by Shyla Martin

Created on: March 15, 2009

Children's birthday parties have changed in the past twenty years. When I was a child, all that was needed for a successful party was a cake, some fun backyard games, a few close friends and relatives, and good weather. Those days are long gone. Fortunately, Huntsville has kept us with the changing trend in children's parties as many attractions have been added in recent years.

For those of you who like to go old school, Big Spring Park and Monte Sano State Park are nice picnic areas. At Big Spring Park there are ducks to feed, tables to eat on, and plenty of grassy areas for those egg and spoon races and bubble blowing contests. Monte Sano State Park offers walking trails, a large playground (complete with a soccer field and a Frisbee golf course), and several grills spaced throughout the park. Scenic views make it the perfect place to take fun photos. If you would rather have the party in your own home, without worrying about occupying fifteen rug rats for three hours, there is a great alternative. www.jumptoitinc.com offers a variety of inflatable moon bounces, bouncy houses, sports arenas, slides, ball pits, obstacle courses, princess castles, and much more. Ranging in price from fifty dollars and up, there is sure to be something for everyone. Want to know the best part? All you have to do is pay for it! They bring it, set it up, and when your party is over, they come back and take it down. It's that simple.

If your child would prefer something a bit more entertaining, as most children do, Huntsville has several attractions for children of all ages. Skate Odyssey offers not only skating, but they also have laser tag and an arcade. There are many birthday packages to choose from, so your child can do one or all of them. Southern Adventures offers putt putt golf, water slides, carnival rides, an arcade, and even go cart racing. There are varying packages, so just like Skate Odyssey, your child can choose to do one or all of the activities. Pin Palace and Parkway Lanes bowling alleys also offer party packages, and all three offer pizza and sodas.

If you would prefer something a bit more educational, Huntsville boasts of three great museums. Early Works is a hands on history museum that makes the past come alive. SciQuest specializes in hands on science activities and experiments which can spark your child's inner Einstein. My personal favorite is The Space and Rocket Center. Flight simulators, educational amusement park rides, hands on space activities, as well as a walk through museum with videos and artifacts make children curious about space travel and the great beyond.

If your child is a teen then you can't go wrong with a birthday at the movies. Both Monaco Picture and The Rave can cater to your party needs. However, The Rave offers party rooms complete with tables while Monaco Pictures does not.

Never fear when a birthday is near. Huntsville has much to offer.

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