Dodgeball at Sky Zone

My youngest is always begging for a trampoline, but my husband can’t bear the thought. So, it’s off to the parks we go.

“Our main court is where we have ‘open jump,’” said Autumn Hodges, event sales coordinator at Skyzone in Chula Vista (619-754-9782). “It has 52 trampoline squares, and the walls are trampolines as well, so you can jump off of them, too. And there are longer trampolines in the center so that you can do tricks like round-offs or cartwheels. We also have a foam pit — you bounce into it off a trampoline — and Sky Slam, where you use trampolines to help you dunk a basketball. Right now, we’re running a contest where people post videos online of themselves doing tricks while dunking.”

But the most popular attraction at Skyzone is the Ultimate Dodgeball Court. “People love it. We split groups into teams of nine and there’s a referee. It’s the same as dodgeball, but with wall-to-wall trampolines. People practically fly on the court.”

Cost is $10 for a half-hour, $15 for an hour, $20 for 90 minutes, and $25 for two hours. “But we run promotions and discounts all the time. The price includes the use of Sky Shoes with rubberized soles, or you can buy a pair of Sky Socks [$2] with a grip-sole. Those you can keep and use the next time you visit.”

For more fitness-minded folks, Hodges suggested Sky Aerobics. “It’s a big hourlong workout on the trampolines. The classes run Monday and Wednesday at 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. They’re $15 each, or you can get a discount if you buy a package.”

Blake Long, manager at Sky High Sports in Miramar (858-693-5867), was proud to tell me, “We are the largest trampoline park in all of San Diego. We have a 30,000-square-foot warehouse, and it’s pretty much trampolines everywhere. Older kids love the dodgeball court because they can throw balls and hit each other. Younger kids like the foam pit, which has trampolines on three of its jump-in lanes and a rope swing on the fourth. We have a separate court for kids eight and under. And we just started Cosmic Night, where we turn off the main lights and turn on black lights, party lights, and fog machines, and turn up the music a little louder. You get four hours of jump time for $19, and it’s a big hit. It runs Friday and Saturday night from 7 until 11 p.m.”

Footwear can be either bare feet or grip socks — “they’re $2 or you can bring your own. For jumping, we charge by the hour: $15 for the first hour and $9 for each additional hour.”

Fidget ladder at Get Air

Get Air in Poway (858-848-1247) also offered individual trampolines, basketball trampolines, vertical trampolines, and a dodgeball court. There’s a spinning ladder over the foam pit for an added challenge. Beyond that, Get Air appeals to the selfie crowd. “You can review your jumps with our delayed video recording cameras,” said Brenda at the front desk. “They play on giant flat-screen monitors.”

Get Air charges by the half hour, $10 each, but two hours is just $26. Grip socks are required — $2.75 or bring your own. “Plus, we have a great special every Tuesday: buy one hour and get one free, or pay for one jumper and get the second jumper free.”

Out in Santee, I spoke with Tianna at Urban Jungle Fun Park (619-334-6107). “We have a 2000-square-foot trampoline court for open jumping and we have a dodgeball court. But we also have a 24-foot rock wall, with one side of it made to look like a city building. The inflatable obstacle course is 50 feet long — you race your friends. There are four large slides and a climbing structure with 14 levels. And we have XBox Connect with Just Dance; you dance along with an avatar projected on the wall, and it shows your dancing at the end.”

Urban Jungle charges by weight. “If you’re under 45 pounds, it’s $10 for 90 minutes on weekdays and $13 on weekends. If you’re over 45 pounds, it’s $12 on weekdays and $15 on weekends. Most people go barefoot; grip socks are optional.”

All parks require signed waivers.