Take the birthday party on the road to Rockford

With three children, I've suffered birthday party nightmares more than a few times. There was the year my daughter's May celebration was diverted indoors due to rain, which resulted in a cake fight, a broken tank of "sea monkeys" and an inconsolable birthday girl.

Choose a skateboarding, batting cages or ice skating party and you'll end up having to entertain the sullen party-goers who lack the knack. On the other hand, every kid with a pulse adores an indoor water park, and taking the party on the road for an overnight stay adds to the glee, limits the number of kids and keeps your blood pressure in the healthy range.

The private party rooms at CoCo Key Water Resort in Rockford are buzzing with thrilled birthday girls and boys. Parents can relax because the party planners take care of everything from setup to cleanup. The Parrot's Birthday Party includes unlimited use of the water park; an hour in a private room; food, drinks and a birthday cake; goody bags for all the kidlets; group photo for the birthday child to take home; and 25 credits per person in the onsite arcade.

Depending on the day of the week, the party will run you between $20.95 and $25.95 per person. Check it out at www.cocokeywaterresort.com or ring (815) 398-6000 (there's a CoCo Key in Arlington Heights, too).

Even if you don't opt for the private party room deal, a small group getaway to CoCo Key at the Clocktower Resort (www.ClockTowerResort.com) makes a fine and memorable birthday celebration. The resort, right off of I-90, boasts new guest room decor and beds. Soon to come are updated bathrooms and expanded TV selections to include even more family-friendly channels. There's an onsite racquet club and fitness center and a separate hotel pool, too.

The 60,000-square-foot water park offers plenty of grins for the youngest kids as well as thrills for older dolphins in the pod. Since my 13-year-old son has experienced the biggest and best of the Dells, I warned him that he might be underwhelmed. I stood corrected; the jaded boy and his water-park newbies all loved the three body and raft waterslides; indoor/outdoor whirlpools; onsite Pizza Hut; and expansive arcade with state-of-the-art video games. The fact that they had their own adjoining hotel room and an in-room movie while I relaxed with George Clooney and nodded off to sleep added to everyone's delight with the nearby, affordable overnight getaway.

Arrive in Rockford before hotel check-in time to take in a few of the city's attractions. Less than five minutes from the hotel, Shogun Teppan Restaurant features skilled chefs slicing, dicing and tossing ingredients at the teppan tables, always a fun culinary show for kids. (There are also private tearooms, a sushi bar and lots of individual tables, too.) Be sure to point out the birthday child, whom the staff will surprise with a song, hand-clapping and a special dessert at your meal's end. Call (815) 394-0007 or visit www.shogunofrockford.com.

Treat them to a round of laser tag right next door at Laser Quest and you win the cool parent of the year award. Call (815) 227-9090 or www.laserquest.com. (Laser Quest offers birthday packages, too.)

For a very economical lunch option, consider taking the gang to Beef-A-Roo, a Rockford-based fast-food chain that serves up tasty burgers, shakes and fries as well as healthy options, such as salads and wraps. Each of the seven locations sports a different theme: firehouse, warehouse, 1950s diner and a wilderness lodge among them. Start salivating at www.beefaroo.com.

After checking out the next day, consider a stop at Rockford's Discovery Center Museum, especially if your birthday crew is populated by kids ages 5-10. Rated the No. 4 children's museum in the nation by Child Magazine, the facility offers a birthday party room where kids get into amazing crafts and learning activities or opt to explore more than 200 interactive science exhibits.

Discovery Center is located at the downtown Riverfront Museum Park, which is also home to the Rockford Art Museum and Burpee Museum of Natural History, home of Jane, the world's most complete juvenile T. rex. Take a look at www.discoverycentermuseum.org.

Rockford's proximity is a plus for the parent/coordinator/driver/chaperone, but just far enough to have kids feel like they're on a real birthday adventure. Contact the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 521-0849 for all kinds of family fun ideas or survey www.gorockford.com.