Top 10 Best Rainy Day Activities You May Not Think Of

Top 10 Best Rainy Day Activities You may Not Think Of

Ok, so it is raining. Waaaa. Cry to someone who cares. I know it may sound harsh, but come on use your imagination. How hard can it be to turn a rainy day gloom into a rainbow of happy emotions. There is so much more you can enjoy on a rainy day besides – of course – “Singing in the Rain” which we all do right. Well… most of us do, don’t we? Maybe that is why I get so many funny looks when I am out in the rain. OK… back on topic I know.

Back to the rainy day doldrums dilemma. Hog wash to that anyway if you have not guessed by now. Every day can be a good day if you make something of it – rain or no rain. Here are some of rainy day activities which you may have probably never thought of …

Caving at Horne Lake Caves, Vancouver Island, BC

Go Birding. What you say, that’s crazy, I will just get wet. Not true. The more developed birding sites in Canada often have covered birding blinds, viewing towers and staffed information centres. Often there is always one major birding site per region within a day trip. Some may require a short hike in rain gear to reach the sheltered viewing decks and towers. Best thing ever, is that everyone else stays home for some reason so you and the birds will enjoy some quality time together. Birds do not “couch potato” when it is raining. They are not scared of the rain why should we be.

Go Underground. Guess what? There is no rain when you are exploring underground. There are underground tours located throughout the country. Caving tours explore underground waterfalls, canyons, rivers, stalagmites, stalactites and more. Some underground tours are not caves at all but follow old tunnels once used for bootlegging. And then there are the underground mining tours exploring on rail cars. Depending on the type of underground adventure there are lessons, equipment, guides and transportation if need be.

Squamish, BC Mural

Go Artsy. You may be one of the few who do not appreciate art but – from our experience – you may want to give it a chance. Go visit your local art gallery or take a an art studio driving tour meeting with some of the local artists in their home studios. Hear their stories and view their work on site. If you do not feel like mingling then take a day drive to a nearby community with a good selection of outdoor murals. You do not even have to leave the car and you just may get some shopping in.

Go Bowling: Bowling is a laugh fest when slinging balls down a lane with a group of good friends. And it is an activity that is easy on the wallet. Good or bad bowling never really matters because everyone is always laughing too hard anyway whether it is because of your “missing the pins” gutter ball or the old story rehashed over and over by your friends. It is funny how the stories always surface, grow, change and get funnier as time passes by. Is it raining outside? Sorry I was laughing so hard I did not even notice.

Go Scuba : This may not be in the cards for all of you but it is a thought. A good time to learn scuba is in the rainy season. Often forgotten on a rainy day is the world alive underneath the water. Sign up for scuba lessons and explore the landscape of the ocean world. If you are going to get wet in the rain why not go big and get totally wet exploring the depths of the ocean.

Go Climbing: Depending on your location why not learn to climb at one of the indoor climbing centres in Canada. Phone ahead and make a day trip out of it. Climbing gyms provide all levels of climbing experiences. There are instructors, gear rental and lessons to assist you as you learn different methods of climbing. Gyms are dry and out of the rain. You never know you just may like this climbing thing and a new hobby is born.

Go Fogging: With rain there comes fog and/or rainbows. For photo buffs – well dressed in rain gear – there is something special about the fog when used correctly with scenery. A photo with a boat peaking its head out of the fog; a lighthouse rolling in waves of fog; the sun shining behind a blanket of fog; a bird behind a thin curtain of fog – all create moments of photo brilliance. When fog breaks and the rain stops, a well timed photo shoot can finish with a rainbow. Nice touch to a day of foggy thoughts.

Go Relax: So the weather is dug right into your nervous system. You feel tense, sad and irritable and the rain is not helping one little bit. Easy fix really but first you have to get off your horse and pick up the phone and make it happen. Rainy days are a great way to treat yourself to a spa, hot spring and/or massage. Book a sit down in a mineral hot pool nearest you and melt your stress away… or visit a spa for some pampering and/or let someone else do the work in de-stressing your nerves like the experts at a massage and wellness centre.

Library, Regina, Saskatchewan

Go Learn: With computers many do not find the time to read books anymore. What is a book you say? You know those oversized “domino-like” things stacked up against each other on the shelf. Call me old fashion but the sound of pages flipping is far more soothing than the rattle of a keyboard or the swiping of a iPad screen to flip pages. A library is more than books it is a world of adventures. When was the last time you went exploring in a library. There have been many times on our road trips when we stop and re-energize our thoughts in a library. With a stack of books in hand we find a corner and flip pages creating ideas, goals and dreams.

Go Out. We travel to out of the way coffee shops in neighbouring towns and spend a day catching up on work or research. Instead of the home office with no interaction it does us good to get out in the public somewhere new and meet interesting people. We often select artsy, eclectic cafes because they often provide us with an education in music we may not of heard of before; they post local art on their walls; they may have a musician playing and they provide great people watching opportunities.