Cheap Fun: Put A Spring in Your Step At Boing! Jump Center

Having fun is easy if you also have an unlimited budget. There are plenty of expensive events to enjoy, and if money is no object you can do something interesting every day and night.

But for the rest of us, we want to have fun and be frugal at the same time. A good time has to be good for the wallet as well. And while you might think that eliminates all the really fun options, there are bargains to be found everywhere that will keep you entertained and within your budget. You just have to know where to look, and that's what we'll do in this column.

If you've ever been on a trampoline, you know it's fun to defy gravity for a few moments and try something different. But imagine how fun it would be if you had a room full of trampolines, or a giant warehouse full of them. Now imagine playing organized games, taking an exercise class or just having fun bouncing from place to place. It's an unusual way to spend some free time, but Boing! Jump Center, 622 Ware Blvd., is an unusual kind of place.

With more than 11,000 square feet of trampoline floors and walls (with padding in between), Boing! allows you to play Dodgeball like you've never played it before. The games have a referee and only last a few minutes, so if you're eliminated you can "jump" right back to the game (get it?) in no time. They also have a refereed game called Aeroball that can be played with either two or four people. You can come in any time and play for fun, but Boing! schedules regular tournaments for those with a competitive streak as well.

If you want to exercise, Boingrobics is an advanced aerobics class which can burn up to 1,000 calories an hour. Certified instructors lead the class, which runs on select mornings and evenings. And if you just want to jump around and have fun, you can do that, too.  They have plenty of space to accommodate all kinds of activities.

Fortunately, they accommodate all kinds of budgets as well. Boing! Has a number of specials running concurrently, including a good deal for those who want to get some exercise. Boingrobics classes are just $10 and include complimentary bottled water, but you can attend your first class for half price. At just $5, that's a good way to get a workout, do something fun and stay within budget.

All participants are required to sign a waiver, wear protective gear and spend at least one hour doing free jumping to get acclimated to the environment. Free jumping costs $12 for the first hour and $9 for each additional hour, but they have specials each weeknight as well. Jumping on Mondays from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. is just $12, which makes it half price.  Feel free to try out Dodgeball and Aeroball while you're at it, too. It's a fun way to spend part of your day.

Boing! Jump Center is open every day of the week. On weekdays they open at 3 p.m. (earlier on the weekends) and you can play until around 9:30 p.m. on most nights. Minors need their waiver signed by a legal guardian before they can jump. For more information, call 813-341-4897, send e-mail to info@boingjumpcenter.com or visit www.boingjumpcenter.com.

If you know of a fun, inexpensive thing to do in the Brandon, Bloomingdale or Riverview area, share it with your neighbors and fellow Patch readers. Send a note to Michael Murillo at vivamurillo@hotmail.com.