Star Center Treetops: Birthday Party and Play Time
/My older son has a January 2nd birthday. It's a hard one to plan since it's in the thick of the winter rainy season, and then covid came along and made it even harder. Last year we did an outdoor party at Titlow Park, which turned out great….but are you as tired as me of being cold and wet all the time?
Luckily, more indoor spaces are open again, and many are diligent about cleanliness and safety. When it came time to plan the birthday party, I wanted something that my son would find fun and feel safe for parents to bring their kids. All while helping us stay dry in case of terrible January weather.
We ended up at the Treetops Playground at the Star Center in Tacoma. Let's dive into how it went!
The Treetops Play Space
The treetops play space is excellent. It offers an indoor and covered outdoor area for kids to play to their hearts' content. The kids are safe as a staff member is stationed at the entrance to direct families and manage the flow into and out of both play spaces (indoor and outdoor). There is also an area for shoes and bags near the entrance since it's a socks-only indoor space, but shoes are required for outdoor play.
The Indoor Space
The indoor space has a structure you climb into with tunnels and slides - like a nicer McDonald's play space if you know McDonald's. You'll find a pretend log to climb and some other features attached to the play structure for the kids to enjoy. Also, the ground is soft, and the ceiling-high for a spacious feel and good air circulation.
The Outdoor Space
There is a door to the covered outdoor play space if you continue through the indoor space. The only way to this outdoor area is through the indoor space. The outdoors is covered and entirely closed in, so there is no escaping here. However, the outdoor space is only for kids 44" or taller. This makes managing two kids of various ages/sizes difficult, so keep this in mind if you fall into this category (like me!).
The outdoor space has lots of climbing, bridges, and slides to go down. Most of it is actually climbing up to the high structure, hence the height requirement.
Cost & Hours
Playing at Treetops is actually quite affordable. It's free if you have a Center Pass membership. The Center Pass membership is free for kids 18 years old and younger; you can sign up at the front desk! Or, for non-members, it's only $5 for entrance.
The hours are not constant for every day, but the hours are the same for the day of the week. So look at the hours before you go to ensure it's time it is open!
As of Jan. 31, 2022:
M-Th: 9 am-6 pm
Fri: 3-6 pm
Sat: 10 am-4 pm
Sun: 11 am-3 pm
Address: 3873 S 66th St, Tacoma, WA 98409
Treetop Parties
A few different rooms are available with various capacities (Zip, Zoom, and Tot-Trek) and prices for your event. We decided on the Tot-trek room that was $300. At the party, you get an hour of playtime in the Treetops indoor & outdoor space, then an hour in the room for cake, presents, and games. You get thirty minutes before and after for setup and clean-up as well. You are in charge of your own decorations and clean-up. The staff was accommodating, though, and did lend a helping hand. They also provided and set up the tables and chairs for the party.
The Tot Trek party worked preferably for my son’s birthday. However, it was set up for a party, and it didn’t bother me that there were mats on the walls (better for the kids to bounce off, just kidding). Apparently, the room is used for exercise classes when not for events.
It was more than enough space for everyone. We added a few decorations, and it worked wonderfully. The amount of time was definitely enough for the event as well. The room was clean, bright and we were delighted overall.
Parking & Amenities
The parking lot is ample and free! There are definitely bathrooms. There is even a public playground outside for playing in as well. They host events for families and kids here that look worth checking out.