Summer birthday parties are a piece of cake, right? Warm weather, long afternoons, what could be simpler than throwing an outdoor bash for your kid in your own back yard?

We've attended wonderful outdoor picnic birthday parties that other parents have thrown, somehow successfully mingling extended dysfunctional families with invited neighbors and school mates, under balmy skies, no rain or mosquitos, no injuries and their house was still standing. The kids had fun, the parents survived.

But after years of attempting to pull of the supposedly care free event on the first weekend of August for our first daughter, who turns 10 this year, I have decided that the weather gods are against me because they usually serve up a heat wave, thunderstorm or both. Plus, there are so many entertaining and reasonably affordable venues along the shoreline that no parent who can afford to give a birthday party without cracking into their child's 529 college fund should just throw in the towel and, as one mom friend puts it, "go off campus" for the party.

Here's a sampling of the variety of birthday party possibilities along the shoreline for kids of all ages:

Let them run rampant!

For several years now, Stay and Play's play room has made it easy on hosting parents – kids up to age 7 have had a clean, safe place to run around in, friendly staff supervises the kids, serves the food and cleans up everything . An added game room has expanded the age to 12 years. And, come June 22, the outdoor water slides are back, so there are options for indoor and outdoor parties, with free rebooking of rained out slide parties. The basic 90-minute party is $18 per child, $180 minimum on weekends, bring your own cake and ice cream, or get a discount and delivery on orders from Paesan's Pizza. Ask about after-hours parties, too. Open 7 days a week, www.stayandplayllc.com, Old Saybrook.

Even Grandpa can do it!

The newest twist on partying, Bounce! Fun Center in Clinton, defines its clientele as anyone who wants to bounce, from infants to grandparents. The center, which celebrates its first year of business on May 19, offers multiple options for birthday parties, all structured around a 2-hour period that includes 75 minutes of bouncing around on almost a dozen inflatables, from bounce castles and houses to slides. Options include cake, pizza, gift bags, invitations and thank you cards, on and off-peak hour pricing, ranging from $225 for 15 kids to all-inclusive mega parties for 25 kids for $480. The owner is enthusiastic to bring in face painters, magicians and other excitement. Bounce!, 18 Knollwood Dr, www.bouncefuncenter.com, (860) 506-JUMP

Gymnastics anyone?

You don't have to have a budding Olympiad, or even take classes at Shoreline Gymnastics in Old Saybrook to throw a gymnastics themed birthday party there. The gym hosts parties on Saturdays and Sundays (other times may be available) for children turning 3 years and up. The 90 minute session starts with supervised age-appropriate activities on the gym equipment , including trampoline and foam pit, $165 for 12 children, parents aren't permitted on any of the equipment at any time. Bring your own cake, treats and tableware. Shoreline Gymnastics, 139 Mill Rock Road East, Old Saybrook, www.shorelinegymnastics.com

Game on!

There's no shortage of action-filled birthday packages for boys and girls at the Connecticut Sportsplex in North Branford. The latest craze in the field house is Cybersport, a game that staff describes as two teams of 5 players using short-handled lacrosse rackets to snare and toss a Nerf ball into target rings, while steering themselves around in bumper cars. Or, the most popular sport, Laser Tag, where up to 35 players can test their mettle in a two-story game area. The basic birthday package, at $18 per child (ten-child minimum) includes some pizza, chips and unlimited sodas, 4 arcade coins, and a Sportsplex tee-shirt for the birthday child. Carvel ice cream cakes available for purchase, plus there's a bar and grill. For kids under age 6, there are playscape party packages. A friendly Sportsplex party coordinator will help plan the 90 minute session. www.ctsportsplex.com

Ice 'em

Northford Ice Pavilion is offering to rent out the rink for any kind of celebration on Saturdays and Sundays this summer. The special runs through mid-August: $200 for 90 minutes for an unlimited number of skaters, includes ice skates and table set-up in a party room. It's okay to bring in the birthday cake, but plan to purchase pizza (made fresh daily), hot dogs and other grill items from the rink's concession stand. See www.northfordice.com or call 203-484-4054.