A Trip To GoQuest With Teens

If you’re the parent of a teen or pre-teen, you’ll be familiar with that stage where it becomes a little more challenging to find activities to keep those active young ones busy. They’ve outgrown traditional play venues, and a trip to the cinema doesn’t excite them as it once did. If you’ve ever had to organize a birthday party during school holidays, you’ll also understand how tricky it can be to gather a group of friends when everyone seems to be away at different times.

Recently, I found myself navigating this challenge. To ensure we could include everyone despite overlapping holiday schedules, we opted for an extended birthday celebration at GoQuest in Carrickmines. The boys, aged 11–13, were thrilled at the idea of tackling physical challenges and were convinced they’d ace them all with ease. But they were in for a surprise! Despite their energy and physical abilities, the challenges were far from straightforward. Interestingly, some of their favorite challenges weren’t physical at all. GoQuest allows you to choose what suits you best, so every participant can find something enjoyable.

Once we got started, the competitive streaks began to shine. Accompanying the boys around GoQuest Arena Carrickmines, I initially promised to step back and let them take the lead. However, I couldn’t resist getting more involved than anticipated! With an ambitious goal to beat the day’s top score, the boys set off enthusiastically but were soon bewildered by how challenging it was. The time flew by in a whirlwind of laughter, frustration, and sheer determination, punctuated by rosy cheeks and big smiles as they left.

On our next visit to GoQuest, it was a completely new experience. The venue offered a fresh set of challenges, none of which repeated the previous visit. The laughter rang just as loudly as the boys tackled task after task. They discovered that teamwork was essential for success, and I loved hearing their genuine laughter, cries of frustration, and roars of encouragement blending together.

One thing I appreciated was how the boys had a chance to explore different types of challenges. While they initially planned to focus on physical tasks, they quickly realized the enjoyment in skill-based and mental challenges. It wasn’t just a flurry of activity; they took a more thoughtful approach, strategizing where they could score the best points based on their abilities. And yes, as the day progressed, it became more of a “we” than just a “they”!

The staff at GoQuest Carrickmines were fantastic—always discreetly available but allowing the boys to earn their wins independently. From a parent’s perspective, GoQuest is one of the best family day-out venues I’ve visited in a long time. It’s excellent value, easy to reach with plenty of parking, and encourages full immersion in the experience. Phones and devices can be left in free lockers at reception, and from that point on, the focus is solely on each other and the challenges.

By the end of the visit, we were ready to cool off with ice cream or coffee, and if you want to extend the fun, you can even arrange pizza or head to one of the nearby dining options at The Park in Carrickmines.

Will I go back? Absolutely! GoQuest is a fantastic venue for parties, teens, or families, and I can see how it could be just as much fun for work colleagues or friends. The experience is a perfect mix of teamwork, challenge, and laughter, all without the distraction of phones or emails. It’s genuine downtime with a lot of fun thrown in, and I’m delighted we discovered it.