Cake. About 40 dollars or so. Invitations. About 10 dollars. Ice Cream. About 15 dollars. Not having to plan a stressful and chaotic party your home. PRICELESS!
Does your little boy or girl have a birthday approaching? Too busy or tired to plan a party at home? Don’t fret, San Jose has numerous excellent children’s birthday party places to choose from. With about 137,000 kids under the age of 9 living in the San Jose area, there’s a great selection of family entertainment. If you are planning a children’s birthday party in San Jose, CA here are 15 locations to choose from.
Children’s Discovery Museum
www.cdm.org
180 Woz Way
(408) 298 -5437
Cost: Very High
If you want to host an exciting birthday party with an educational twist, the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose may be the spot for you. They offer over 150 exhibits including “bubbalogna”, where children can create giant bubbles and learn how bubbles are made, and “Alice’s Wonderland”, where children can explore a fun play area with optical illusions. The museum has four birthday packages available. The basic package runs $250 and provides admission for 12 children and 6 adults. It includes invitations, one hour in the birthday room, staff help, and two free passes for the birthday boy/girl to use at a later date. The Level 2 package runs $350, and includes the same plus party favor bags for all guests, and snacks or an activity for the children.
The Level 3 party is for 15 children and 7 adults. It provides 90 minutes in the party room, invitations, staff help, two museum passes for the birthday child, party bag for each guest, food and drinks for all guests, and a fun science or art activity. It is a splurge at $475. You also have the option of renting the entire museum for 2 hours in the evening for up to 50 guests. It costs $1000 and includes staff help, invitations, free passes for the birthday child, and gift bags for up to 25 guests. You will not be disappointed in a party at Children’s Discovery Museum!
The Jungle Island
www.thejungleisland.com
5401 Camden Ave
(408) 448-4386
Cost: High to Very High
The Jungle Island is a very popular spot birthday parties in San Jose. Guests will enjoy interacting in several attractions – bumper cars, dino dig, laser tag, a virtual roller coaster and more. They offer three different types of birthday party packages . Ten children are required for all parties. The “jungle” package includes a private party room for 45 minutes, invitations, jungle play time, cake, drinks, tableware, 6 game tokens, a t-shirt for the birthday child, food (either pizza, hot dog or corn dog), balloons, and a pass for the birthday child to return at a later date. It is $14.95 per guest. The “expedition” package includes the same but offers 12 tokens for each guest, plus pizza for the adults and 50 tickets for the birthday child. It runs $17.95 per guest. The “mookie” package includes all of the above but provides 16 tokens for each child and 100 tickets for the birthday child. It is $20.95 per guest. A party at the Jungle Island is San Jose would be a thrilling experience for everyone!
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo
http://www.hhpz.org
1300 Senter Road
(408) 277-3000
Cost: Medium to High
What can be more fun that celebrating your birthday with lemurs, monkeys, and jaguars? Happy Hollow Park and Zoo is a fabulous place for a San Jose children’s birthday party. They don’t offer complete packages – but you can purchase items separately to create your own. If you have at least 14 guests, admission to the zoo is $5.50 and free for kids under two. You can rent picnic/play areas for $25.00 – $100.00. You can also purchase goody bags, lunches, and a birthday cake – see the web-site for more details. A birthday party at the zoo in San Jose would be an entertaining experience for all guests!
My Gym
www.my-gym.com
1262 S. Bascom Ave.
(408) 279-9700
Cost: Very High
Want a party with lots of games, gymnastics, songs, puppets and more? Then book your child’s next birthday party at My Gym in San Jose. Their parties are popular in San Jose and book 2-3 months out. The offer one party package. It includes a 90 minute celebration with lots of fun activities, staff help, setup, decorations, and more. It is for up to 20 children and costs $300 for members or $350 for non-members. Additional guests may come for $10 each. You can purchase party favor bags for an additional cost. A My Gym birthday party will be an unforgettable experience.
Chuck E. Cheese’s
www.chuckecheese.com
1361 Kooser Rd and 2445 Fontaine Rd.
(408) 267-8600 and (408) 238-9110
Cost: Medium to Very High
A pizza party at Chuck E. Cheese is always in style. Guests will enjoy playing fun games such as ski-ball, while watching shows staring the famous Chuck E. Cheese mouse and eating pizza. San Jose has two locations that would be thrilled to host your tot’s next birthday party. Both offer two packages. The “Birthday Star Package” costs $11.99/child at the Kooser location and $12.99/child at the Fontaine location It provides a reserved decorated table for 1 1/2 hours, 2 slices of pizza per child, drink, 20 tokens per child, gift for the birthday star (balloon bouquet, medallion, and Chuck E. Cheese lunch box), 100 tickets for the birthday child, and a show starring Chuck E. Cheese and your the birthday boy or girl. The “Super Star Upgrade” package runs $16.99/guest at the Kooser location and $17.99/guests at the Fontaine location. It includes the same plus $3.00 worth of extra tokens for each guest, goody bags, souvenir cups for each child, and a Chuck E. Cheese stuffed animal for the birthday child. Chuck E. Cheese is a reputable party spot. They will provide a birthday party your child and his/her friends will truly enjoy!
