattle
The Vera Project is an all-ages nonprofit space that has been dedicated to youth arts and music for more than 20 years. Vera hosts live-music shows, and offers classes and workshops in screen printing, live and recorded sound, concert lighting, zine making, DJ-ing and more. Sound amazing? Well, it is!
The Paramount, Moore and Neptune theaters, Seattle
Remember the excitement of attending your first real concert? While these venues don’t necessarily focus on teens, many of their events welcome all ages, and TeenTix makes them super affordable. Any teenager can join this incredible program to get $5 tickets for day-of shows at more than 70 partner organizations. The TeenTix calendar is so packed full of events that it makes any teen’s default complaint that “there’s nothing to do” null and void.
Up next: Awesome arcades
Awesome Arcades
Okay, so technically, arcades mean screen time, but your kids will be out of the house and with their friends, so it hardly counts! Have your kid grab a few friends and head to a real-life arcade for some old-school video game fun. They might scoff at the graphics, but let’s see them try and get their initials in one of those high score slots. Bonus: Arcades have a natural time limit. When you’re out of quarters, you’re out of quarters. Point your teen toward the following arcades next time they complain about being bored.
Ice Box Arcade, Seattle
This great old-school arcade offers video games, pinball machines, a pool table and air hockey (plus a variety of snacks available for purchase). All ages are welcome until 8 p.m., after which it is open to adults only (21 and older) until closing. Have your kids check the arcade’s calendar before heading out; they are sometimes closed for private events and tournaments.
Dorky’s Arcade, Tacoma
Have you ever played an arcade game? Chances are if you have, you’ll find that game among the huge selection (more than 100!) of classic arcade games and pinball machines here. All ages are welcome until 9 p.m., after which it’s adults only (21 and older). Kids coming to Dorky’s Arcade should be at least 7 years old, and kids ages 7–15 must be accompanied by an adult, though kids are welcome to play games on their own (you don’t have to hover). Dorky’s also sells pizza and sandwiches. Check the Facebook page for upcoming events and more info.
Memory Lane Arcade, Everett Mall
A video game arcade in a mall? What could be more of a tween paradise? While this arcade is not as large as the others, it offers plenty of air-conditioned fun. Teens can play some games, then they can head to the food court for lunch. It’s like the 1980s all over again.
Next time your tween or teen complains about being bored, suggest some of these ideas. Or, better yet, just text them the link to this article and let them take the lead in planning their next adventure!
