You know what else a birthday needs? Gifts! Get tried-and-tested favorite gift suggestions in the Mommy Poppins Gift Guide for Birthdays and Holidays.

 
Kids ages 5 months through 10 years have a place to play at Scramble. Photo courtesy of Scramble

Top Indoor Birthday Party Places in DC: Indoor Playgrounds & Play Spaces

1. Scramble — Alexandria & Falls Church, VA

Best Ages: 1-10

Scramble’s large European-style indoor play space is designed for kids ranging from 5 months to 10 years old with a dedicated soft infant/toddler play area, imaginative role-play areas, and a large play structure with a giant slide for bigger kids. Birthday party packages include play time and either a table or private party room for two to 2.5 hours, pizzas with sides and drinks, and an Usborne book party favor for each child. The deluxe package also includes a party specialist. The Falls Church location can hold more people for larger parties, but it is also more expensive.

2. Gymboree Play & Music — Washington, DC

Best Ages: 1-3

For the under-3 set, it doesn't get much better than Gymboree Play & Music in Woodley Park. A 90-minute birthday party includes guided music and movement activities (including Gymboree's famous parachute time) with a party host, free-play time in the gym, and a gift bag for each guest. You can bring your own food, cake, and non-alcoholic drinks, but free paper goods are provided.

3. The Wiggle Room — Crofton, MD

Best Ages: 1-5

The Wiggle Room offers four birthday party packages. Each offers 105 minutes of private use of the 3,800-square-foot play space filled with interactive toys and play structures, including time for food in the party area. You can add on pizza and juice boxes, paper plates, balloons, and additional activities such as a bounce house, temporary tattoos, and a photo booth. Plus, the birthday child receives one or two extra days of play for free!

4. Jolly Yolly Kids — Fairfax, VA & Bethesda, MD

Best Ages: 2-10

This indoor play space offers four different party option sat both its Fairfax and Bethesda locations. All packages include 45 minutes of playtime in the ocean-themed play space followed by 45 minutes in a private party room, pizza and juice for the kids, and your choice of solid-colored decorations. A Jolly Yolly party host helps ensure everything goes smoothly. You can provide your own cake, but no other outside food is allowed. If you opt for the private package, you'll get the whole place to yourself.

5. Hyper Kidz! — Ashburn & Franconia, VA; Columbia, Gambrills, & Owings Mills, MD

Best Ages: 2-10

This ocean-themed indoor playground offers five different birthday party packages for up to 30 kids. The two-hour parties include 75 minutes of open play time followed by 45 minutes in a private party room for pizza and cake. Packages include two slices of pizza and a juice box or bottle of water for each child, paper or electronic invitations, and party supplies. You can also opt for a private party, during which the entire facility will be closed to the public.

RELATED: 7 Awesome Trampoline Parks Near DC for Indoor Family Fun

Bounce, climb, jump, run, and more at ZavaZone. Photo courtesy of the venue

Top Indoor Birthday Party Places in DC: Sports & Recreation

6. ZavaZone — Sterling, VA & Rockville, MD

Best Ages: 5 and up

ZavaZone offers a variety of active indoor adventures. From zip lines and ropes courses to rock climbing and trampolines, this is one cool indoor birthday party spot for active kids. There are a variety of party packages available for up to 30 guests, some of which include pizza and soft drinks. No outside food is permitted other than cake or cupcakes.

7. Tiny Dancers — Alexandria, Fairfax City, & Fairfax, VA

Best Ages: 3-6

Tiny Dancers offers magical fairy-tale birthday parties complete with costumes, dancing, tutus and tiaras, and a dedicated dance teacher to guide the party. Parties are 90 minutes long, and you can bring your own cake and treats to celebrate. Each guest goes home with a keepsake craft and either a handmade tutu and sparkling tiara or a sword, shield, and swashbuckler's sash. The birthday child get a special gift.

8. Pinstripes — Washington, DC & North Bethesda, MD

Best Ages: 5 and up

For an upscale twist on the classic bowling birthday party, check out Pinstripes in Georgetown or Bethesda. Birthday parties include two hours of bowling or bocce and a kid-friendly menu with dessert in a private party room. For teen parties, Pinstripes offers an upgraded menu for more sophisticated palates.

9. Vertical Rock Climbing & Fitness — Manassas, VA

Best Ages: 3 and up

This indoor rock-climbing center offers two-hour parties that include 75 minutes of climbing time and 45 minutes for birthday cake, presents, and food in a private party room. A party host, 1:5 climber-to-staff ratio, and the ability to bring in your own food and drink make this an easy choice.

10. The St. James — Springfield, VA

Best Ages: 5 and up

The St. James offers all kinds of birthday parties to suit any interest. At the Super, Awesome & Amazing play center, kids can challenge their friends in the Nerf Battle Zone, test their skills on the ninja warrior and aerial obstacle courses, or bounce around on the trampoline court. They can make a splash at an indoor water park party, or hit the ice for an ice skating party And for sports lovers, the St. James offers flag football, basketball, or soccer parties with a dedicated host. Catering and dessert, including custom cakes and cupcakes, are available for any of the parties.

