Atlanta is a large city, which makes choosing one place to go for entertainment difficult, especially when, like me, your go-to just doesn’t do it for you, and you don’t want to be outdoors in the sun waiting in long lines.
Here are some of my top picks to hang out this summer as an Atlanta Teen.
Urban Air Trampoline Park and Family Fun Center
Urban Air, found in various suburban locations, is one of my favorite picks as a teen because it offers so much variety. If you’re looking for adrenaline from the background noises of arcade games beeping and go-karts zooming past, with the blessing of air conditioning and without mosquitoes, this is always safe, and even if you don’t like heights, you can still enjoy the trampolines. Hours are 10 a.m to 8 p.m on weekdays and extend later on weekends.
Skate Towne Family Roller Skating Rink
When I stumbled into SkateTowne, which was in the midst of a renovation, I wasn’t sure what to expect, as it was one of the few skating rinks actually in the city and definitely catered more to young adults. Unlike most family skating rinks, its interior features graffiti and neutral colors, which tend to draw teens’ attention despite the unfinished look.
“I had my birthday party there. It was great and also very convenient and chill if you just want to hang out,” says 15-year-old Harmony.
The rink is open Monday from 8 p.m. to midnight for adults 18 and older, Thursday from 8 p.m. to midnight for College Skate Night, Friday from 7:30 to 11 p.m. for Family Skate Night, Saturday from 1 to 9 p.m. for a family session, and Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m. for a family matinee; it is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Main Event Arcade and Family Fun Center
Main Event can be found in both the city and suburbia, and it is massive, so you literally won’t run out of things to do. Which, believe it or not, happens in arcades: if you go alone, you can still have a time, and if you are the opposite and want to bring the whole squad, the bowling alley or laser tag arena actually have enough space and gear.
Something unique to it was the way they served food with a robotic cat waiter. It is the kind of place you can go two days in a row. ”The best part was the laser tag; it’s usually where I rush first because it’s really cool choosing teams and ducking behind barrels like James Bond,” says 13-year-old Bella. It’s open 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, with extended hours into the early morning on weekends.
Sparkles Roller Skating Rink
At Sparkles in the greater metro Atlanta area, which had a vivid, colorful energy with enough arcade games to enhance the vibe but not enough to go solely for the games, the skate shop had plenty to grab your attention. There were different options for rental skates; the rink had lanes separated by different age ranges with brightly colored lines. If you go to the family session, you can easily avoid little kids.
“The DJ also took free requests, which isn’t that common, allowing me to skate to my favorite songs,” says 14-year-old Alissa. Sparkles in Smyrna is open 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, with extended hours into the early morning on weekends.
Andretti’s Go-Karting and Arcade
Andretti’s is on the outskirts of Atlanta, in Marietta, and is mostly known for go-karting, named after a famous racer, so people often gloss over some really cool features they have. Including a glass VR booth, “which addresses my biggest VR fear – bumping into walls and other people when I play,” 16-year-old Mariam told me.
The arcade features dozens of games and giant tablets with mobile games like Candy Crush, and is open from 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, and from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturdays and midnight Sundays.
