7 Ways To Have Fun On A Rained Out Family Vacation

by Lisabelle Panossian

Bad weather at your vacation destination? Don’t take a rain check just yet.

Ran into some not-so-ideal weather while traveling with the family? Don’t panic! Here are some helpful ideas and tips to ensure fun and entertainment for everyone, regardless of the weather report.

Beat the crowds to a museum or art gallery.

If you had the idea of taking the family to the nearest museum, indoor garden or art gallery, you’ll quickly find out a lot of other families had the same idea; especially if you’re in a more metropolitan destination. Taking shelter in a museum is a great way for the kids to have fun indoors while giving them a chance to put the tech down — just be sure you get there early to avoid lines and hectic crowds.

Have a movie night.

Break out the microwaveable popcorn, snacks, and Netflix! Family movie night is a great way to cozy up while having some much-needed bonding time. Many streaming services have tons of options for family-friendly viewing too, so no need to worry about having to shield any eyes. Gather around a laptop, tablet or buy an HDMI cord and necessary adapters from your nearest electronics store to set up your laptop to mirror onto the TV — an associate at the store can help you find the best options. If buying adapters are a hassle, take the kids to a matinee movie at a nearby theatre.

Have story time under a blanket fort.

If it’s too rainy for sightseeing, put everyone’s imagination to the test in a blanket fort. All you need is a few chairs, blankets and pillows to start creating your family’s own little wonderland. Making a blanket fort is also a good way to get everyone feeling cozy with rain pattering on the window and lights filtering through some thick blankets. Throw in some toys and books to let your kids’ imaginations run wild.

Arrange a treasure hunt.

When the family’s rained in, the hunt for treasure begins! Find any object in sight and apply interesting hints for the kids to start searching. Add some cool rewards at the end, like some fun treats or toys, to encourage some friendly competition and get the games going.

Find indoor play areas for inside fun.

Who said outdoor fun couldn’t be brought indoors? Trampoline areas and playgrounds between four walls (and more importantly, a roof) are a real hit when cabin fever hits your restless little one. Spaces like these are perfect for energetic kids to get out all the wiggles in a safe environment, while still taking shelter from the storm. If you can’t find an indoor play area near your destination, you can always rent toys, games and rainy day play packages in hundreds of locations in the US and Canada. An example could be our very own Aspen, CO Quality Provider Clara Trujillo’s Soft Play Climb and Crawl Package — consisting of foam blocks and play mats to bring the fun indoors.

Make it a DIY day.

Make a quick pit stop at your nearest craft store to buy popsicle sticks, construction paper,  macaroni, glitter, jewels, and glue for an arts and crafts day. There is no shortage of creative kids’ arts and crafts ideas on sites like Pinterest, or you can just leave it up to the kids to showcase their freestyled DIY skills. We suggest you lay out a long layer of paper on the floor and table for easy clean up and minimized spread of glitter.

Embrace the weather (if it’s safe, of course).

If you can’t beat the weather, might as well join it! Wandering around your vacation destination in the rain with the right gear will be super fun for the kiddos, who can splash puddles along the streets to their heart’s content. Make sure there aren’t any weather warnings in your area though, just to be on the safe side. Follow up with some cozy hot chocolate or a bubble bath packed with an assortment of different toys. If you don’t want to buy bath toys, we got a lot of Quality Providers across the country and around Canada who can rent you the perfect bath toy package.

Once everyone is playing together as a family, you’ll find that rain just might be the best thing that happened on your vacation.