Keep It Moving! Your Guide to Birthday Parties for Busy Bodies

Party On! And on and on and… If you’re the proud parent of the kid-who-never-stops, especially when it’s time to celebrate a birthday, then you might as well cater to her busy-body ways when it’s her big day. Whether it’s rock climbing, laser tag, skating, or swimming, your little energizer bunny and friends will party ‘til they pop at one of these fun local venues that offer action-packed birthday parties.

Up, Up, and Away
Let’s face it, kids love bouncy houses. But rather than bringing the bouncy house to you, you can bring the party to the bouncy house and we’re not talking about just one. We’re talking rooms full of springy floors, slides, climbing walls and obstacle courses. There’s plenty to make your party guests jump for joy!

Book it:
Pump It Up (Elkridge, Frederick, Gaithersburg, and Hagerstown, Md; Loudoun and Manassas, Va)

Climb the Walls
Celebrate in vertical style at a rock climbing party. In addition to celebrating their BFF’s birthday, guests work on building self-confidence, trust, character and muscle. A rock-climbing expert directs your party and provides instruction, guidance, safety and encouragement. Several venues in the area offer birthday party packages complete with pizza, cake and balloons.

Book it:
Sport Rock Climbing Centers (Alexandria and Sterling, Va)
Earth Treks Climbing (Columbia, Timonium, and Rockville, Md)

Tag, You’re It
Take party guests on a high-tech, laser tag adventure where identity is limited only by imagination. If you’re thinking, “Am I the only parent who has no idea what laser tag is?” The answer is no, but we’d bet the bank on the fact that your tweens probably know. Laser tag is like a live video game. Players enter a game arena where they dodge laser attacks, strategize with teammates, and compete for high scores as they try to win the game. It’s not just a party; it’s an experience. Birthday packages are reasonably priced and guaranteed to wow.

Book it:
Ultrazone Laser Tag (Falls Church and Sterling, Va)
Shadowland Adventures (Gaithersburg, Columbia and Frederick, Md; Springfield and Chantilly, Va)

Game Day
Sometimes being active means exercising your brain, and at D.C.’s Labyrinth, you can trade in your screen time for some good, old fashion board games. From puzzles and marble runs, to chess and trivia, Labyrinth features a whole lot of hands-on fun. Their birthday party packages are designed for kids 6 years and up, and feature a custom-designed itinerary of coordinated gaming activities, plus food and drink, gift bags and decorations.

Book it:
Labyrinth
645 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
202-544-1059

Water Works
Some things never change: kids love a pool party, and these days you don’t have to be a summer baby to celebrate your special day in the water. Many of the area’s water parks have indoor features that operate year round. So trade your party hats in for a pair of goggles and let the fun begin.

Book it: 
Six Flags of America’s Hurricane Harbor (Mitchellville, Md)
Great Wolf Lodge (Williamsburg, Va)
Water Park at Massanutten (McGaheysville, Va)
Water Park at Bohrer Park (Gaithersburg, Md)
Lane Manor Splash Park (Hyattsville, Md)

Do you have any birthday party ideas for energetic kids? Tell us in the comments section below. 

—Jamy Bond

Photos courtesy of Shadowland Adventures via Facebook, Sport Rock Climbing Center via Facebook, Cathy Stanley-Erickson via Flickr, Labyrinth via Facebook, hopskipandjump via Flickr