You’ve been planning this trip to the beach with your friends for what feels like months. At last, you found a weekend that works with everyone’s busy schedules.
But it does not work with the weather forecast. So, you are now looking for the best last-minute rainy day activities to do instead.
All is not lost because there are tons of places to go when it’s raining and things you can do. You could end up discovering a new passion or starting a new tradition.
Stumped for suggestions? Lucky for you, here are some great activity ideas you can use when you need to figure out what to do when it rains.
1. Check Out a Local Museum
How well do you know your hometown? Most cities have one main historic museum and a city art gallery. But there are always a few, smaller specialist and niche museums that it’s unlikely you’ve made the effort to see.
Now is the time!
Or, is there a new exhibit at the local art gallery that you haven’t seen yet? There is no better time than a rainy day to experience more culture.
2. Bust Out of an Escape Room
One of the best rainy day activities for adults is to head to an escape room. An escape room is an interactive, group puzzle inside a locked room. To leave the room, the group must solve the puzzles inside the room before the timer runs out.
Here are some fantastic local escape rooms around the country:
- The Great Escape Room Minneapolis
- Strange Bird Immersive in Houston
- Cross Roads Escape Games in Anaheim
- Boxaroo in Boston
They all have cool themes and you can often choose your preferred level of difficulty.
3. Make a Spontaneous Spa Date
There’s no better rainy day activity than a “treat yo’ self” day. Call a local spa and see if they have any last-minute space for you and your bestie to pamper yourselves.
Keep things low-key and head out for mani-pedis followed by brunch. Or, go big and have a facial, massage, and relax in their hot tub. Don’t forget to drink a glass of bubbles while you’re soaking in them, too.
If you’re on a budget or want to stay home, you could create your own spa day. Soak in the tub with a moisture mask on your face for at least an hour with a good book. Light some candles to set the right mood.
4. Bake Delicious Treats for Your Friends
Are you and your friends a fan of The Great British Baking Show? If so, why not plan rainy day activities around eating lots of delicious treats.
You could each bake your own cookies, cupcakes, brownies, or whatever you like. Then, all arrange to visit one person’s kitchen in the evening and each put your anonymous bakes on a plate while everyone stays in a different room.
You could try each treat without knowing who baked what, give them a score, and the winner gets a prize. Well, you are all winners, because you stayed inside eating instead of getting wet outside.
Here are some killer baked treats that are sure to crown you baking champion:
- Oreo brownies
- Cinnamon and cardamom buns
- Pistachio cupcakes and strawberry frosting
- Chocolate chip shortbread
Or if that sounds like too much effort, you could skip the baking and watch The Great British Baking Show with your friends instead.
5. Play Board Games or Solve Puzzles
If a storm is brewing and you don’t want to leave your house under any circumstances, there is plenty you can do at home. Everyone has some old board games and puzzles hiding in their attic and a rainy day is a perfect time to dust them off.
You can make them more fun by playing music in the background or turning them into drinking games.
And if you don’t have any board games in the house, there are tons of multiplayer video games you can download online. Or how about learning a new card game instead of playing one you already know? There are infinite ways to have fun with a simple stack of playing cards.
6. Clean Out Your Closet (With a Friend)
Okay, so cleaning out your closet doesn’t sound like a fun activity on the surface. But there are ways to make it fun! In Sex and the City (2008), a character cleaned out her closet while she and her friends drank champagne and listened to classic rock music.
Sounds a lot more fun now, right?
Grab a pal and your favorite adult beverages and crank up the tunes to drown out the noise of the rain outside. Host an amateur fashion show so your friend can give you honest advice on your outfits.
By the end of the day, you might have a whole new outlook on your style and decide it’s time for a change.
7. Plan Your Next Vacation
It’s often too tempting to “write off” a bad weather day and start a DIY project or do something mind-numbing like cleaning your oven.
Why not do a fun chore instead?
Open your laptop, head to Google, and start researching your next vacation. Choose the location, accommodation, activities, excursions, restaurants, and bars. This could be for a “dream” future trip or a realistic trip you plan on taking ASAP.
You could increase the vacation vibes by watching a movie set in the place that you want to visit.
Is Mexico on your mind? Watch Coco (2017) or Roma (2018). Or if you have feelings for France, you could watch Amélie (2001), Midnight in Paris (2010), or Marie Antoinette (2006).
Rainy Day Activities To Brighten Up Your Day
Getting outside and enjoying nature is always a good idea. But unless you live in the Atacama Desert, you will also need some rainy day activities in your back pocket to get you through the storms.
And now you have some ideas, you will be able to make the most of the bad weather and not let it dampen your day.
Want more inspiration for your summer or winter vacation? Browse our website for tons of exciting travel, fitness, and educational activity ideas!
