Ideas for Soon to Be 13 Year Old Son

Funny, I have a 3 year old DD and my DS just turned 13 in March! We did a big family party that was a Las Vegas theme night so we had dinner and cake and then played cards and dice. This was my son's idea so I went with it.

For his buddies party, the next weekend I rented a hotel room at the Embassay Suites and they had a sleepover. They swam (it had an indoor pool) ate pizza, we took our Wii and they hooked it up in the bedroom. I brought snacks and drinks and they had a blast. I went home with my daughter at night and my husband said they stayed up until 4a.m. My DD and I went back in the a.m. and the boys went to breakfast and swam some more. We took them all back home around noon the next day and all the boys said they had a great time and they would love to do it again. I searched online and the cost of the room was $120 which included their breakfast!!I'm sure it would have cost me that much to take them to Denny's since they can eat so much at 12 and 13 years old. good luck with your planning!

I would take him and some friends to Dave & Buster's. That place is a blast. Is he into any sports? You could always do a sports theme and have the boys play that sport. For example if he is a hockey fan, you could take the boys to Logitec and have them ice skate and play a game of hockey. Then have the food and cake all themed around that as well. The cake could be a sheet cake made to look like an hockey rink and have ding dongs for the pucks. Good luck and I hope he has fun, whatever you decide to do.

My parents just got my nephew a ride on a glider plane for his 13th birthday. He loved it.
My brother rented a movie theater so my nephew and his friends could play video games on a huge screen.

How about Laser Tag or Paint Ball

Not sure if there is one near you but if they like video games how about Dave and Busters? They have burgers etc and tons of games for them to play without you have to cook, clean and all that hard work. You may even get a couple of parents willing to chaperone at a place like that too. If you have never been its like a more grown up version of Chuck E Cheese. Good luck!

How about the Malibu Gran Prix place in Redwood City. I'm not sure what the age minimum is -- I think it might have a height minimum.

LaserQuest is also fun. (Mountain View)