11. K1 Speed — Dulles & Manassas, VA

Best Ages: 8 and up

This indoor go-kart facility offers high-speed birthday parties for tweens and teens. Kids must be 48 inches or taller and able to safely operate the kart in order to race. Parties include a reserved party area, a medal package and podium ceremony, pizza and soft drinks, and digital photos. The Manassas location is inside the Manassas Mall, and the Dulles location also has an arcade.

Top Indoor Birthday Party Places in DC: Art & Science

12. Kidcreate Studio — Alexandria, Fairfax Station, and Ashburn, VA

Best Ages: 2-10

At Kidcreate Studio, birthday party guests get to create an individual art project under the guidance of enthusiastic art teachers. With hundreds of projects to choose from, your child will find the perfect one that's tailored to their interests and party theme. The studio provides the space, art materials, paper plates, and utensils; you provide the food and drinks. Every partygoer gets to take home their art project, and you can add on an art-themed favor bag. Birthday parties at Kidcreate Studio are 90 minutes long.

13. Children's Science Center Lab — Fairfax, VA

Best Ages: 4-12

Birthday parties at this science center in the Fair Oaks Mall include private use of the entire facility for two hours for up to 50 people, plus a t-shirt for the birthday child. Partygoers can build, play, observe, experiment, and tinker to their hearts' delight. Choose a special STEM demonstration or activity and the lab's STEM educators will help facilitate. You're welcome to bring your own nut-free food.

14. All Fired Up — Washington, DC

Best Ages: 5 and up

Host a 1.5-hour pottery-painting party for your budding artist and up nine to 15 additional friends at All Fired Up in Cleveland Park. Each party guest gets to paint a piece of pottery of their choice to be fired after the party and picked up one to two weeks later. Parties also include a tour of the kiln room, where guests will learn about the firing process. Cupcakes or cake can be served, and you have the option to rent the entire studio.

RELATED: Top Kids' Birthday Party Places Near Washington, DC

 
Cook up some birthday fun at Cookology. Photo courtesy of Cookology Recreational Culinary School

More Top Indoor Birthday Party Places in DC

15. Cookology — Arlington, VA

Best Ages: 3-17

Throw your budding chef a birthday party at this cooking school in Ballston Quarter, where chefs guide partygoers in making appetizers, entrees, and desserts that they can then enjoy together. Birthday parties are fully customizable and can include themes like cupcake wars, pasta- or sushi-making, and more. You can even add on appetizers, wine, beer, and other beverages for adults.

16. The Little Towns Children's Museum — North Bethesda, MD

Best Ages: 1-8

This hands-on, exploratory museum encourages kids' imaginative play through 16 exhibits that are set up to resemble an urban neighborhood. A grocery store, a fire station, a veterinary hospital, a post office, and a restaurant are just some of the places your child and their friends can play in. Each two-hour birthday party includes a dedicated party host and a team member to handle setup and cleanup, party supplies, digital photography, and premium party favors. Bring your own food.

17. Tea with Mrs. B — Falls Church, VA

Best Ages: 2-8

Little princes and princesses will love hosting high tea for their friends at this beautiful tea room. Bonus for parents: Age-appropriate instruction in manners and etiquette are sprinkled in! Private 90-minute parties include tea time hosted by Mrs. B, vintage dress-up and light makeup. You can add on food, baked goods, and all kinds of other magical things, including pony or unicorn rides, a fairy visit, professional photography, online or handmade invitations, balloons, and party favors.

18. American Girl Store and Cafe — McLean, VA

Best Ages: 2-10

For doll lovers of all ages, a birthday party at the American Girl Store and Café in Tyson’s Corner is a dream come true. The deluxe party package includes cake and ice cream, drinks, a craft or activity, goody bags and doll crowns for each guest, plus a special gift for the birthday girl. Add on to that package with a meal and/or a private party room and party coordinator, plus hairstyling for each guest's doll. Parties are available for groups of two to 14.

19. National Children's Museum — Washington, DC

Best Ages: 3-10

The National Children's Museum offers two types of birthday parties on Saturdays and Sundays. The Dream Factory party includes a two-hour rental of a semi-private lounge area near the top of the Dream Machine, the museum's three-story climbing structure. The Tinkerers Treat party includes a two-hour rental of the Tinkerers Studio. Both parties include a dedicated party facilitator, but the Tinkerers Treat party also includes a hands-on activity with a take-home craft for each child and a special shirt for the birthday kid. You can bring your own snacks and birthday treat.

20. Escapology — Fairfax, VA

Best Ages: 7-14

This Fairfax Corner escape room offers two-hour birthday parties for six to 10 kids that include one hour of game play followed by one hour of party time. Pizza, cupcakes, and juice boxes are all included and are served right in the room the kids (hopefully) escaped from. Tweens and teens up to age 14 can choose to play any of the rooms in Kids Mode, meaning they'll receive unlimited clues from staffers via walkie-talkie.

21. VR Zone — Rockville, MD

Best Ages: 10 and up

Bring your own cake or cupcakes to this virtual-reality arcade, where up to 20 guests can enjoy one or two hours of VR Arcade or VR Arena games. You must be 10 or older to play, making this a tween- and-teen-only zone.