4 places to jump and leap in Chicago

By Elizabeth Diffin
Monday, January 23, 2012

It comes but once every four years, which means that Leap Day doesn't get its own traditions (save that one across the pond where women get to propose marriage). So this year, when the 29th of February rolls around, we hope you'll make a new family tradition with one of these four places to leap.

1 Inflatable fun

The ultimate rainy-day play places are just as appealing on Leap Day, with an array of bounce houses, slides and obstacle courses to choose from. Fortunately, several Chicagoland play places have open jump hours on Leap Day itself. Check out Pump It Up Orland Park (6:15-8:15 p.m.), Jump!Zone Niles (12:30-2:30 p.m.), Bouncin' Bonkers in Crest Hill (4-8 p.m.), or Monkey Joe's in Wheaton and Lake Zurich, which welcome walk-ins all the time.

pumpitupparty.com

jumpzoneparty.com

monkeyjoes.com

bouncinbonkers.com

2 Dance for joy

You don't have to know how to pull off the perfect jeté to leap in style. Stop by Rumble Arts in Humboldt Park, where classes are on a drop-in basis and focus on more unusual styles like African Dance. Plus the $5-$10 per class is completely affordable! Or if you're looking to dance it up as a family, consider the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago's FamilyDance program on Feb. 25, where you try out movements together, before letting the professionals get to work.

rumblearts.com

colum.edu/dance_center

3 Go green

What better way to learn to leap than by paying a visit to the masters of the craft: frogs. Lincoln Park Zoo and Brookfield Zoo are both home to exotic species like the Dyeing Poison Arrow Frog and the Blue Poison Frog, but even the smaller Cosley Zoo in Wheaton cares for hop-happy amphibians like the American Bullfrog and the Cuban Tree Frog. Or you can just wait for a rainy early spring day and try your hand at catching a frog friend yourself.

lpzoo.org

brookfieldzoo.org

cosleyzoo.org

4 Try the trampoline

The newest trend in our never-ending attempt to really wear kids out is the indoor trampoline center. These warehouse-style buildings are filled with trampolines everywhere you look-including the walls. Even better, there often are giant foam pits to jump into, making it a safe and fun endeavor for everyone. We like Xtreme Trampolines, with locations in Carol Stream and Buffalo Grove, and Sky High Sports in Naperville and Niles.

xtremetrampolines.com

jumpskyhigh.com

Elizabeth Diffin

1) Inflatable fun