Teen Summer Hot Spots on a Budget
The final school bell has rung and now I have more time to hang with my friends. I love to be with my friends and so I set out on a quest. I asked myself, “What is fun, well priced and has a welcoming environment to teens?” I have discovered five wonderful locales that you and your friends could choose on any given night. Warning: this discovery could cause side effects, such as a drastic increase in fun, good times and great memories with friends.
Kauffman Stadium: Unless something fun is cost-effective, we teens won’t have the space in our bank accounts for it. So I vote for a night at the K. The price for a ticket by the fountains in the outfield is $7, and anywhere from $9 to $18 for a Hy-Vee ticket in the upper decks. According to KCRoyals.com, the stadium has the biggest hi-definition screen in the world. The Royals are doing so well this year due in large part to their new superstar pitcher, Zach Greinke. A night at the K makes for an enjoyable evening event.
Kansas City Zoo: We all know that the zoo is always a fun time for the family, but have you ever thought that it could be a lot of fun for us teens as well? Why not explore the zoo with a large group of friends and take in the new African exhibit. Make sure to bring water and your set. Tickets cost $10.50 for adults and $7 for kids (3-11). Plan to have a nice picnic by the bird exhibit. Also, if you go on Tuesday, you can save three dollars on admission! Beautiful sights and sounds make the KC Zoo a must see. KansasCityZoo.org
Lowenstein Park: Are you ready for some football? Game on at this beautiful park in Lee’s Summit. This park has a full playground and allows for games of ultimate Frisbee, football, basketball and soccer. A beautiful trail surrounds the park to make it the perfect spot to get in a nice workout. If you love the outdoors, this is a great place for you to enjoy some good sports and leisure time with your friends.
Main Street Café: Do you love sweet sounding music? I have an ideal concert venue for you and your entourage to check out. Main Street Café in Westport offers a variety of music acts such as Ivoryline, Underoath, The Almost, mewithoutyou, Secret and Whisper, etc. It’s a comfortable hang spot for all you music lovers out there and is a Christian establishment. The cheap investment for tickets (anywhere from $10 to $20) is also a BIG plus for the teen budget, and allows for a fun time without the outrageous expense. Check out show times at their website: MainStreetCafe.org
Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun: I have one final stop on this search for the perfect teen hang spot and I think it’s one of the best ever. Worlds of Fun! I would suggest a Gold Pass membership. A Gold Pass to both Worlds and Oceans of Fun is costs $109.99 plus tax. At first glance it seems like a little more money than you might want to spend, but it breaks down to only about 77 cents a day. With the Gold Pass come special perks such as early admission, cheaper meals, access to both parks and other awesome deals. Check out the best dates, special events and prizes at their website: WorldsOfFun.com
Jordan Vaughan lives in Lee's Summit and is a junior in high school.