Party Flavors Parties Away From Home

Mon., Jan. 19, 1998

Lynn Gibson Correspondent

Birthday parties can be as different as the kids they honor, yet the most successful birthday bashes have one thing in common: They are well suited to the parents’ comfort level and the child’s personality. For some families, the ideal party is at home, while others prefer it anywhere else.

Pizza and pandemonium reign at Chuck E. Cheese, Spokane’s birthday party central. Token-laden kids dart to and fro. Parents, surrounded by gift wrap and birthday cake, wear glazed grins. But few complain.

“I took a Tylenol before I went and it was fine,” says Robbie Elder, of Spokane, remembering her son Ben’s party. “The kids loved the games, and the mess stays there. It’s worth the extra (effort and money) to go out.”

For about $8 a child, Chuck E. Cheese (327-6623)) provides food, games, decorations and more.

For busy parents with limited time, birthday parties away from home offer ease and convenience. Minimal planning is required and on-site hosts keep things moving. Your house stays clean and kids get a chance to try a new adventure.

There is miniature golfing at Bumper’s Fun Castle (489-4000), ice-skating at Go Kart Family Fun in Post Falls (208-667-3919), bowling at Silver Lanes (535-2961) or arcade games at Party Time Pizza in Coeur d’Alene (208-769-7582). Kids can twist and shout at Gymboree (456-0277), somersault at Spokane Elite gym (533-9646), wage laser battles at Laser Quest (624-7700), or scale mountains at Wild Walls (455-9596).

Or, they can tunnel their way through mazes and towers at the Kids Play Center (484-2102), which is what 4-year old Josie Greenwood chose for her recent birthday.

Josie’s mom, Heidi Greenwood, of Spokane, gave it two thumbs up.

“This is the first time we did Kids Play,” says Greenwood. “They did an awesome job and made it worth spending the money. The place was really under control, and the kids had a blast.”

For preteen birthdays, check out Pattison’s North roller-skating rink (466-2832) in Spokane. One recent Saturday afternoon, Stephen McKinney was there to celebrate his ninth birthday with a bevy of boys.

“January birthdays are hard to do at home since they can’t go outside very easily,” says Stephen’s mom, Cathy McKinney.

Her husband, Jim, agrees: “It’s a great deal. The boys work out their energy here, and we don’t clean the house afterward.”

A party package at Pattison’s is $45 for up to eight kids, which includes admission, skate rental, private party room, food and decorations.

Got a summer birthday to plan? Fun in the sun might mean a day at Idaho’s Silverwood Theme Park (208-683-3400) or Coeur d’Alene’s Public Beach and Boardwalk (208-664-3194) or maybe a picnic and Carrousel ride at Spokane’s Riverfront Park (625-6612).

There are waterslides at Splash Down in Spokane (924-3079) and Wild Waters in Coeur d’Alene (208-667-6491). For horse riding, try Trail Town Ranch and Stables (456-8249) or Indian Canyon Riding Stables (624-4646).

For the child who loves to create, consider an art studio or museum. The Spokane Art School (328-0900) offers parties for ages 3 and up, which include a 90-minute art class with a certified instructor.

The soon-to-open Children’s Museum of Spokane (624-0435) will host birthday parties beginning this summer for hands-on fun with science and cultural exhibits. Art By Yourself ceramic studio (838-8993) provides ceramics, paint and instruction to create one-of-a-kind birthday mementos.

If you choose to farm out your child’s party, some tips: Plan ahead and get ready to do some math.

Some places charge a flat fee for the space and ask parents to provide the cake and goodies. Others charge a per-child fee and will provide a standard or deluxe party package, depending on your budget.

Visit a place before booking, then ask what is included and what you should bring - candles? cake knife? Finally, choose a location with your child in mind. Make sure you’re fulfilling your child’s dream and not your own.

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