20 Things You Should Do With Your Teen In Mumbai

Before it becomes un-cool for your young teenager to hang out with you and your spouse, pack in as much fun time together as you can. Here’s a Mumbai-centric list to help you get started with fun places and experiences to explore with your teenager.

Optional drama: Make a list of the fun places in the city that a youngster would love to visit. Using an app, online site or your own DIY skills print a calendar. Fill in the names of the venues and activities for the day. Present the calendar to your child, pin it onto the fridge and then start ticking off the days as you experience fun times together.

Cycle around Mumbai…..at midnight

Image Courtesy: Mumbai Travellers from mycity4kids listing

If you want to do something really unusual and adventurous with your family consider the Midnight Cycle Ride. These cycle tours are organised by companies like Mumbai Travellers, Mumbai Rangers, Reality Tours and various cycling groups. The route often includes scenic areas like Gateway, Marine Drive, Worli sea face and Haji Ali. Generally children 10+ years are welcome as long as he or she is a confident rider and is accompanied by a responsible adult. Normally the registration fee covers cycle rental, basic tour refreshments, first-aid and expertise charges.

Search for clams in the Kundalika

The Kundalika River flows from the Sahyadris to the sea and originates in a town called Bhira in Maharashtra. Along the banks are towns like Korlai, Chaul, Roha, Salav and Kolad. White water rafting expeditions happen from Kolad. Rafting this river is dam controlled as the river is fed by the excess water from the Mulshi Dam Project. The release of dam waters has given rise to some beautiful rapids along an 11 km circuit. Rafting is possible through the year at this destination but June to October is best time to head there. While you are in the area, you could also look for clams on the river bed when the water is low to bring home for a delicious meal. Do not enter the water without checking with a local about safe places to enter from and timings of water release.

For information that will help plan your rafting trip please click here.

Test your reflexes against those of your teenager

Image Courtesy: Hakone from mycity4kids listing and Smaashfrom their website

For kids who enjoy the need for speed, take them to any of the centres in the city that offer Go Karting. It’s at venues like Hakone, Smaaash, Happy Planet, R City Mall and even Esselworld for the Dashing Cars, that you too can get behind a wheel on a race track, don your driving gear and have some fun.

Sing ‘Let It Go’ as you aim, shoot and duck for cover

Image Courtesy: Action Paintball from Website and Della Adventures from their website

Teenagers love extreme sports and paintball is one of the fastest growing extreme sports. While some might find it too aggressive others may view it as a route through which aggression can be released. This activity simulates combat and requires individuals or teams to fight against each other using strategies armed with paintball guns and paint ball bullets. The area used to fight within has obstacles and props that resemble a war zone. Protective gear like goggles, gloves, face guards, chest guards etc are provided but please be aware that the bullet often stings where it hits and if you bruise easily can leave a mark based on distance from which you get shot or ‘tagged’. There are various game formats that may be selected. You could consider the paintball zones at Action Paintball, Headrush, Hakone, and Jungle Adventures. If you don’t mind the short drive along the Expressway, then in the Lonavala area there are the popular options Della Adventures and 19 Degrees North.

Get that adrenaline pumping

Fast action oriented activities are what our instant gratification generation thrive on. To get the ‘Best Parent’ award you can plan a trip to play laser tag, bowling, zipline, trampoline jumping, skating, ice skating and more. Head to places like Smaash and also check out the options for a day out at a theme park like Adlabs Imagica, Aquamagica, Waterkingdom or Esselworld.

Jump into Sherlock and Watson role play excitement

Image Courtesy: Clue Hunt and No Escape from their Facebook Page

Clue Hunt and No Escape are venues that offer exciting games that set you as a family on a Sherlock type trail. Basically you have to pool in your thinking abilities to solve a problem and escape from a locked room. It’s all about mystery, problem solving and being quick with finding and deciphering clues.

Encourage independence

Camp Butterfly Grove

An adventure camp with friends sans parents is just the kind of treat many kids appreciate. You could research the various companies that offer camps, coordinate with the parents of your child’s friends and send the group for a holiday or fun camp. Check out Off the Grid, Butterfly Grove, the camps offered by Kshitij World, sailing with Sailing School India, horse riding camp at Japalouppe or the companies listed in this post. Of course if it’s the first time your child is heading on a trip without you, then you can consider dropping your child to the venue which in many of the cases is just out of Mumbai.

Up your cool quotient as a parent

If ‘What shall I wear today?’ and ‘I look terrible,’ are often heard tween talk at your home, then perhaps you can consider a day of over the top indulgence. Consult a fashion stylist like Prache, Eshaa Amiin, Nisha Kundani, Shaina Nath, or an image consultant like Image 4 U.

Go on your own foodie trail during Ramzan

Image courtesy: Priya Fonseca and Shutterstock

Foodie families should definitely head out at night during Ramzan to try the incredible street food. While I would not take a young child to any of the hot spots, a teenager with a strong stomach who knows the ‘best places for kebabs, halim, harisa, barah handi, nalli nihari, flavoured firni, malpua and handmade ice cream’ will surely score brownie points with the college friends. The best place to eat this food fresh off the tava would be Bhori Mohalla near JJ Hospital (Indian Hotel, Haji Tikka, Tawakkal, Taj Ice Cream, Surti 12 Handi). However, with the redevelopment work in progress, we will have to wait and watch to find out where all the Mohalla’s chefs will move their kitchens to this year. You could try the lanes under the Mohamed Ali Flyover (Chinese n Grill, Al Madina, Suleiman Usman Mithaiwala) and also the Mahim gully opposite the big Masjid (Baba Falooda, Raeesbhai’s stall, Zaheerbhai’s Arabian Chicken Shawrma, Paramount and Sagar Bakery).

