Rainy Day Vacation Ideas and Activities

You can pack and plan and prepare for your vacation to be absolutely perfect, but we all have to admit that the weather is out of our control. It can be tempting to give up and sulk inside all day if the rain won't let up and the sun won't shine. But don't let your dream vacation be ruined by bad weather! Whether you're trying to enjoy the perfect beach vacation or hoping to have a good time downtown, there are plenty of ways for you to make the most of your vacation, rain or shine. Here are a few of our favorite rainy day vacation ideas.

Practice the perks of a stay-cation.

This works best if the bad weather's only going to stay for a day or so, and it's particularly good if you're staying by a lake or the beach away from indoor entertainment options like theaters and museums. If you plan a stay-cation at home, you'll have to unplug your phones and turn off your computer, and the temptation to reconnect with your regular life can be too great. But if you're out of town, you can't help being safe from mundane day-to-day life. And, even better, if you're staying in luxurious accommodations like high-rise New York City condos or exotic Cancun rental villas, your lodging will have its own extra-special perks and amenities you can't get at home. So sleep in, stretch out, and take advantage of some quality bonding time with your family or your loved one. Many vacation rentals include board games and movies, so you can play together or pop some popcorn and enjoy a show.

Explore the area – indoors.

Most medium to large cities have a whole host of activities you'd never find at home, all indoors where you can be comfortably shielded from the elements! Before you go, look in advance for places to visit so you're armed and ready to go in case the weather turns sour. Look for zoos, museums, skating rinks, national landmarks (like indoor monuments) and maybe a crazy-huge shopping mall to spend an afternoon. This is probably not the time to be scoping out amusement parks, but what about a trip to a hands-on science museum the whole family will love? Stay in comfortable (but surprisingly cheap!) vacation rentals and you can ask your vacation home's owner ahead of time whether he or she recommends any location. You might find a gem that's just as much fun as playing outside would be, and save yourself some time by asking a local expert, too.

Play outside – but stay safe.

Before you go outside, remember that lightning and thunder mean you should stay inside! It's dangerous to go out during a thunderstorm. That said, you can still have a good time enjoying the outdoors as long as it's just rainy, overcast or cold. The trick is knowing what you're getting into and being prepared. If the weather's too cold to go swimming, you can still grab a sweater (you should always bring some sort of warm outerwear on any vacation) and take a long, romantic walk on the beach, then come back to your vacation rental and warm yourself by the fire. Rainy days give plenty of rainy play if you and the kids are ready to splash around in puddles with ponchos keeping you dry. Sure, the weather may not be 100% perfect, but if you think about it as an opportunity to have a different kind of fun, a little rain won't get you down on this vacation.