As I mentioned on Friday last week, our son turned 12-years-old and for his birthday, the hubs and I always think of something fun and enjoyable for him. He’s already a tween so we thought a big party is no longer necessary. He did have two big parties when he turned 8 and 9 – his first and second birthdays here in the U.S. respectively. We celebrated his 8th Birthday at Chuck E. Cheese’s and his 9th birthday at a mini-golf course. For his 11th birthday last year, we took him out of town to visit the Schiele Museum and planetarium.
For this year, after we gave him a birthday dinner at Red Lobster, we took him the following day to Fun Depot – a family entertainment center that offers a lot of indoor and outdoor fun. It was also where we took him for his 10th birthday in 2013. We thought it would be best to stay in town since he had just gotten home from his 6th grade field trip to Chattanooga, Tennessee the day before his birthday.
What’s good about this entertainment center is you get super fun at such an affordable price. We got the ‘The Max’ package which includes two free attractions and we only spent $30. Yes, $30 for more or less three hours of fun. We invited his friend to join us and we all had a blast!
Him and his friend chose to do the ‘Laser Tag’ first which was the two free attractions that were taken off of the package. And while waiting for them, hubby played his fave game during his younger days – Galaga! And I enjoyed myself watching him. 😉
There was no way I could take a photo of them inside the Laser Tag room because only participants were allowed inside. It would have been nice to have photos of them wearing their gears.
And the fun continued after the Laser Tag.
They did the indoor go-kart.
Basketball.
Bowling.
And a lot of arcade games.
They sure were having fun!
And finally…the climbing wall. Our son is so good at it, he reached the top in a heartbeat. 🙂 He did it too at Zoo Atlanta in 2012.
The four of us also played air hockey which is something that I really find so fun and exciting. It was the kiddos versus the adults and guess who the winners were? 😉
It is always fun to go to Fun Depot. Until next time!
Both of my boys have August birthdays, so we do a joint party. Since it’s summer time, we always get a bouncy house and pizza.
That sounds fun too! My son loves a bouncy house as well. 🙂
What great ideas! My tween will be 12 I’m September and I’m looking forward to seeing what he will be up for. Would love to go rock /wall climbing I never thought of that!
That would be great if you go. He will have a blast, for sure.
Climbing walls are fun, for kids and adults. Sadly, there are none closer than a few hours to where we live now. It’s a great way to build co ordination and strength, to say nothing of confidence.
Lynndee – This looks so fun and reminds me of when I would take my own son to these places – they didn’t have the climbing wall – but as a Director of conference centers – he had all sorts of chances to be part of ropes courses – is’t important fun!
Aww, good to know I made you reminisce those sweet memories. 🙂
How much fun is that place! I like finding places that is family oriented where you can run around together. Thanks for sharing this!
It is definitely a super fun place! You’re welcome, Sharon! 🙂
That looks like a blast! I’m all for kids having great birthday parties, but I don’t see any need for them to break the bank. Thanks a lot!
Yup, having fun birthdays doesn’t have to be expensive. There are always affordable ways to have fun. 🙂
Wow! That looks like an awsome adventure for a birthday party! When my son is old enough I would love to try something like this for him.
You should. Bet your son would enjoy it too. 🙂
That looks like a wonderful place for a birthday celebration. It looks like so much fun. My kids would enjoy it too.
I have no doubt your kids would enjoy it too. 🙂
My son would have loved a lunch at Red Lobster. A trip to the Fun Depot would have made his day too!
No doubt about it. 😉
Looks like an amazing time celebrating! Such fun!
It was really fun! 🙂
Looks like your son had a great time! This would be perfect for my 2 older boys this year. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome, Bonnie. 🙂
I have a tween and he would absolutely love this for his birthday. The video games and the rock wall would be his highlights.
He will have a blast like my son. 🙂
I need to find a place like this to celebrate my kids’ bdays…although I don’t think there is one near me! I have about 8 years to figure it out!
Well, maybe within that eight years, there will be one that will open near you. 😉
Any tween would love to have a party at that place! Heck, I’d love to have a party there. Looks like so much fun (except the rock climb because I don’t like heights), but my kids would love it.
I am with you about the climbing wall. I haven’t tried it yet and I’m not sure if I will ever have the guts to do it. 🙂
Your son looks had a tons of fun! This is great idea too, I’d love to go there with my kids one day.
