• happy birthday image by yannik LABBE from Fotolia.com
  
  Finding the right place to have a birthday party for your kid is a common issue for moms and dads in Arizona. Will my child and his friends have a blast? After all, everyone wants to throw a party that the child will remember. Here are some ideas for places to enjoy a birthday party in Arizona.
  
  

Imagination Avenue

• One fun option for younger kids is Imagination Avenue located in Phoenix, Arizona. Imagination Avenue is a child-size town of nine play houses and an inner courtyard and avenue area that altogether offers 3,500 square feet of indoor play and party space for your group. The play houses are: a school, grocery store, hospital, Home Depot, fire station and jail, dress shop, movie theater and family house, all providing so many different outlets for role play, creative play and imaginative socialization. In addition, Imagination Avenue has a puppet theater, classic jungle gym, train table, puzzle/coloring room, and finally, a party room for cake, food, drinks and gift opening. Imagination Avenue even has its own child-friendly café stocked with food and snacks. Be sure to bring socks as only kids can go barefoot. The minimum cost is $150 for an economical party of seven children.
  
  Imagination Avenue
  10614 N. 32nd Street
  Phoenix AZ 85028
  (602) 765-3192
  http://www.imaginationavenue.us
  
  

Stratum Laser Tag

• Another fun, action-packed party for slightly older children can be held at Stratum Laser Tag, located in Mesa, Arizona. They do it all for you at Stratum Laser Tag, including giving everyone a quick class in how to play laser tag, hosting the pizza, drinks, and cake, and even cleaning up the mess at the end. You and your adult friends can kick back and watch the Stratum host or hostess help your kid have the time of her life. The facility, designed by the same crew that designed Universal Studios and the glamorous Forum Shops at Caesars in Las Vegas, is an enormous 18,000-square-foot state-of-the-art, maze-like laser tag arena. Multi-level and replete with towers, ramps, bridges, heart-thumping sound system, and laser light show, it is a laser tag player's dream. Up to 60 players can play in this gaming center located 15 minutes from the Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix.
  
  Stratum Laser Tag
  1455 South Stapley Drive
  Mesa, AZ 85204
  (480) 545-5500
  http://www.stratumhq.com/
  
  

Bounce U

• Another action-filled option is Bounce U, a clean, air-conditioned, indoor play gymnasium filled with giant inflatable structures to climb, jump, and slide on. Each party at Bounce U has a private party room for food, cakes and gift opening--or just for getting away from the zaniness of the Bounce Stadium. The professional staff will help you host your party from setup to cleanup. Bounce U is a favorite of kids who love all the activity and exercise that they get while having the time of their lives. Additional playtime or party room time can be purchased for a surcharge, as can balloon bouquets, favor bags, and cakes or cupcakes. Bounce U franchises are located in both Gilbert and Mesa, Arizona.
  
  Bounce U-Gilbert
  1166 S. Gilbert Rd.
  Suite 110
  Gilbert, Arizona 85296
  (480) 632-9663
  http://www.bounceu.com/party-places-for-kids/arizona/gilbert/