15 Great Places to Have a Party

1. A Is for Apple

Go apple picking, and kids can harvest their own healthy goodie bag while they get fresh air and exercise. Some orchards offer bonus activities, like visits with farm animals.

2. Teddy and Me

Birthday guests make a furry friend from scratch. Kids choose, stuff, and accessorize their bear and then take it home. Check out buildabear.com for locations.

3. Crafty Idea

Paint your own pottery--mugs, bowls, plates--at a ceramics studio.

4. Five-Alarm Fire

For a donation, many fire departments offer their space and time. Young partygoers can talk with firefighters, try out equipment, and even hop aboard the truck. But beware, if the fire bell rings, the party is over!

5. Factory Tour

From crayons to jelly beans to potato chips--your kids can find out how their favorite stuff is made on a tour of a local factory, with free samples and goodie bags waiting at the end.

6. Sundae School

Your local ice-cream shop provides the ice cream and the toppings, you provide the sugar monsters. Contact a parlor in your town, or log on to benandjerrys.com for Scoop Shop locations.

7. Bowling Bonanza

Your party will have a ball bumper bowling at your nearest alley. Don't forget to wear socks!

8. Gym Dandy

Many fitness clubs, recreation centers, and Ys offer high-energy activities such as swimming, basketball, and games.

9. Ice Is Nice

Kids can heat up on the ice with skating, games, and music. Skate rentals are often included in the per-child price, and rinks usually have an event room for gifts and birthday cake.

10. Something Fishy

Touch tanks, crafts, and specially guided kid tours are sure to be fun for everyone.

11. Young at Art

Find a museum that offers special kids' exhibits and programs, and take the gang.

12. The Great Outdoors

Host a party at a nature center or botanical garden. The fun includes nature walks, plantings, and other projects.

13. Say Cheese!

Young chefs design a personal pie and then chow down.

14. Karate Kids

Little ones will get a kick out of a party at a martial-arts studio. They can play games and learn real karate kicks appropriate to their age.

15. Where the Wild Things Are

Head to the zoo and check out the animals by touring with a staff member, or zoo-it-yourself and host your own group viewing.

• By the editors of Parents magazine