Celebrate Your Child’s Birthday at One of These Great Anchorage Party Places
The Imaginarium, located in downtown Anchorage, is a hands-on science center for children – although adults have just as much fun with the interactive exhibits as the youngsters. There are three different private rooms available for birthday parties, and six themes to choose from, which make this non-profit one of the most popular party places in the state.
By far the most challenging part of booking a birthday at The Imaginarium is choosing from one of six exciting themes. Each theme is designed to engage your child in a lively mix of entertainment and education, with decorations, party favors and a party host who will lead
them through a wonder-filled, hands-on fun and learning experience.
Young astronauts love Astro Adventures, especially when they get inside the on-site planetarium. They’ll ooh and ahh over the constellations, hearing ancient stories and learning fun facts about celestial navigation.
If you ever wished you could climb inside a bubble, you may find yourself as excited as your child at a Bubble Blowout party. Not only will your party host share bubble tricks, you’ll all have a chance to build a bubble around yourself.
Animal lovers will be hard-put to choose between Radical Reptiles, Magnificent Marine Life and Creepy Crawlies. In these parties, children have an opportunity to see wildlife up close and personal. They can pet a snake, hold a seastar or touch a tarantula, all the while learning about what makes a reptile a reptile, how sea creatures move around in tidal pools, or the difference between insects and arachnids.
Living in the past a dream of your little one? You can celebrate her birthday with fossils in a Dino Dig party. Your party host will lead your party of paleontologists through prehistory, uncovering all kinds of fun facts about dinosaurs in a mini-dig of their own.
The Imaginarium does not sell food on its premises; however, Uncle Joe’s Pizza is right around the corner and their food and drinks can be brought in. Bring your own cake and ice cream too, and the staff at The Imaginarium will provide plates, cups, napkins and spoons, as well as a theme party favor and balloon for each child. Your party host will help with the presents, food and clean-up.
Usage of the birthday party room is limited to an hour and a half, but your group is welcome to come early and stay as late as they like, exploring the exhibits and viewing hourly science demonstrations for free. On top of all the great memories your child will take with him, The Imaginarium will also provide a photo of him in a special frame commemorating the occasion.
For some good old-fashioned fun, you just can’t beat a great bowling party. Little athletes and bookworms alike thrill at the challenge of moving that heavy ball all the way down the lane. Will it or won’t it crash into the pins, knocking them askew with loud banging? Permission to create chaos is just what every kid needs, and there’s no better place than Jewel Lake Bowling Alley to scatter the pins all over the place.
You have the option of renting out lanes or the whole facility for your party, and can request a DJ as well. The snack bar will be opened for your party because outside food is not allowed, except for the cake and ice cream. While you will have a designated area to eat and open presents, bring your own plates, napkins and decorations because they don’t have birthday rooms or themes. But who needs all that at a bowling alley where your kids can have a blast with the special equipment designed just for their size and all the great music they can handle? Jewel Lake Bowling Alley provides ramps, bumpers and 6-pound balls for children to play with. It all just makes the fun that much more exciting.
While a party at H2Oasis is by far the most expensive option, keep in mind that this water park is Alaska’s one and only answer to the thrills and spills of a big-time amusement park. Disney, Six Flags and Paramount may be prolific in the lower 48, but there’s no such thing so close to the Arctic Circle.
With the price of a “Birthday Blast,” your child and guests get full access to the water park’s many attractions, including the Wave Pool, Master Blaster Water Coaster, Lazy River, Sea Dragon Pirate Ship, Water Cannons, Body Slide, Beached Boat Slide, both hot tubs and the Mushroom Water Drop Fountain. The Master Blaster Water Coaster and Body Slide have height minimums of 42″ and 36″ respectively, so keep in mind who among your guests will be tall enough to enjoy them.
H2Oasis provides you with party invitations to send out beforehand, then plates, cups, utensils, napkins, cake cutter, and a reserved table or tables for two hours on the day of the party. You bring your own cake and ice cream, but the birthday party deal will provide you with pizza or a hot dog, and a soda, for each child, and a $2 coupon for each guest to use on a future visit. The birthday child is given a free pass for their next visit and a “Treasure Mates” package.
It could be raining, snowing or howling up a gale of sleet outside, but the temperature inside the water park is a constant 86 degrees. The water is kept at 84 degrees as it winds its way through a variety of exciting slides and pools. If you have ever spent the day with children and any body of water to splash in, even a tiny plastic pool in the front yard, you know what kind of hilarity can ensue. Splashing, shouting, diving and swimming are just the beginning at an H2Oasis birthday party.
Party bookings require at least six people, with a minimum of one paid adult for every five children under the age of 12. Ask about parties for older kids and teens.
You’ll want to check your calendar and book ahead for any and all of these venues. Locals take advantage of their built-in attraction to children and birthday party slots fill up quickly.
The next time your child celebrates a birthday, you can choose a venue in Anchorage that’s sure to make that special day a real party. The Imaginarium, H2Oasis Indoor Waterpark, and Jewel Lake Bowling Alley have all taken the initiative to make birthday parties fun and exciting.
The Imaginarium
737 W. 5th Avenue, Ste. G
Anchorage, AK 99501
907-276-3179
www.imaginarium.org
Party fees: Members, $70/up to 10 children, $7 each additional guest, $25 deposit required at time of reservation, accompanying adults admitted free. Non-members, $80/ up to 10 children, $8 each additional guest, $25 deposit required at time of reservation, accompanying adults admitted free.
Jewel Lake Bowling Alley
8801 Jewel Lake Road
Anchorage, AK 99507
907-248-2634
www.jewellakebowl.com
Party fees: Weekdays, $2.50 per person per game; peak times, $4 per person per game; ask about rates for DJ and full facility rentals
Shoe rentals are in addition to these prices and are an extra $3.50 per pair
H2Oasis Indoor Waterpark
1520 O’Malley Road
Anchorage, AK 99507
907-522-4420
www.h2oasiswaterpark.com
Party fees: 6-person minimum; ages 12 and under, $18.95 each; age 13 and over, $24.95 each
