5 Guaranteed Fun Activities in Madison with a Teenager
Teens can be a tough group to impress when it comes to fun activities, but Madison has a ton of options that will be a great time for tweens and teens, especially if you invite them to bring a friend along!
Here’s our favorite fun activities to do with your older kiddos on a day in the Madison area.
HENRY VILAS ZOO
You might think that visits to the zoo aren’t any fun once kiddos get older, but if the weather and the vibes are right, there is so much to enjoy at the zoo with teens! Plus, Henry Vilas Zoo is FREE so you’ll have budget leftover to get your kids some tasty food at the Glacier Grille. The great thing about teens is that you can turn them loose to explore on their own and just meet up for treats later!
STATE STREET
State Street is one of the true gems of Madison and there are plenty of shops, cafés, and restaurants to explore here. Start at the base of Bascom Hill (maybe make a plug for the beautiful campus in case you have a future college-bound kid in tow) and head toward the Capitol. Take photos at iconic spots like The Brat Stop, visit the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, and hit some of the most unique shopping spots you’ve ever seen. Don’t leave without getting cheese curds and enjoying the best people-watching in the state!
MEMORIAL UNION TERRACE
The iconic sunburst chairs at Memorial Union Terrace are just one of the features that make Memorial Union Terrace a memorable and enjoyable stop. Snag a table and take in the beautiful views of Lake Mendota, grab a brat or something tasty at one of the several food and drink spots located at the Union. There is often live music or, for those looking for more of an adventure, you can hop into Lake Mendota for a quick swim; rent a kayak, canoe or paddle board.
Whatever you do, make sure to get an ice cream cone at Babcock Dairy!
VITENSE GOLFLAND
- Open Sunday, 8 am to 10:30 pm / Monday thru Thursday, 8:30 am to 11 pm / Friday, 8:30 am to 11:30 pm / Saturday, 8 am to 11:30 pm
- 5501 Schroeder Road, Madison (West Beltline & Whitney Way)
A perfect destination for golf lovers of all ages and skill levels! Vitense has not one, not two, but THREE 18-hole mini golf courses to choose from! Two of them are outdoors and one is indoors. These courses are the #1 rated miniature golf courses in Wisconsin and one of the top rated in the U.S., according to Golf.com. This place also features batting cages, remote control boats, a driving range, par 3 course and more. Easily more than enough activities for the entire family to have a full day of fun!
CHECK OUT OUR FULL LIST OF MINI-GOLF COURSES IN THE MADISON AREA FOR MORE IDEAS
PLAY AT AN ARCADE
Teenagers are basically just tall kids and kids love to play games, especially if there are prizes at stake! There are several arcade options in Madison that will be a super-fun time for teens, but these really jump out at us:
- Geeks Mania Arcade – 6502 Odana Rd
- Nerdhaven Arcade – 203 Cottage Grove Rd
- Aftershock Classic Arcade – 1444 E Washington Ave
- Spare Time Entertainment – 7415 Mineral Point Rd
BONUS: FUN PHOTO OPS
If your teens are looking for unique and fun places to create social content or film a TikTok, Visit Madison has put together a great list of Instagrammable sites around Madison – definitely worth checking out!
