40th Birthday Party Ideas?

[Haven]

Hi, everyone!

SO, my wonderful DH is turning 40 in April. I was planning on throwing him a surprise hotel party, but now that is out the window because my best friend was recently laid off

from her job at the hotel. (So I no longer have access to the *amazing* deal I would have had if she still worked there.)

I want to throw a surprise party, but I don''t want to spend a fortune on it. I''d throw a house party, but how do I surprise him if it''s in our house?

Any unique ideas I may not have thought of? I know I could do a party at a restaurant, but I want to do something really fun and unexpected.

Here''s some info about him, if that helps:
He loves:
- all things sports, he''s super athletic
- the outdoors and anything that has to do with nature
- animals
- anything that has to do with learning about the cosmos (party at the Planetarium?)

We live just north of Chicago.

I really want to do something special for him. When I was going to throw it in the hotel I was going to show a fun slideshow and I had all these ideas for fun things to do. But I really cannot throw a catered hotel party at full price. DH has it easy--I already told him I want my 30th birthday party at my favorite roller rink!

Thanks for your help!

 

[NovemberBride]

Haven,

I threw my DH a surprise party at our house - I was just really sneaky about hiding all the supplies (kept things in my trunk, at friends, etc). I had his friends take him to a sporting event the day of the party, so he was out of the house all day while I got everything set up and didn''t suspect a thing.

If you don''t want to do it at your house and your DH is really into sports, how about getting a box at a sporting event. Baseball has started by April and I think basketball is still going on. I am not sure of the cost, but I am sure it''s cheaper than a fully catered event at a hotel. We hvae been to a couple such parties and they are always a lot of fun.

 

[kama_s]

What about a garden party? You can hire someone to BBQ for you, with spring-inspired food and drink options?