I’ve written about planning Chase’s birthday parties a few times over the years; it’s fun to stay on top of what’s available in Atlanta because not only do kids grow up fast, their interests and hobbies change as they get older. I’ve always tried to plan a theme or venue that really reflects who Chase is as a person so I’m always asking friends for recommendations or researching to see what’s new.

Last year, I wrote about Main Event on Cobb Parkway, a great indoor facility with games, laser tag, a rock climbing wall, and even a sports bar for adults. Main Event is still a favorite with Chase’s friends and I think it’s a good option to keep in mind for winter birthdays.

photo credit: 365atlantafamily.com

Another place that seems to be popular no matter the age of your child is LEGOland Discovery Center  at Phipps Plaza. They have DUPLO for toddlers on up to rides for older children and all the LEGOs you could possible want to build with! They even have a LEGO box kids can jump into!

Zip lines, ropes courses, sky bridges for the gravity defying adventurer, Treetop Quest has 3 locations in Dunwoody, Buford, and a new location in Roswell. One of the cool things about this place is that the activities are self guided so once you are trained on the safety equipment, you can go through the course or zipline as many times as you want.

photo credit: classic-paintball.com

Paintball is really popular with the older kids (and adults) and can be a really fun group activity. Most paintball facilities will reserve a field for groups of 10 or more on weekdays.

• Dosser Works Paintball in Atlanta (near Turner Field) has a zombie themed course- perfect for kids who are in the “gory” Halloween costume stage. You can bring your own party food to their picnic area but they also offer concessions like hotdogs and snacks.
• Classic Paintball in Lithia Springs has 5 fields and an urban course to choose from. They also have picnic areas and pavilions for your birthday party treats.
•  Georgia Paintball has two fields in Acworth and Dallas Georgia. They have a castle, a western town (called Dodge City) and wooded courses and they offer packages and specials for groups at both locations.

photo credit: boxycolonial.com

For the nature lover, Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell has birthday party plans that include hiking, animal interaction, and a nighttime planetarium theme. They tailor parties for different age groups and every party package includes a cookie cake. They host a lot of great programs and events including a butterfly festival and a summer camp so they’re a great local resource for nature-loving families.

Members at the Center for Puppetry Arts can book a birthday party with tickets to a show and a party room. You can add a build-you-own puppet workshop to the party package and each guest will have a puppet to take home with them.

I don’t have as much experience with planning parties for girls but my friends with daughters  tell me that their girls are really into their American Girl dolls so the American Girl Boutique & Bistro at North Pointe Mall in Alpharetta might be the perfect spot to celebrate. They even have a doll hair salon!

photo credit: huffingtonpost.com

Or if your little lady (or gentleman) enjoys a lovely cup of tea and a tower of delicious scones and cakes in elegant surroundings, several of Atlanta’s top hotels offer afternoon high teas:

• The St. Regis Atlanta  offers an elegant Afternoon Tea at Astor Court Friday – Sunday.
• The Ritz Carlton Buckhead’s Lobby Lounge  has two seatings each afternoon Wednesday – Sunday with live piano entertainment.
• Four Season’s Park 75 Afternoon Tea is available with seven day advance reservations for parties of ten or more.

For the budding artist, the Vinings School of Art right here in Vinings offers several different art class packages for birthday parties. Your child can choose the project they create and instructors will guide the guests through

I also ran across a great list of birthday party ideas for children in Atlanta including Fernbank, the Georgia Aquarium, Young Chef’s Academy and more. Just click on the highlighted words to get taken to their sites.