Idaho isn’t known for its abundance of rain, so when the spring clouds open up and begin pouring, drizzling, or misting, the average Idahoan might feel a little claustrophobic at the thought of being cooped up indoors. Fortunately, Idaho has a number of fun activities that’ll keep you (or the kids) entertained and out of the weather.
1. Stop and smell the roses at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden in Ketchum.
A slice of restorative heaven in Northern Idaho, the Sawtooth Botanical Garden offers lush, year-round grounds overflowing with native flowers and trees, as well as an abundance of local art and unique water features to catch your visual eye. The spacious central greenhouse makes the perfect spot to cozy up to enjoy the flora, as well as the rain pouring down the glass.
2. Attend a "Paint and Sip" class.
BYOB, explore your inner artist, and create some nifty artwork for your home all at once. Idaho has a number of businesses, like Grape Van Gogh in Idaho Falls, that combine art with an adult social setting. Be sure to check local calendars though; these businesses also typically feature regular kids' classes and "Mommy and Me" painting sessions, sans alcohol -- perfect for a rainy day.
3. Bounce, dodge, tumble, and fly at a local trampoline park.
4. Test your climbing finesse at Bodies in Motion in Boise.
5. Catch a movie at one of Idaho's vintage-style theaters.
A movie might not be the ost original way to spend a rainy day, but you can't beat the classics. Pictured: The Roxy in Cascade, which has been around since 1939.
6. Check out an indoor water park.
Silver Mountain Resort was recently named one of the country's top ten indoor water parks, but Raptor Reef in Hayden, ID is another option.
7. Explore primitive and Jurassic artifacts at the Idaho Museum of Natural History, Pocatello
Or any museum, really! Idaho is home to close to 200 of them--so the options are limitless.
8. Battle it out at a Nerf arena.
What better way to spend a rainy day than Nerf blasting through a 30-foot obstacle course, strategizing from behind inflatable bunkers, or launching surprise counterattacks against friend and foe? Pictured: Strike Zone Arena in Coeur d'Alene.
9. Drop a few strikes at one of Idaho's best bowling alleys.
Bowling is the original rainy day family or date night activity, so why not amp it up with some Cosmic bowling at 20th Century Lanes in Boise? Or Quartermania? Many of Idaho's lanes even have arcade games for added nostalgic entertainment, but family fun zones, like Triple Play in Hayden Lake, can make a rainy day even more memorable.
10. Catch a play at a nationally-recognized playhouse or arts center.
Set in gorgeous Central Idaho, the Sun Valley Arts Center always has a running rotation of art exhibits, theatrical performances, film screenings, and concerts to choose from along with educational programs for all ages. If a smaller, more intimate show is more to your liking, the Alpine Playhouse in McCall, the Weiser Little Theater, or the Boise Little Theater are just a few additional locales to catch some comedic relief, but playhouses are scattered in nearly every city throughout the state.
11. Blast asteroids, save the princess, and rack up high scores at a retro arcade.
One of the cheapest and most entertaining ways to spend an overcast day is with the family or a group of friends at one of Idaho's few remaining arcades. Grinkers and the Spacebar in Boise both offer huge selections of both classic arcade and console games, alcohol optional.
12. Ascend to new heights at an indoor rock climbing wall.
If obstacle courses aren't your style, good ol' fashioned rock climbing is another way to spend a cloudy day. Not just for adventure-loving adults, many rock walls also have "tot" areas or family climbing hours. Check out the Teton Rock Gym in Driggs, among dozens of others.
13. Go offroad mudding.
Hey, if you can't beat the weather, make the best of it! Rain + dirt roads = an epic adventure you won't soon forget, and memories to last a lifetime.
A little weather shouldn’t stop you from getting out and having fun! What other places make ideal getaways when the sun takes a vacay?
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