Nickel City
www.nickelcitysanjose.com
1711 Branham Lane
(408) 448-3311
Cost: Medium to High
A party as Nickel City in San Jose is sure to be entertaining and stress-free. Nickel City is an arcade center with more than 100 video games – all only require a nickel to play. On some of the machines, children will earn tickets which they can be redeem for prizes. Their party package is $10.95 per child. It includes a time in the private party room for 90 minutes, 40 nickels for each child, 50 tickets, 2 slices of pizza per guest, drinks, and a pass for the birthday boy/girl to return at a later date. It’s a great party for older children and teens.
Raging Waters
www.rwsplash.com
2883 S. White Road
(408) 238-9900
Cost: Very High
This party is only available in the summer (May-September) but it is sure to be one the guests will enjoy. Raging Water is a water amusement park full of slides, giant wave pool, and lots of thrilling rides. The party package is very high – $30.00 per guest with a 10 person minimum. But it’s worth it with all day admission to the park, a reserved table in the party area, meal (hamburgers or hot dogs with chips), drinks with free refills, and a birthday cupcake cake. It is a great idea to be sure to have some extra adults – say 1 for every 3 guests – for safety reasons. A birthday celebration at Raging Waters in San Jose will be something different, provide the guests with lots of exercise, and be very entertaining.
The Tech Museum of Innovation
www.thetech.org
201 South Market St.
(408) 294-8324
Cost: Very High
The Tech Museum of Innovation is another fantastic place for an educational, but amusing birthday party. It is a enriching science museum that will stimulate your guest’s minds for sure. They offer over 240 exhibits including an earthquake stimulator, a space exploration spot, a robot exhibit, and more. It is a terrific spot for an older child’s birthday party. They provide 3 types of birthday packages, all are available to members only. The “museum gallery package” runs $250 and includes admission for up to 25 kids, 2 1/2 hours in the party room, and a t-shirt for the birthday boy or girl. The “Museum + IMAX) package costs $350 and offers admission for up to 25 guests, admission to the IMAX theater, tableware, 90 minutes in the party room, a t-shirt for the birthday star, and a birthday slide at the start of the IMAX film. Their last package the “lab party museum gallery” package is a splurge at $475. It offers an interactive science lab for up to 20 guests, help from trained and professional lab instructions, and use of the private party room for 2 1/2 hours. If your older child or teen loves science, this would be a great party spot. It will be something different but amusing.
Color Me Mine
www.sanjose.colormemine.com
5337 Prospect Road
(408) 865-1833
Cost: Very High
If you have a little artist on your hands, or just a child that loves to express her/himself, a party at Color Me Mine of San Jose would be a fabulous birthday experience. It is a paint-your-own pottery studio where guests can paint an item (plate, bowl, mug, ornament, etc.) to save as a memento or give as a gift. They offer 3 packages, all require at least 8 guests. The “classic package” provides a 2 hour party for $20/child. You can let the guests select from over 30 different items. You’re welcome to bring cake, drinks and snacks. The “deluxe package” is also 2 hours long and runs $25/guest. It includes the same plus party favors and wrists bands for all children, pizza, sodas, a decorated room with balloons, and invitations. You could also choose a “Create a Critter” birthday party. It is a 90 minute party where children can stuff a critter by hand (teddy bear, etc.) It runs $19/ child. A birthday outing at Color Me Mine would be a very memorable event!
Playground/Park Party
www.sjparks.org
Various Locations in the City
(408) 277 -2757
Cost: Low
A birthday party at a playground or park would make a terrific event. San Jose has several wonderful play areas to choose from. Your taxes help support them – you should take advantage of it! Just set a date and reserve the picnic area (call the number above), buy a cake and maybe a pinata and you’re good to go! For ideas on games read “10 Fun Games for an Outdoor Children’s Party.” A celebration at a playground shouldn’t empty your wallet and will create lasting memories.
These are just a few of the many top-notch places to host a children’s birthday party at in San Jose. Happy Partying!
