Pump It Up - St. Charles, Saint Charles

Ask kids to describe Pump It Up's gigantic primary-colored inflatables, and you certainly won't hear the word "inflatables." Some kids might describe them as rainbows you can touch, others as extra-awesome trampolines.

To the teams at Pump It Up's more than 140 clean, climate-controlled play centers, this is all a success. Their goal is to give kids space for imaginative play, whether they visit the premises for an open-jump session or Pump It Up's specialty: a birthday party.

In fact, the birthday parties in particular were designed to spark kids' imaginations and can be enhanced with a variety of creative themes. During a Pirate Quest party, swashbuckling kids hunt for hidden treasure, and during a Royal Bash, kids transform into princesses and attempt to figure out the best way to collect more taxes. Simple Go Glow parties feature glow sticks galore.