Where Can Naperville Teens Hang Out? Here are 7 local options

Pools

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*Community pools (Seasonal): Neighborhood pools such as Farmstead, Huntington Estates, Hobson West, Maplebrook, and others offer special pool floaties and movie nights, ice cream socials, and more. They also have diving boards, tanning spots, and are a great place to hang out on a hot summer day. For a day pass the standard rate across these pools are $4-6, but many also offer multi pass bundles.

*Centennial Beach (500 Jackson Avenue, Naperville): This former limestone quarry offers a slide, deep water for swimming, and a shallow wading area, along with sand and a beach volleyball court. This is part of the Naperville Park District. Day passes are $8 for residents, and $15 for non residents.

Pelican Harbor (200 Lindsey Lane, Bolingbrook) and Sea Lion Aquatic Park (1825 Short Street, Lisle): offers indoor and outdoor water slides, so it's not weather-dependent. Sea Lion Aquatic Park has an outdoor water park with many slides, a zero-depth pool, a 6-lane lap pool, a vortex pool, a splash zone, a hot tub, and a sand area, as well as concessions. Check their websites for more information on daily rates and day passes.

Movie Theaters

AMC Showplace (2815 Showplace Drive): Offers a variety of movies in regular screenings and in IMAX. You can also book out theaters for events and birthday parties. Check their website for showing times and ticket rates.

Hollywood Palms (352 Route 59, Naperville) : A themed cinema that is friendly to people with needs and that serves dinner with your show. Check their website for showing times and ticket rates.

Regal (1221 W Boughton Road, Bolingbrook): A cinema that offers reclining seats and discounted tickets on Tuesdays for loyalty members. Check their website for showing times and ticket rates.

Cinemark (6500 IL-53, Woodridge): Offers a variety of movies in regular screenings and in IMAX. You can also sign up for a Cinemark membership to get 20% off on concessions and discounts on tickets. There is also an arcade in the front with games and a photobooth. Check their website for showing times and ticket rates.

Libraries

Naperville Public Libraries: Libraries such as Nichols Library, 95th Street Library, and Naper Blvd Library offer books of many different genres, such as fiction, nonfiction, sci-fi, horror, romance, and young adult, movies, video games, and magazines to check out for free with a library account. They also have many events, such as volunteering, book readings, and social gatherings, and have a teen space with computers free to use for gaming, studying, or simply meeting with friends.

Malls

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Fox Valley Mall (195 Fox Valley Center Dr, Naperville): Right off of Route 59 is Fox Valley Mall, with many features that are appealing to Naperville teens. Firstly, this mall right on the Naperville/Aurora border is a short drive from many places in Naperville. This mall offers a bit of everything: clothing stores, arcades, jewelry stores, amusement centers, and plenty of food options! Whether you like Hollister or Hot Topic, or Subway or Auntie Anne’s, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Check their website for hours.

*Chicago Premium Outlets (1650 Premium Outlet Blvd, Aurora) : A little further into Aurora lies the Chicago Premium Outlets. This mall is a great option during the Summer, and parts of Spring and Fall, which solves the problem of people wanting to shop but also not wanting to be inside all day. You can also find good deals on nice brands. Hours Monday-Saturday are 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and Sunday are 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

*Oakbrook Center (100 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook) : A bit further away is the Oakbrook Center. Like the Chicago Premium Outlets, this mall is also outside. The Oakbrook Center offers a wide range of stores, including many luxury options like Gucci and Chanel. As a part of this mall also lies a Lifetime Fitness, and an AMC theater, where you can catch a movie after a long day of shopping! Check their website for hours.

Athletic Centers

Lifetime Fitness (28141 Diehl Rd, Warrenville): Life Time Fitness is a High end family gym offering comprehensive health and wellness services, including expansive workout floors with premium cardio/strength equipment, indoor/outdoor pools, and specialized studios for yoga, cycle, and Pilates, which teens can participate in. The price per individual or family can be up to $200-230 dollars per month which you can bring in guests with a guest pass. You need to be 12 years or older to work out without parent supervision.

Planet Fitness (1163 E Ogden Ave, Naperville): Planet Fitness offers a "Judgement Free Zone®" focused on beginner-friendly, affordable fitness, featuring extensive cardio and strength equipment, free small-group training, 15 dollars roomslili with showers. The price of this gym is $15 per month and a $49 sign up fee. You must be at least 15 years old to workout without supervision and need a waiver signed by your parents.

