Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Turn your daughter and her friends loose at the Audubon Zoo (auduboninstitute.org/visit/zoo), with supervision, of course, to explore dozens of different animals. Parties range from $425 to $550 and cover zoo admission, food, drink and utensils. You also get a private party room and unlimited rides on the carousel and swamp train. There are also party options at the “Cool Zoo,” (auduboninstitute.org/cool-zoo)a splash park at the zoo. Audubon members receive a $50 discount.

If your son and his friends are more into creepy, crawly things, plan a birthday party at the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium (auduboninstitute.org/visit/insectarium#ref=topnav). Dead and live bugs are on display; you can also visit a butterfly garden and go to a “Bug Appetit” Café, where kids can sample chocolate “chirp” cookies or cinnamon and sugar waxworms. For $425 to $550, you get a room for two hours, admission into the insectarium, a live bug encounter, crown for your son, two pizzas, drinks and utensils. Members receive a $50 discount.

If you want to encourage learning through fun exhibits, plan the party at the Louisiana Children’s Museum (lcm.org/) where parties range from $195 to $630. That price covers the room, admission, invitations, a favor, a gift for your daughter and staff assistance. The higher priced packages also include food and drink, as well as balloons. Only museum members can hold parties. An annual membership for a family of five is about $65.

Your birthday girl and her friends can monkey around at The Monkey Room (monkeyroom.net/), an indoor playground for all ages. A weekend party costs $150 plus $5 per child. A weekday party is $125 plus $5 per child. That covers a party room with a private inflatable as well as admission to the rest of the play area, staff assistance, drinks and utensils and personalized cards or stickers to send out with your birthday invitations.

Treat your birthday boy and his friends to a personal sundae party at The Creole Creamery (creolecreamery.com/). For $250, up to 20 friends get to choose one of the shop’s ice-cream flavors and then make their own sundae. For $300, the group can make their own sundaes and watch an ice cream making demonstration by the chef.

City Park offers plenty of spots for a birthday party, but the perfect one for your 2-year-old daughter might be Storyland (neworleanscitypark.com/storyland.html). The fairytale playground features 25 different exhibits. $175 covers two tables at one of the themed exhibits. For $75 more, you get unlimited wristbands for the nearby amusement park.

Let your son and his friends bounce out some energy at BooKoo Bounce (bookoobounce.com/), an inflatable playground. A weekend party costs between $295 and $345. A weekday party runs from $275 to $295. The prices cover 80 minutes of private play time in two different areas plus another 40 minutes in a private room with pizza, cake and ice cream. A gift for your son and invitations are also provided.