Depends where you grew up......I grew up in a medium sized city of 150k back in the 80's and 90's (Spokane/Coeur D'Alene). We had pretty much complete freedom within a radius of the house (certain streets marked the zone or the park). All the moms in the neighborhood knew eachother through blockwatch or just being neighborly and would call eachother if any kids were being out of line.
If we we going to go on a longer journey, like a hike, fishing or mountain biking, we then had to give the general plans, location and when we would be back. We would roam 5 miles away...... If we wern't going to be back in time, we had quarters for the pay phone and would call to let them know......otherwise you got the belt or wooden spoon when arriving late to "worried sick" parents.
But yeah, overall we were building forts, bows and arrows and running around doing whatever tickled our fancy.....like accidentally burning down an acre of Manito Park when we were attacking a giant ant hill with roman candles, sparklers and smoke bombs when we were like 11 in the late 80's......nobody knew it was us
And High School parties were just like the movies, especially the fun outdoor bonfire super keggers out in the woods where half the people were on mushrooms, acid, ecstasy or smoking weed......basically like the movie Dazed and Confused