It was fun. You and your kids should go. 😉
I love how your family celebrated your tween’s birthday. It isn’t the typical birthday celebration and I think because of that it makes the day more memorable.
It was definitely memorable and the birthday boy had a blast. 🙂
Wall climbing is an awesome activity. Good to know that your kids is fond of this and sports too! We have one thing in common though = we love to play the trumpets 🙂
Good to know that, Ron. 🙂
I’ve heard of this place before. My girls would love this!
Bet they would. 🙂
Rock climbing, bowling and some arcade action? Sounds awesome to mee!
Totally awesome! 😉
Those really are some fun ways to celebrate a birthday! I know I’d have loved the bowling option when I was a tween 🙂
I used to play bowling a lot too especially during high-school and college. 🙂
Few years ago, we let Rylie tried the wall climbing and she loved it You remind me to try this again and this time with EJ since he is bigger now too. This is really a fab idea for a birthday celebration.
It is definitely fun. You should take your kids there. They will enjoy it for sure. 🙂
These are definitely fun activities and moments – which makes things memorable and afforable too! Cool!
Yup! Totally cool! 😉
That’s definitely my kind of place. I’d love to take the kiddo there. Happy Birthday too, to your son!
Thank you, Rosey. 🙂
My kids would enjoy this kind of day spent! We will have to look into this. We have a 11 year old birthday coming up next month. She would love to compete against her older brother in ALL of these challenges!
So she’s competitive, huh? That would be exciting! 😉
That looks like so much fun!! We used to have something like that around us but they shut it down 🙁 I wish we still did b/c I loved it as a kid! I wish my nephew n niece could have experienced it as well. Great post!!
Thank you, Angela. Just hope that they will open again. You never know. 🙂
This seems like such a fun place for a birthday! I suspect even older boys would be tempted to have parties there 😉 I remember my husband and friend loved to do the laser challenge in Mission Beach and they were in their 20s!
I did the laser tag too last year and I was in my 30’s. LOL. A lot of men played it. It’s fun for kids and adults alike.
Now that is a fun party! Kiddos birthday is in January, right after Christmas and still pretty heavy in winter. It can be hard to plan things sometimes; especially when you never know what the weather is going to do.
Exactly! And that’s when entertainment centers like this is the best place to have birthday parties because they offer a lot of indoor fun. 🙂
Rock climbing would be so unique! I remember I had a roller skating birthday party when I was 12. SO much fun!
I bet it was fun. We were invited to a roller skating party a couple of years ago and it was my son’s first time to skate. He did good. 🙂
That sounds like a really fun party, I wish I would of had the option to do something similar when I was a tween. But I have a summer birthday so we usually ended up going to the beach and having a day out.
Having a beach party is also fun. Now you made me miss my hometown. It is by the beach. 🙂
Oh that looks like a fun birthday. My kids would all have loved it
It was definitely fun! 🙂
What a fun birthday!! I still love to play arcade games and bowl!!!
I still love to bowl and I also love air hockey. So much fun! 🙂
I know that the most practical thing for me as an adult is to have a small party at a nice restaurant but sometimes I just want to go karting lol. These are indeed fun ways to enjoy a birthday
It would be fun to have both – eat at a restaurant and go go-karting. 🙂
It looks like your teen had a blast. My son loves Laser tag and car bumpers. It is so much fun
He had a blast! Those are really fun things they have there. 🙂
Oh my goodness! What tween wouldn’t just LOVE that? Heck, I would enjoy it myself.
I know, right? That place offers enjoyment for kids and adults alike. 🙂
What a great idea, my daughter has a winter birthday and it’s always so hard planning something fun and affordable! I will definitely have to look into this for her next birthday, thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome, Alyssa. 🙂
When I was 12 we really didn’t even have birthday parties for me anymore. That’s really sweet of you to celebrate and laser tag is always super fun! We have a similar place near me with the rock climbing and some bumper boats. It’s cheap on Tuesdays. so we go every few months.
Good to know, Jacqueline. I don’t know if they offer something like that here – cheap Tuesdays. Would be great to go and have fun on that day. 🙂
This would be such a fun birthday party. We have a theme park a few hours away from us. The kids celebrated many birthdays there.
Good to know, Ann. 🙂
That looks like a fun time for a birthday. The mini bowling would be a blast.
It was fun and not only the birthday celebrant had a blast, but all of us. 🙂