Things to do in Detroit with Teenagers

Story by Michelle Martin

Ask any parent: Teenagers can be hard to please –– especially when it comes to taking them places. But there are plenty of teenage-friendly spots in metro Detroit that even the choosiest teens will enjoy. Here are seven places where teens will want to spend an afternoon. And they’ll maybe even want to share the experience on TikTok.

Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum
This Farmington Hills arcade and museum is included in the “World Almanac and Book of Facts” as one of the 100 most unusual museums. Coin-operated pinball machines and arcade games from the ‘80s line the walls alongside a variety of vintage memorabilia and animatronic characters.

Teens will enjoy some of the museum’s oddities. There’s a replica of Cardiff Giant, commissioned by P.T. Barnum, as well as fortune tellers and 1920s-era machines from seaside England that you’ll unlikely find anywhere else.

Tree Runner Adventure Park
Featuring 47 zip lines, 15 trails and 250 obstacles, this West Bloomfield adventure park has something for teens of all ages.

There are seven levels of difficulty including a junior park for younger siblings. During the fall, the park hosts monster mashes and Halloween glow nights – giving kids an opportunity to climb high above eerie lights and spooky sights.

Detroit Dye House and brightlytwisted
Brightlytwisted operates out of a fully functioning production center and storefront in Detroit’s historic Corktown neighborhood. Brightlytwisted offers a vibrant collection of aesthetic self-expression. From contemporary clothing to accessories to homewares, our dyed-by-hand creations are innovative and luxurious while functional and down-to-earth. Enjoy shopping for hand-dyed clothing and goods, or take a class with Detroit Dye House.

Chandler Park Skate Park
When the 15,000-square-foot Chandler Park Skate Park opened in 2022, skateboarder Tony Hawk was there ­­–– a testament to the impressiveness of the venue.

The skate park is free and open to the public.

Fowling Warehouse
Fowling is similar to bowling, but it uses a football to knock down the pins. Teens will enjoy the competitiveness of the game while parents will enjoy sampling one of the venue’s more than 120 beers. The venue doesn’t have food, but nearby options including Polish Village Café and Amicci’s Pizza can be brought inside.

Kids must be at least 10 years old to play.

C.J. Barrymore’s
With activities indoors and out, C.J. Barrymore’s has rides, arcade games, laser tag and more.

Outdoor rides include a drop tower, spinning coaster, Ferris wheel and Indy track. Inside, there are bumper cars, bowling and a golf dome. Food trucks and several restaurants are also on site.

Full Throttle Adrenaline Park
With locations in Sterling Heights and Novi, Full Throttle Adrenaline Park has high-speed go-karting, racing simulators and virtual reality. Teens will like that the karts are twice as fast as other places.

The Sterling Heights location also has axe throwing and a rage room – a place to break things and relieve some teenage angst.

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