Best Places To Throw a Kid's Birthday Party
There is nothing easier and more convenient than celebrating your child's birthday at some special place that's fun and exciting. A place where you, your family and your friends can show up, party your birthday buns off, and leave the mess behind. The hardest part, besides packing up the presents and leftover birthday cake, is finding the right place for your party.
To help you narrow down your choices, we've put together a list of some of our favorite places around Los Angeles to throw a child's birthday party:
Pacific Park®
380 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 260-8744
More Info
Pacific Park® on the Santa Monica pier is a GREAT place for a party for the younger set (up to age 6 – after that they're a bit too old for the rides in this section of the park). You can purchase wristbands for your partygoers so they can have unlimited access to the age-appropriate rides (good all day until park closing!). The great thing about this place is the kids are confined to one general area. You gotta love that!
Rockreation
11866 La Grange Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 207-7199
1300 Logan Ave.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 556-7625
www.rockreation.com
Looking for a unique and exciting party idea for kids ages 6 and up? A rock-climbing party at this indoor complex can be a perfect solution! The difficulty of the rock climbing walls ranges from easy to more difficult based on the age and ability of the children. Parties are well supervised and nothing feels more satisfying than getting to the top of the wall and ringing that bell!
Putting Edge Fun Center
6081 Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310) 348-9770
www.puttingedge.com
The Putting Edge offers indoor mini-golf birthday parties and the coolest part is it's Glow-in-the-Dark! There are also arcade games and air hockey for kids not interested in playing 18 holes.
Super Kids
2143 South Sepulveda Boulevard
4th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 268-8300
www.danthemangym.com
You'd have to be living in a hole - or maybe the Valley- to not have heard of "Dan the Man." He's practically a mythological character to the preschool set here in LA. A step beyond Gymboree, this was the perfect birthday party solution for my boy/girl twins from the time they were 3 till they turned 7. Dan and his staff play exciting games, really entertain the kids, and equipment is clean and well-supervised. Great exercise, lots of fun, and always age-appropriate.
Skateland
18140 Parthenia Street
Northridge, CA
(818) 885-7655
www.skateland.net
If you live in the city this is a bit of a haul, but Skateland is totally worth it. They really know how to throw a great kid's birthday party. The funniest part of this party is watching all the moms on roller-skates trying to help serve pizza. It's like being in a 50's style diner.
Movies By Kids
MBK Studios Calabasas
5115 Douglas Fir Rd. Suite B
Calabasas, CA 91302
(818) 702-6000
www.moviesbykids.com
Do you have a budding pop star on your hands? Maybe a future Steven Spielberg? At the Movies By Kids studios, you can throw a birthday party where the birthday girl or boy and their friends make their own music video, clay animation film, or stop-motion film.
AMF Mar Vista Bowl
12125 Venice Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA
(310) 391-5288
www.amf.com
Okay, Mar Vista Bowl is not very fancy but this is an amazing birthday party. They put up gutter guards so the little ones have a higher success rate of hitting pins and you get a party area for food (which you have to order through them) and cake (which you provide yourself).
Eco Station
10101 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 842-8060
www.ecostation.org
The Eco Station is a non-profit organization that rescues exotic animals and offers amazing educational programs for the neighboring community. Their programs and parties include hands-on experiences with a variety of animals including reptiles, big cats and birds. Several different rooms are available and birthdays include a tour of the facilities, education and interaction with animals. Here's the best part - because it is a non-profit, fees are tax-deductible, AND you're doing something good for the animals and the environment.
Go Kart World
21830 Recreation Road
Carson, CA 90745
(310) 834-3800
More Info
Got a kid who loves NASCAR? Maybe they just can't wait to get a driver's license. Either way, Go Kart World offers a unique birthday party experience for kids ages four years and older. You'll be assigned a "Party Coach" who will run your party for you. They will take the kids to the tracks (there are a bunch of track different layouts), lead them in games and spend time with them in the arcade.
Santa Monica Playhouse
1211 4th Street, Suite 201
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 394-9779 ext. 2
More Info
Have a child who's been bitten by the acting bug? Santa Monica Playhouse offers a "Famiy Theatre party for kids 2-10, and a "Create-A-Play" Birthday Party for kids a bit older (7-14). The younger party gets to watch a show and the birthday child gets to go up on stage. For the older kids, they get to work with actual stage make-up, costumes and put on their own mini-play. What a great way to celebrate a birthday!
