Virginia Grace Laney celebrated her 4th birthday exactly as she wanted. Virginia Grace chose to have family and friends visit the Carolina Children’s Garden and Conservation Station, a place she already frequents with her family.

Options for birthday parties away from home are seemingly endless, but several Midlands-area sites offer the chance to keep the party in a familiar location while keeping the mess out of the family kitchen.

“We chose the garden because there were lots of children-friendly areas and areas where they can run around and play and enjoy the outdoors,” Jeff Laney, Virginia Grace’s father, said. “And we didn’t have to rent an area, which was a perk.”

Laney said Virginia Grace and her 11 friends had a wonderful time and he and his wife, Kimberly, made lifelong memories of the special day.

“We all went on a hike through the Conservation Station and we looked for deer and called for owls,” he said.

And though the location was different from his daughter’s past parties, the low-key setting proved just right for little ones.

“They had just as much fun, if not more,” he said.

Birthday locations abound, but here are a few that can be tailored to all sorts of young personalities.

The Children’s Garden

The Carolina Children’s Garden and Conservation Station offers self-catered parties on-site with no fee, but families must call ahead to be placed on the schedule, according to garden educator Chanda Cooper.

Families may bring cake and food. The garden also offers a variety of programs, adaptable for ages 4 – 12, at a cost of $2 per child, Cooper said.

“We have a wildlife program, a sea turtle program and several garden programs,” she said. “There’s always a make-and-take.”

Cooper said nature walks are also available and dinosaur-crazed kids especially enjoy Mesozoic Memories.

“We have a dinosaur garden,” she said. “We talk about dinosaurs and fossils and the children get to make a fossil to take home.”

• The Carolina Children’s Garden and Conservation Station is located at the Clemson Sandhill Research and Education Center. For details, visit www.carolinachildrensgarden.org or call 459-3212.

Seven Oaks Park

Themed parties are the order of the day at Seven Oaks Park in the St. Andrews area. Parties are offered for ages 3 and older. Instructors coordinate activities to suit a variety of themes, including sports galore, ballet, circus, crafty kids, gymnastics and karate.

“We provide the facility space and I coordinate the dates with our contracted instructor who does the program,” facility manager Ashley Shah said. “Each instructor will tailor their program to the age and gender of the party. It’s one big package and you get everything in one.”

Parties are $144 for up to 15 children and include a two-hour rental of a meeting room or picnic shelter, one hour of activities, invitations, a themed sheet cake, lemonade, and paper products and utensils. More children may be included for an additional fee.

Shah said parties also vary a bit depending on the season.

“During the summer, our sports parties have the option to go outside,” she said. Instructors may incorporate water balloons and other activities into the program, she said.

“They keep their bag of tricks and change as they go along,” Shah said.

• To learn more about parties at Seven Oaks Park as well as at Crooked Creek Park or Saluda Shoals Park, visit www.icrc.net.

Riverbanks Zoo

While Riverbanks Zoo remains a popular destination throughout the year, some families choose to make it the central theme for their child’s birthday party. The zoo does not offer birthday-specific packages, but group rates and programs are available.

“You can come to the zoo and if you are bringing a group of 15 or more, you can get a group discount if you order tickets two weeks in advance,” Communications Specialist Susan O’Cain said.

Families may not bring food, outside entertainment, latex balloons or gifts into the zoo, but O’Cain suggested making the zoo the destination portion of a party, with the remaining festivities at home or perhaps at the picnic area outside the zoo’s gates. Inside the zoo, pizza and ice cream are available for purchase or families can order “jungle meals” in advance.

Once inside, children can participate in a garden scavenger hunt (available online) or an adventure tour. A wristband is available for purchase that allows guests to experience unlimited rides and attractions, including carousel, pony and train rides, giraffe and lorikeet feeding, 3D adventure shows, and rock wall climbing.

• For a complete list of party ideas and options, visit www.riverbanks.org/planvisit/birthdays.shtml.

EdVenture

At EdVenture, the birthday child is celebrated for all to see.

“We start off with a parade,” said Theresa Dozier, senior sales and marketing coordinator. “We give the birthday child and their guests little handheld instruments. We parade them through the museum to the birthday throne, which is placed in front of Eddie.”

Guests then celebrate with refreshments and gifts in a party room before heading out to enjoy the exhibits — chosen based on the age of the birthday child — with a party helper, known as a birthday buddy.

“The remaining hour of the party, the birthday buddy takes them into the museum for some exploration,” Dozier said. “Once the party’s over, they can stay and explore the museum on their own.”

Party packages are $175 for members ($195 for nonmembers) and include activities for up to 15 children, all-day admission for guests, a balloon bouquet, invitations, a decorated room and a T-shirt for the birthday child. Weekday parties also include a free pass for a return visit for each child guest. Parents may bring food, including cake and ice cream. For additional fees, food is available from McDonald’s and the museum can supply drinks, party favors and extra T-shirts.

• For party details and scheduling, visit www.edventure.org.

The State Museum

Adventure and education abound at the South Carolina State Museum, where parties are offered for ages 3 – 12. Parties are available on weekends and last for 90 minutes.

Party choices are designed to appeal to a variety of interests. The guest of honor can choose from Carolina Safari, which includes a safari around the Natural History Gallery; MAD Scientists, which includes hands-on science experiments; and Pirate Skies, which includes an observation of the night sky in the museum’s portable planetarium. Pirate Skies is not always available, however, according to museum staff.

Parties include the assistance of a party host, general admission for 10 children and accompanying guests, goody bags and more. The cost is $150 for nonmembers and $120 for members.

• Complete details are online at www.southcarolinastatemuseum.org. For party booking, call 898-4999 or email groupvisits@scmuseum.org.