Updated for 2022!
Recently, a friend of mine asked for suggestions for places to take her tween. It made me realize that most of our suggestions are for younger kids so I decided to put together a list of amazing indoor places to take tweens and teens. As I find more incredible locations, I will add them to the list so make sure to check back frequently!
Amazing Places Tweens and Teens to Play Indoors
Funplex
There are two amazing locations for Funplex in NJ, East Hanover and Mt. Laurel, both offering incredible indoor play experiences. It is FREE to enter but you must purchase a fun card, wristband or season pass to enjoy all the rides and attractions. Some experiences include laser tag, arcade games, Warrior Course (obstacle course), go-karts, Hologate (virtual reality game) and XD Dark Ride. Guest can also enjoy fun rides like Super Twister, bumper cars and Skyscraper. Funplex is open daily.
iFly
Tweens and teens will LOVE iFly, indoor skydiving center, located in Paramus. They will experience the thrill and exhilaration of flying without having to jump out of an airplane. After receiving some training from a flight instructor and gearing up, flyers will enter a Flight Chamber for the experience of a lifetime! iFly also offers Flight School, STEM programs, private and group class/coaching, all abilities programs and military training.
Liberty Science Center
The Liberty Science Center, located in Jersey City, is one of my favorite places to visit! There are so many amazing brain boosting exhibits, interactive activities and programs for kids and adults of all ages. Families can spend hours exploring and playing. Tweens and teens will love the new Sherlock Holmes exhibit where they can solve a crime! They will also enjoy crawling through the Touch Tunnel, walking on the beams at Skyscraper, watching a show at the planetarium and more. You can visit for FREE during Bank of America Museums on Us weekends (when you show your Bank of America card)!
Laser One
Laser One, located in Wantage, offers hours of fun for tweens and teens. Your kids won’t ever want to leave their 6,000 square foot multi-level laser tag arena! There are 3 levels of game play, Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced, each with 4 different game options. There is also the Laser Maze Challenge, Highway 66 Bowling, mini golf and an arcade!
Sparta Ninja Warrior
If your tween or teen loves watching American Ninja Warrior and longs to compete in one of the challenges, then you have to take them to Sparta Ninja Warrior. While tackling the obstacles at Sparta Ninja Warrior, kids will build physical and mental strength. Guests can enjoy obstacles like Devil’s Steps, Warped Wall, and Cannonball Alley. Sparta Ninja Warrior offers classes, open gym sessions, and birthday parties. Learn more on their website.
Tac Ops
If your kids love laser tag, then they are going to LOVE Tac Ops, a tactical laser tag experience. Located in Fairfield, Tac Ops offers a unique experience for tweens and teens. This is a fully immersive experience with a range of difficulty levels and missions. Players will feel like their favorite video game was brought to life! Tac Ops is open Tuesday-Sunday and reservations are required. They also offer birthday parties. Visit their website for more information.
Sky Zone Trampoline Park
The next time the weather stops you from enjoying outdoor play, then bounce, jump, flip and fly at Sky Zone. With locations in 9 NJ towns, Sky Zone offers hours of fun and excitement. While playing, kids will enhance gross motor skills, balance, coordination and motor planning. Tweens and teens will love playing dodgeball and skyslam as well as jumping into the foam zone. They can even join the Dodgeball Academy. New to Sky Zone is also SkyWars, a simulated battle game that uses blasters and foam balls or darts.
Sahara Sam’s Oasis
You don’t have to travel to the Poconos for indoor water park fun! Pack up the kids and head over to Sahara Sam’s Oasis in W. Berlin. Families will have a blast riding, sliding and splashing all day at this amazing indoor water park. There are exciting adventures for all ages from giant slides to a wave pool to splash areas to even The Flow Rider.
Yestercades
Yestercades offers the ultimate gaming experience for all ages! Located in Somerville, Westfield and Red Bank, Yestercades provides a classic arcade experience that tweens and teens will love. Guests can choose from a wide selection of arcade and pinball games as well as a number of gaming consoles from Atari to Nintendo Wii. Your gamer will want to play for hours! Yestercades offers hourly ($9.25/hour plus tax) and daily rates ($25 plus tax). What game do you want to play?
Gravity Vault
If your tween or teen likes to rock climb, then Gravity Vault is the place for them. There are 6 locations in NJ (Hoboken, Upper Saddle River, Voorhees, Middletown, Chatham and Flemington) each offering a unique and exciting climbing experience. Indoor climbing helps kids build confidence, core strength, coordination and so much more!
Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament
Located in Lyndhurst, Medieval Times sparks the imagination from the moment you pull into the parking lot and see the magnificent castle. Once inside, guests will feel transported to another world where Kings and Queens ruled the Kingdom and knights had to fight for their honor. Families will be entertained by breathtaking horsemanship, jousting competitions, falconry and more! Read our review here!
iPlay America
Located in Freehold, iPlay America offers a fun and unique indoor play experience for individuals of all ages. By offering a variety of rides, games and experiences, families can spend all day exploring iPlay. Guests can enjoy rides such as Go Karts, Freedom Rider roller coaster, bumper cars, a carousel and more! Ropes courses for adults AND kids also add to the excitement along with Laser Tag and the VR (virtual reality) Arena. iPlay also offers special events such as concerts, meet and greets, holiday experiences and much more. Learn more on the iPlay website.
AMC Dine In Theatre
AMC offers a unique experience for movie goers with their Dine In Theatres. While watching your favorite movie, you can enjoy appetizers, a meal and dessert. It is a fun option for a teen date or a night out.
Dave and Buster’s
Dave and Buster’s has been one of my favorite places to play since I discovered it in college. Now that they have arrived in Wayne and Woodbridge, NJ, my kids have also experienced the never-ending gaming fun that Dave and Buster’s offers! Tweens and teens can choose from hundreds of games to play with friends or by themselves. Select locations also offer billiards, bowling and virtual reality experiences. While playing, guests can also dine on delicious food and drinks.
Morristown Game Vault
With over 100 arcade and pinball games to choose from, tween and teens can enjoy hours of gaming fun at Morristown Game Vault. Pricing is $9/30 minutes, $12/hour and $25/5 hours. Game Vault also offers Pinball Tournaments, birthday parties and special events.
Bowling Alley
Bowling is a classic experience that all ages can enjoy especially tweens and teens. They can even join a bowling league to enhance their skills. There are bowling alleys all across NJ that offer unique experiences like laser light bowling, VIP rooms and special events. Some facilities also have arcades, climbing walls, laser tag and more! Tell us your favorite NJ bowling alley in the comments section below!
Did we miss a great indoor spot for tweens and teens? Leave your recommendation in the comments and we will add it to the list!
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