A TEENAGE DREAMLAND

We can’t promise you’ll find a permanent remedy for teenage angst in Milwaukee. But a temporary reprieve? Yeah, we’ve got that covered. Whether you’re looking for ways to get teens moving, get them thinking, or get them playing, you’ll have plenty of options. You might even hear a few enthusiastic mumbles, which we’re pretty sure is teen-speak for “thanks.”

Rare is the teen who says no to an arcade. And with CARCADE, the mobile arcade comes to you, allowing up to eight people to play to their heart’s content on bigscreen, HD displays. RSVR in Bay View takes things to the next level with more than 80 virtual reality experiences, including games, sports, or just a mesmerizing frontrow seat at the bottom of the ocean. For a more traditional arcade experience, fans of Dave & Buster's can head for the Milwaukee-area location in Wauwatosa.

Maybe you want to knock down some pins in one of the world’s most storied bowling cities? You’ve got lots of choices, including JB’s on 41, a staple on Milwaukee’s south side that has dozens of lanes, TVs, and atmospheric lights. Punch Bowl Social is in the heart of the Deer District and offers shuffleboard, karaoke, and bocce in addition to bowling. At Whirlyball in Brookfield, compete in an eccentric, one-of-akind hybrid sport blending elements from lacrosse, basketball, and bumper cars.

If speed’s the thing, check out Accelerate Indoor Speedway, where jackrabbit- fast go karts are the main attraction, along with a side of axe throwing and virtual reality. Axe-throwing also shares center stage with oldschool shuffleboard courts at the NorthSouth Club in the Third Ward. Or pick up a microphone at Amped, where you can rent karaoke suites in downtown Milwaukee.

For more of a mental workout, try one of Milwaukee’s many escape rooms, like Save Milwaukee in the Third Ward, where you have 60 minutes to, yes, solve the mystery and save our fair city. Or head to Discovery World, the science and technology center with a large aquarium and exhibits dedicated to physics, engineering, and the environment, among many others.

And if that teen angst is still a problem, maybe just lean into it with a trip to Bust-N-Stuff in Bay View. Take some swings and break a wide variety of items that they line up for you. Some packages even include glasses filled with paint, so you can literally smash your way to a work of art.