Between music venues, restaurants and outdoor recreation, there’s no shortage of things to do with teens in OKC, whether that means an adrenaline-pumping water slide or an adorable cat cafe. Explore this list of ideas for exciting experiences everyone will love across Oklahoma City.
Outdoor Adventures
If whitewater rapids, roller coasters and wave pools sound like fun, OKC has a park for you. This includes Hurricane Harbor, a 25-acre watery wonderland with more than 20 attractions, featuring a leisurely lazy river and 15-plus slides. With a waterpark of its own, Western-themed Frontier City is the largest theme park in Oklahoma, home to all kinds of thrilling roller coasters, games, shows and restaurants.
New to town, OKANA is an 11-story resort and waterpark with the fourth largest pool in the country, anchoring a lagoon with a sandy beach, an inflatable obstacle course and a zip line over water. There’s also a 100,000-sq.-ft. indoor waterpark, with a wave pool, lazy river and 15 slides of its own, right next to OKANARAMA! entertainment center, with arcade games and two-story laser tag.
For whitewater thrills, teens will love Riversport OKC, a state‑of‑the‑art adventure facility offering everything from rafting and tubing on artificial rapids to surf simulators, zip lines and a six‑story sky trail.
Creative & Immersive Experiences
From immersive art to metalsmithing, OKC provides plenty of engaging experiences for young makers. Burgeoning artists can try their hand at Cheyenne Sky Studio, a metalsmithing and jewelry-making space that offers one-day workshops and week-long lessons. By using art as a form of entertainment, creative teens can learn from the pros how to make things like bolo ties and sterling silver rings.
Part gallery and part playground, Factory Obscura is an immersive art collective that invites hands-on adventure and wonder. Each room is designed by local artists, including tunnels for curious explorers to crawl through, music to bop to and windy slides that bring out the inner child in everyone.
Action-Packed Indoor Fun
No matter the time of year, teens can find indoor fun on race tracks, bowling lanes and more. This runs the gamut from fast-paced fun at Andretti Indoor Karting & Games, where electric go-karts and augmented reality games provide action-packed thrills, to Don’t Stress Meowt, a cute cat cafe where guests can order lattes and play with dozens of adoptable cats.
Somewhere in between, Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge is a retro-cool 12-lane bowling alley, with funky ‘70s decor and teen-friendly snacks like onion rings and gourmet hot dogs. The Midtown spot also has a lounge, a full bar and a small VIP room with private lanes.
Best OKC Escape Rooms
Fun for all ages, escape rooms are great activities for groups that promote teamwork and puzzle-solving. With locations at Penn Square Mall and Chisholm Creek, Red Door Escape challenges groups to follow clues and move from room to room to escape-themed spaces such as a science lab, a castle and an antique shop.
Touting three 60-minute escape rooms designed for groups of up to 10, Baker Street Escapes operates as a makeshift “museum” for time-traveling detectives, transporting guests into bygone worlds, including one set in an Italian resort city from the year 79 AD.
Lost mines, paranormal investigations and ‘80s lakehouses are some of the thrilling escape rooms at The Sanctuary Escape Games, which challenge teens and teams of all ages to follow clues to beat the clock.
Live Music Spots
Nightlife isn’t just for adults. Thanks to teen-friendly music venues in OKC, shows and concerts are accessible to all ages, held in unique spaces ranging from intimate to amphitheatre. Resonant Head is a cool, colorful venue in Historic Capitol Hill, where most shows are all-ages and the intimate space attracts local musicians, up-and-coming artists and bands across all genres.
Follow the crowds to Beer City Music Hall, a popular all-ages venue that hosts shows for a wide variety of genres and styles. Teens will also love their theme nights, which range from Daft Punk to Little Miss Sunshine.
Originally a movie house from 1937, Tower Theatre is among the most historic music venues in OKC. What was once an auditorium for film screenings has transformed into a lively space where young people and adults alike can catch themed dance nights, Taylor Swift celebrations and performances by local favorites like Soft Hands.
For bigger concerts in an outdoor setting, the Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheatre brings in acts like The Chicks, Willie Nelson, and hometown heroes, The Flaming Lips. Shows are all-ages, on a hilly stage with a capacity of 7,000.
Dining Destinations
Morning, noon and night, OKC restaurants cater to teens with reinvented comfort foods, group-friendly spaces, and Insta-ready selfie spots. Start your day at Stitch Cafe, a sunny, plant-filled spot known for its breakfast tacos and tarts (think: gourmet Pop-Tarts and Hot Pockets), in flavors like s’mores, chorizo and PB&J.
Next door to Tower Theatre, Hunny Bunny Biscuit Company reinvents the breakfast sandwich by piling fluffy, freshly baked biscuits with the likes of sausage, fried chicken, smashed avocado and, for any Elvis fans, a combo of peanut butter, banana, bacon and honey.
It’s New York-style pizza with punk-rock style at Empire Slice House, a Plaza District institution beloved for its daily slices, buttery garlic knots and meatballs, in a vibrant space decorated with concert and movie posters.
The first 2D noodle restaurant in the country, Twenty Pho Hour, is as photogenic as it is tasty. The fast-casual Vietnamese eatery serves pho, dumplings and boba tea in a black-and-white room designed to make guests feel like they’re in a piece of art.
Plan the Perfect Teen Day Out in OKC
There are so many things for teens to do in OKC, whether they’re looking for thrill rides and live music, or an immersive art experience. Mix and match a few stops, build your own itinerary and get ready to make some unforgettable memories. Start planning your next OKC adventure today!
