Astro Events of West Houston rents inflatables that are all fire retardant, well maintained, and cleaned prior to every event. Options include four-in-one combos, wet/dry slides, obstacle courses, moonwalks, and slip-n-slides. Packages can also include a cotton candy machine, sno cone machine, or popcorn machine, as well as additional games and themes such as Batman, Dora, Sponge Bob, Princesses, Noah, and more.

Chef Tony Lee operates Cake Craze, which not only makes creative, intricate, special-order cakes, but also has everything you need to create your own birthday cake, graduation cake, or cake for any other special event. Also available are vegan, vegetarian, and sugar-free cakes, pies, and cookies.

The shop features baking supplies, cake decorating supplies, pans, and more. Pans can be rented out by the day.

The site is also home to Le Leeds Cooking School, which offers classes for kids and adults in cake decoration, baking, candy-making, and more. Classes are scheduled on weekday evenings and on weekends. Call 713.339.4535 for further details and a current schedule.

Extreme Climbing rents rock climbing walls with four climbing stations to suit kids ages three and up; moonwalks; portable, nine-hole mini golf; carnival games; and more. The company comes to your home or other party location of choice, and also offers catering by bringing its own grill.

Fiesta Time Moonwalks Houston delivers and sets up giant inflatables, including moonwalks and slip 'n' slides, for birthday parties or other special events. Reservations can be made by phone, email, or online.

A sno-cone machine, bubble machine, and tables and chairs are also available for rental.

For a real birthday party blast, Foam Rox sets up a large, square pit with inflatable walls and shoots foam out of a cannon, covering kids better than a giant bubble bath. Kids - OK, and the grown-ups - can play, dance, and splash in piles and piles of foam. The foam pit is 20 feet by 20 feet, so make sure you've got plenty of yard space. Or have the party at a nearby park, because Foam Rox brings its equipment to your location of choice.

The foam is non-toxic, hypo-allergenic, and harmless to clothes, grass, and plants. We found that even a bear-hug from a foam-covered kid doesn't leave the grown-up sopping wet; the foam dries off quickly and easily.

Foam Rox also offers a 30-foot, two-lane, inflatable slip 'n' slide, which is not only tons of fun, but also a great way to rinse off the foam.

Prices: The foam pit costs $340 for the first hour, $125 for each additional hour. The slip 'n' slide costs $75 per hour with the foam pit, or - by itself - $200 for four hours, $375 for eight hours.

For events over 20 miles from I-10 West (Katy Freeway) and Beltway 8, Foam Rox adds a $25 service charge, plus mileage. Rentals are also available for school fairs, church festivals, or any other large gathering.

JJs Party Rentals offers moonwalks, tables, and chairs with free delivery and pick up. Party packages are also available, which include moonwalk, tables, chairs, and your child's favorite character plates, cups, invitations, and pinatas.

Jumpin Jacks is a party rental company offering a wide variety of moonwalks, as well as cotton candy machines, snow cone machines, popcorn machines, tables, chairs, and tents. Party packages are available to suit customers' budgets.

Jumpy Things Houston provides rentals of moonwalks and a variety of other giant inflatables for kids' birthday parties. Half-day rentals are available for up to five hours, while all-day rentals are available for up to eight hours.

The toddler party pack includes an all-day inflatable rental, with two toddler tables and 12 toddler chairs, for $120. The total party pack includes all of that, plus two banquet tables and 16 adult chairs, for $145.

All rentals include delivery, set up, and pick up

Kids Party Rental offers clowns, games, and moonwalks.

As the name implies, Pinatas Etc. & Party Supplies has dozens of pinatas, Mexican decorations, and all the other supplies you need for a party. The store also rents tables, chairs, and even a popcorn machine.

The winner of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the best shoe store for teens in Houston, this is the place to outfit the family for a foray into the outdoors, whether it's hiking, camping, or heading into the high country for a little skiing or kayaking. REI started out in 1938 as a humble cooperative and evolved into an upscale retail store for people who demand the best in outdoor gear.

Baby and kid stuff abounds: high-quality baby joggers, bike trailers, and trail packs; family camping gear; kids' bikes and helmets; performance footwear; skis and snow gear; rain gear; outdoorsy toys; and rugged, stylish clothes for kids of all ages (Patagonia, Cherry Tree, Gramicci).

Rent tents, backpacks, sleeping bags/pads, paddling gear, and snowshoes at the store. (Not all stores carry all gear.)

The winner of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the best shoe store for teens in Houston, this is the place to outfit the family for a foray into the outdoors, whether it's hiking, camping, or heading into the high country for a little skiing or kayaking. REI started out in 1938 as a humble cooperative and evolved into an upscale retail store for people who demand the best in outdoor gear.

Baby and kid stuff abounds: high-quality baby joggers, bike trailers, and trail packs; family camping gear; kids' bikes and helmets; performance footwear; skis and snow gear; rain gear; outdoorsy toys; and rugged, stylish clothes for kids of all ages (Patagonia, Cherry Tree, Gramicci).

Rent tents, backpacks, sleeping bags/pads, paddling gear, and snowshoes at the store. (Not all stores carry all gear.)

Rockabye Baby Rentals provides rental cribs, car seats, strollers, high chairs, toys, and more - ideal for traveling families or anyone needing gear for a visiting baby. The company delivers to your location of choice - even the airport - or lets customers pick up from the Rockabye office.

Rockabye serves the greater Houston area, up to 35 miles from its warehouse.

Southwest Moonwalks rents a variety of moonwalks and other inflatables, as well as popcorn machines, snowcone machines, cotton candy machines, tables and chairs, a Kick and Score soccer game, and more. Setup and pickup is free; delivery charges may apply depending on location.