Finding activities for babies and young children in Columbia isn’t difficult. But once your kids hit the tween and teen years, things get a little trickier. They’re too old for many children’s programs, not quite adults, and often convinced that “there’s nothing to do.”
Fortunately, Columbia offers plenty of opportunities for older kids to have fun, stay active, learn new skills, and spend time with friends. Whether your tween loves art, sports, animals, gaming, or the outdoors, there’s something for everyone in the Midlands.
Here are some of our favorite activities for teens and tweens in Columbia.
Explore Congaree National Park
For adventurous tweens and teens, Congaree National Park offers hiking, kayaking, wildlife spotting, and some of the most beautiful natural scenery in South Carolina.
Your family can walk the boardwalk loop, which is about 2.4 miles of very easy board-walked trail. It is an easy walk that provides plenty of wildlife viewing. If you’d like to spend a weekend outdoors, you can even go camping at Congaree. It’s a great way to get kids off their screens and into nature.
Visit Soda City Market
Saturdays at Soda City Market aren’t just for adults. The market offers many things your older children will enjoy as well. Soda City offers the chance for your tweens and teens to try new foods, go shopping, listen to live music, meet up with friends, and get to know the heart and soul of Columbia. Since the market is small enough that you know your kids will be safe, why not give your teens a small budget and let them explore independently? It’ll could be a great learning experience for them.
Hang Out with Friends at a Trampoline Park
Columbia boasts a number of fantastic trampoline parks. These indoor adventure parks give your tweens and teens a great place to meet up with friends, hang out, and expend some energy. Trampolines, dodgeball, climbing walls, obstacle courses, foam pits, ice skating, go-karts, soccer, basketball, arcade games, and more are bound to keep your kids occupied for hours.
Some local trampoline parks include:
- Big Air Lexington
- Flight Adventure Park in Northeast Columbia and Irmo
- Altitude Trampoline Park on Garner’s Ferry Rd.
- Surge Adventure Park in Northeast Columbia
- Flip Factory Zone
Attend Teen Programs at Richland Library
Richland Library regularly offers programs designed specifically for teens and tweens. Programs are normally free and provide a safe place for teens to socialize. You’ll find programs like Anime clubs, Gaming tournaments, Art workshops, STEM activities, Writing groups, and crafts.
Try an Escape Room
Escape rooms are a great way to challenge problem-solving skills and develop teamwork. There are several Columbia-area escape rooms that offer family-friendly rooms that are ideal for older kids and teens. There are a variety of themed rooms, making it possible to go back over and over again to try them all. Make it a family night out or let your teens go on their own with a group of friends.
Local escape rooms include:
- Escapology Columbia
- The Final Door
- Escape Plan Columbia
- Great Escape
Go Bowling
Bowling is a great activity for tweens and teens. Especially if your kiddos are competitive. Have your kids get a group of their friends, make two teams, and compete against each other. With snacks and drinks at the bowling alley as well, it’s a great way for kids to spend time with their friends and feel a bit independent as well. Many bowling alleys offer special deals from time to time, so make sure to keep your eye out for those. In addition, Columbia area bowling areas let kids bowl free over the summer. All you pay for are the shoes!
Bowling alleys in Columbia include:
- Stars and Strikes
- Beltline Lanes (next to Quaker Stake and Lube)
- WesCo Bowl
- The Grand
- Royal Z Lanes
- Century Lanes Bowling Center on Fort Jackson
Take a Creative Class
Many local businesses offer classes and workshops for older children and teens. These activities help teens discover new hobbies and talents. Your teens can try things like pottery classes, painting workshops, photography lessons, sewing classes, jewelry making, cooking classes, and cake decorating. The possibilities are endless!
Volunteer Together
Many teens may need volunteer hours for school, scholarships, or service organizations anyway, so why not make it a family affair? Volunteering helps teens develop leadership skills while giving back to the community. There are a number of organizations in Columbia that provide volunteer opportunities. Some such organizations are Harvest Hope Food Bank, animal shelters, library programs, community cleanups, and church outreach projects.
Catch a Fireflies Game
A Columbia Fireflies game is a summer classic! Even kids who aren’t huge baseball fans often enjoy the atmosphere. In addition, it’s a great place to give your teens a little independence; they can walk around the park on their own, check out the Mason Jar team store, and grab some delicious food. A ball game is a great place to hang out with friends and family, participate in stadium theme nights, and even see some fireworks.
Outdoor Water Adventures
For adventurous families, outdoor recreation is a great way to stay active and experience South Carolina’s waterways. With three diverse rivers running through Columbia, there are multiple ways to enjoy water sports here in the Midlands. Kayaking, paddleboarding, tubing, and canoeing are just a few options.
Carolina Outdoor Adventures offers guided kayaking trips; Sesquicentennial State Park and Dreher Island State Park offer pedal boats, canoes, and kayak rentals; and there are multiple places you can go tubing on the river.
The reality is that older kids often don’t need constant entertainment. What they do need are opportunities to explore their interests, gain independence, spend time with friends, and make memories.
Columbia offers far more for teens and tweens than many families realize. Sometimes all it takes is trying something new and letting them take the lead.