Do the Mumbai Marathon together

The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon held annually in January is the largest mass participation sporting event in Asia. While the full and half marathon categories are open only to those 18+ years, you and your child can certainly sign up for the Dream Run which is a 6km course that is open to all 12+ years. Those who have participated in this event say the vibe is incredible with people from all walks of life participating.

Sit for a caricature or portrait

A must do in Mumbai is an art gallery trail to see some of the most interesting exhibitions. All the details you need to plan your own personal trail are here. To make the day even more special, when outside the Jehangir Art Gallery, look around for the artists who set up their easels and artwork along the promenade near the entrance. Some of these artists offer to create caricatures or portraits in no time.

Take a tour of Dadasaheb Phalke Chitrangari

That’s Film City Goregaon for those who just said, ‘What’s Dadasaheb Phalke Chitrangari?’ Mumbai Film City offers popular tour packages that take you on guided tours around the studios and locations. You can expect to hear a lot of trivia and if you are lucky you may just see a live Bollywood film shoot in progress. Book your tour here but remember that the Dream Tour and Studio Tour and Live Show Tour are located outside Film City.

Learn how to SCUBA Dive together

You and your child could go for the within city SCUBA courses conducted by Lacadives and Orca Dive Club to know what it feels like to be weightless and to breathe under water. These introductory sessions familiarise you with terms, equipment etc. It’s really exciting to do this course in the monsoon months as the sight of raindrops falling into the pool viewed from the bottom is unique. If you enjoy the session, you can go further, do a course and then plan a trip to a tropical paradise to explore coral reefs. Imagine the fun having your child as your dive buddy! Please click here for further information.

Dine out in style

Image Courtesy: MingYang at Taj Land’s end from website

Select a restaurant at a five star hotel based on the kind of cuisine your child likes, book a table, leave the sibling at home and make it a special surprise date night with your young adult. Try Ming Yang the Chinese fine dining restaurant at the Taj Lands End Bandra for cuisine from the Sichuan province, Shanghai, Beijing and Canton created in Chef David Yui Kwong’s kitchen. This restaurant offers a great view of the sea and you know it’s a one of its kind place when some regulars have table linen with their initials embroidered on it. For Italian cuisine consider Trattoria at Vivanta, Cuffe Parade. If it’s the best food from the North West Frontier that you want to have, then Peshawri at ITC Maratha is where you need to go. It features an award winning menu of dishes cooked in the clay tandoor. I cherish the memory of my post 10thstandard exam treat. My parents took me to The Great Wall at The Leela.

Crank up the juke box

Image Courtesy : Jam Jar Diner and Cafe Mondegar

While almost all of us may have visited Café Mondegar, very few might consider taking their kids there. This popular restaurant and bar has a jukebox with a cool mix of tracks. Introduce your child to the concept of the jukebox, let him or her select tracks, enjoy them and settle in for a fun time introducing your child to Mumbai’s cool spots. Other places that feature a jukebox include Kit Kat, Sunlight, Café New York, Café General & Store and Jam Jar Diner.

Sample the luxe life

Image Courtesy: Aqua Sail image from their website

Hire a yacht or Dhow to give your child an experience of fresh air, ocean swells and a multitude of seagulls vying for attention. Plan your trip in time for sunset; pack a picnic basket with refreshments if the boat hire company does not provide them; take a pair of binoculars and you are ready to go. Children enjoy the sights of the Mumbai skyline; the coastguard helicopters; the Naval and other huge ships and maybe a few dolphins if you are lucky. Companies like Sirius, Yacht Tours Mumbai, Oyster Sailing, West Coast Marine, and Aqua Sail all offer sailing experiences.

Visit a government office for a reality check

Most of our kids more often than not lead very sheltered lives. Give your child a head start by introducing him or her to the realities of government offices that every child will have to encounter at some stage of life. Visit the local RTO, your ward BMC office, ration card office, police station or property registration office. If you are considering getting your child a learner’s licence for a two wheeler, the Mumbai RTO permits 16 years olds to apply for a learner’s licence for a motorcycle with engine of 50cc or less and no gears with a parent or guardian’s consent.

Ride in a chopper and take in the sights of mesmerising Mumbai

Image Courtesy: Aqua Sail image from their website

MTDC (Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation) and Pawan Hans have started Mumbai Darshan Heli Joy Rides from Juhu Aerodrome. These chopper rides give passengers incredible aerial views of the city as the route covers Juhu, Versova and Gorai. You can expect to see the coast, the marsh lands, the green cover, and the cityscape from the sky. The helicopter can take 4 passengers at a time and bookings are to be done online via the very exciting looking MTDC website.

Surprise your teenager with a spa day

Shen

You and your kids can indulge in a spa fun day or session by either calling the specialists home or by heading to salons like Starfish and Kidzappy that offer mother and child or adult and child services. All the information you need is in this post. Please click here. You can even consider family reflexology to unwind together. Bust the stress at Suko Thai, Metta Foot Spa by the visually impaired, or Shen.

Experience the thrill of a balloon safari

Image Courtesy: Sky Waltz from their website copy

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has given Sky Waltz the license to operate Hot Air Balloons on a commercial basis throughout the country. Now we have the opportunity to experience a Balloon Safari over the Lonavala region. While the flight duration is about an hour based on wind and landing conditions, the entire experience can take about three hours. There are four balloon launch sites in the Lonavala area and it’s the pilot who takes the final decision about which one will be used for the day. The balloon could take you up to about 4000’ but this depends on airport ATC instructions. However, even at a few hundred feet off the ground the views are said to be amazing. This ride is open from October to May.