Seattle Gymnastics Academy

They have an hour of free play on all their equipment that's worth driving for! It's from 11:45 - 1:15pm now, and they move everything around so it's appropriate for kids under 5 yrs. old. My son has a hay day swinging from the bars, jumping in the foam pit, running on their long trampolines, and climbing to his heart's content. Then, when times up, they all line up for their stamp, so when you're ushering them out of the fun and getting their shoes back on, they are so distracted by the stamp that they are ready to go before they have time to complain about leaving! HINT: Feed them an early lunch so they can fall asleep in the car on the way home. P.S. Even though it is WONDERFUL if you have a baby in tow - you still have to pay for them if they crawl - $6. more

what do you call it when you throw a party for a 3-year old and you get a 2-hour party with the 1st hour fully supervised by a fun, enjoyable, high-energy and responsible staff? and the 2nd hour in a balloon-filled party room? i call it the seattle gymnastics academy! after researching ideas (thanks to everyone on judysbook who offered suggestions) i ended up winning a SGA b-day party from my son's school auction. and there are now about 30 other parents (plus hubby and i)who are oh so glad that i did. it was, in a word, a blast. (ok, that's 2 words) every single parent who attended has told me several times that they and their kids had an amazing time, it was the best kid party they've ever been to, etc. the staff at the sga is wonderful - nice, talented, and very accommodating. and the facility is impressive - mats, trampolines, rings, and a HUGE foam-filled pit which you can jump, fall, slide or swing into. many of the parents and i are already discussing a return visit for a lesson, and most of us want to put a foam pit in our homes :-) and the kids were so tired afterwards that it seems like everyone got a great night's sleep. this was one fun party. more

At 3 years old, this is a great place for a party. It is more rigorous and therefore fun than gymboree for a 3-year old. For instance, they have a huge foam pit that is very fun and separate rooms for a party. It is also a great place to learn gymnastics and probably the most serious place in Seattle for that. more

From Noon - 1 p.m., Seattle Gymnastics has an open gym where kids, along with their parents or another adult, can play and utilize all the equipment in the gym. There are students of the academy there to assist and help watch the little balls of fire too. There are foam pits, trampolines, balance beams (at all heights), parallel bars, swinging ropes, climbing walls and mats galore. It is heaven for me because my 4 yr. olds run and play like there is no tomorrow AND there is a time limit. None of that "I don't want to go home! I want to stay!" business that I get at the park. "Sorry kids. They're closing. Load em' up!" If the time frame works for you, I strongly recommend you drop in sometime. It's $6 ($4 if you are enrolled in classes) and you get a time or two free if you buy a punch card. Good luck! more