Fort Hill Activity Center(20 Forthill Drive, Naperville): Fort Hill offers comprehensive indoor recreation and fitness. Amenities include an 8,600-sq-ft fitness center with over 50 cardio machines, a 4-court gymnasium for basketball/volleyball/pickleball, an indoor walking/jogging track, and dedicated group exercise studios. This is also part of the Naperville Park District and requires you to be 15+ to use gym with an individual membership

Downtown Naperville

Anderson's Bookshop/Toy Store: Anderson's Bookshop/Toy Store is a place where people can get books, go to book signings, and buy toys. Anderson's is known for being a local bookstore that has multiple book signings throughout the year. Anderson’s regularly hosts author events, booking signings and community programs.

Naper Settlement and Farmers Market (Seasonal): Naper Settlement is a museum and historic ground where residents of Naperville and other places can visit and learn about the history of our town. They also host multiple community events, such as Naper Nights, the Naperville farmers market, and All Hallows Eve. The Naperville Farmers Market is a place for local vendors to set up a booth and for local food places to set up food trucks. Entry is free, and you can visit the exhibits at Naper Settlement. Some of these events do require tickets while others outdoor/community events may be free.

Gia Mia: This Italian restaurant has amazing food and great outdoor seating. They offer half-off pizza on Mondays for cheaper options. It's a great place for teens to stop in and get food.

Napernuts and Sweets: This candy shop is a good local business that offers treats of all types, and they price them by weight to give you more freedom.

Everdines: This excellent grilled cheese is also a local business for a quick lunch that isn’t too expensive and not a sit-down restaurant.

Sparrow Coffee: is a local business with good options for coffee and a cafe if you don’t want a chain restaurant.

Parks/Trails

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*Greene Valley Forest Preserve (8S127 Greene Rd, Naperville): This forest preserve has everything: trails, dog areas, model craft areas, picnic tables, hot coal disposal containers/grills, and beautiful views. The park consists of over 13 miles of trails that can also be used for horseback riding! Another great find in this park is the 190-foot-tall scenic overlook.

*Knoch Park (724 S West St, Naperville): This park is where Naperville’s Wintrust Athletic field lies. Including a playground, softball & baseball fields, tennis & pickleball courts, and turf fields. It is a good option for informal games, tennis, pickleball, or meeting friends outdoors.

*Nike Sports Complex (288 W Diehl Rd, Naperville): This sports complex has something for everyone: 2 basketball courts, 2 sand volleyball courts, 8 tennis courts, pickleball courts, a playground, and fitness stations.

*Knoch Knolls(320 Knoch Knolls Rd, Naperville): This park boasts beautiful wildflowers in spring and autumn colors in the fall. They are also known for their playgrounds, trails, mobile tours, disc golf, and their nature center with information about animals in the area (and bathrooms). It is also dog and bike-friendly, and is good for fishing.

*Springbrook Prairie (83rd St, Naperville): This prairie is known as a "birders' paradise”, being home to meadowlarks, dickcissels, grasshopper sparrows, woodcocks, and bobolinks, as well as state-endangered northern harriers, short-eared owls, and Henslow’s sparrows. They also have a multitude of trails and an airfield for model planes and drones (make sure you get a park district permit!).

*Goodrich Woods (25 W, 505 Hobson Rd, Naperville): This forest preserve is known for their trails through the forest and the wooded trails, native plants, birds, and seasonal wildlife.

*The Morton Arboretum(4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle) This arboretum offers 1,700 acres of trees, 16 miles of hiking trails, and 9 miles of scenic driving roads. Top activities include exploring the Children's Garden, walking the Conifer Walk, touring via the Acorn Express, visiting large-scale art exhibitions, and attending seasonal events like Illumination. Tickets are around $20, but prices vary depending on the day and event, so make sure you plan! This third space is paid admission.

Naperville teens may still want more informal, affordable places to gather, but the area does offer a wide range of options, from libraries and parks to pools, coffee shops, theaters, and downtown businesses. Readers who know of other teen-friendly third spaces in Naperville can share them with friends, neighbors, or local community groups.”