Where your kid will want his or her next birthday.
By Carey Nguyen
Planning a birthday party for your child can be stressful
– so stressful that a national nonprofit Birthdays Without Pressure has
been formed to combat the “over the top” birthday party syndrome and
make planning more manageable for parents nationwide. Thankfully, the Silicon
Valley is chock full of options that’ll squash all party problems, be they
time, budget or space. Here are 15 birthday party spots that will meet not just
your needs, but more importantly, your child’s interests.
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo 1300 Senter Rd., San Jose (408) 277-3000www.happyhollowparkandzoo.org Cost: Food and beverage packages, $90-$245; Admission: $5.50 per person
at a group rate with a minimum of 14 people
Birthday fun at Happy Hollow means animals, rides, and plenty of picnic options.
Choose from nine designated and themed picnic areas complete with four different
food packages, or cook your own grub. Whether it’s a puppet show or animal
feeding at the petting zoo, there’s plenty to do post-party, adults included.
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose 180 Woz Way, San Jose (408) 298-5437 www.cdm.org Cost: $215-$465, $8-$16 additional for each child or adult
Play hard and learn hard with the museum’s three party packages that include
a private room, food and beverages, all-day admission, and your very own hostess
for 12 children and two adults. The most extravagant packages allow kids to create
their own slime – or for the craft-inclined, create their own marble art.
The Jungle 950 El Paseo De Saratoga, San Jose (408)
866-4386 www.thejunglefun.com Cost: $14-$20 per child
To a kid, few things are better than unlimited playtime – and that’s
what this indoor arcade and family entertainment center features in its three
birthday packages, along with a private party room for 45 minutes, food and drinks,
and a hostess. For extra fun, get Mookie the Mascot to drop in.
Sky High Sports 2880 Mead Ave., Santa Clara (408) 465-4040
www.jumpskyhigh.com Cost: $250 for a minimum of 10 people, $20 more for each additional guest
Birthday parties are literally off the wall at Sky High Sports, where trampolines
go from floor to wall. Birthday packages include food and drinks, unlimited access
to separate arenas, including a foam pit and dodgeball court, a hostess, plus
set-up and cleanup.
Roaring Camp Railroads 5355 Graham Hill Rd., Felton (831) 335-4484
www.roaringcamp.com Cost: $295-$625, group rate for beach train: $17.50 for adults, 13.50 for
children over 12; For steam train: $16 for adults, $11 for children over 12
If your child loves trains, make tracks to Roaring Camp, where birthday parties
include not just party favors for guests, but exclusive picnic areas, a portable
barrel barbecue for cooking, and different train rides – including one to
Santa Cruz Beach and another to the top of Bear Mountain.
The Tech Museum 201 S. Market St., San Jose (408) 294-8324
www.thetech.org Cost: $195-$375, $8-$12 for each additional guest and $10-$15 for additional
goodies
Birthdays at IMAX begin with a birthday announcement before the film (what a way
to make a child feel special!) and include gallery admission for up to 25 guests,
a private party room for two hours and Tech Museum T-shirts. Bring your own cake
or pick a package that includes one. My Gym Children & Fitness Center 1262 S. Bascom Ave., San Jose (408) 279-9700
www.my-gym.com Cost: $300-$350, $10 additional for every child over the maximum of 20
Birthday bliss at My Gym equals one and a half hours of jumping, rolling and tumbling
fun – supervised, of course, by trained staff so parents can sit back and
relax. Their packages cover it all, from set-up, decorations, games, and refreshments
to cleanup. Book early, because this hot spot fills up three months ahead of time.
San Jose Giants 588 East Alma Ave., San Jose (408) 297-1435
www.sjgiants.com Cost: $15 a child for groups of 10 or more
Birthday parties with the San Jose Giants are a home run with kids – for
good reason. The party package includes general admission, kid zone tickets, hot
dogs and soda, a personalized Baskin-Robbins cake, as well as a birthday announcement
over the PA and video board.
Touchstone Climbing 200 S. First St., San Jose (408) 920-6000
www.touchstoneclimbing.com Cost: $100 for five kids, $20 for each additional child
Take your child’s birthday party to new heights at Touchstone Climbing,
where instructors teach the kids basic climbing skills for two hours. Afterwards,
party on in a private room where you can bring your own food or arrange for takeout.
Color Me Mine 5337 Prospect Rd., San Jose (408) 865-1833
www.colormemine.com Cost: $18-$25 per person
Birthdays at this paint-it-yourself ceramic studio bring out a child’s creativity,
with four one-to-two-hour packages that teach a variety of art, from painting
a plate to making a stuffed critter. Bring your own cake, food and drinks, or
opt for the deluxe package that includes pizza. MVP Arena 696 E. Trimble Rd., Suite #30, San Jose
(408) 750-0929 www.mvparena.com Cost: $150-$450
Kids get a good birthday workout at MVP Arena, an indoor sports center with baseball,
soccer, dodgeball, inflatable slides, and jousting pits. Party packages include
a private room, a challenge event that gives you 40 minutes of playing time in
a sport of your choice with a personal coach, and party supplies, along with the
cleanup. Raging Waters 2333 S. White Rd., San Jose (408) 238-9900
www.ragingwaters.com Cost: $30 per person, 10-person minimum and a $50 dollar nonrefundable
deposit
Get set for a splash – make it splashy – bash with party packages
that include not just all-day admission, an exclusive table, lunch for all, and
an ice cream cake, but also unlimited access to rides and attractions.
Razzberry Lips 1600 Saratoga Ave., San Jose (408) 866-7299
www.clubrazzberry.com Cost: $25-$35 per guest
Take your girly-girl to Razzberry Lips, where birthdays bring a head-to-toe makeover
and plenty of dress-up fun with friends. Jeweled tiaras, pretty hairpieces, and
games like Freeze Dance and Pin the Petal on the Flower pump up the party, as
do themes such as Fairy Princess, Pirate, and Pink Poodle.
Theater Fun 2151 Darnis Cir., Morgan Hill (408) 778-6231
www.theaterfun.com Cost: $175-$200
Calling all little drama kings and queens – birthday parties at Theater
Fun are themed. (Warrior Prince, The Pirate King, Little Ladies Tea Party, to
name a few) and include fun activities such as applying makeup, designing picture
frames, and putting on their own play.
Logitech Ice at San Jose 1500 S. Tenth St., San Jose (408) 279-6000
www.logitechice.com Cost: $14-$17 each guest, additional $125 for Sharkie appearance
Set up a skating soiree at Logitech Ice that, depending on the package you pick,
includes skate rentals, food and drinks, and a private party room. For a fee,
invite Sharkie, mascot of the San Jose Sharks, to the party. Bring your own cake.
– Compiled by Ryan Donough *This Article appeared in Volume
7, Issue 07 of The Wave Magazine.
