Sometimes, the weather just doesn’t co-operate with travel plans. You’d love to spend the day outside exploring a new destination, but the sky has had other ideas. So here are some great tips on how to travel in the rain. Ladona, from Walking The Parks gives her best tips on how to still enjoy travel, even in the forecast looks bleak.
Avoid the Rainy Day Blues
What are you going to do if it rains? Because it’s pretty much guaranteed that you will get rain at some point during your vacation. Is an afternoon hanging out in a musty hotel room not your style? With just a little bit of planning and some on the spot creativity you just might find that rainy day one of the most memorable days on your trip.
The best tip is to keep a shortlist of indoor activities that you could quickly swap in as you plan your itinerary. However, we all know that the best-laid plans don’t always come to fruition so here are some suggestions for when you find yourself caught in the rain with nothing to do.
Find places to visit that are out of the rain
Look to the Arts
Museums are the obvious go to for a rainy day. But don’t limit yourself to the major venues. A visit to a smaller community museum will be less crowded and often full of surprises.
How about a concert series in a cool old church or theatre? My friend Diane found a poster on a light post in Paris for a concert just a few blocks from their hotel. It turned out to not only be an architecturally interesting historic church but the music was amazing.
And of course, evenings are easy to fill by looking for last-minute tickets to concerts. We love to poke around for live music in local bars.
A Little Educational Break
In a university community? Look for a lecture series. Not only is it a great way to learn something new but it gives you a chance to explore a campus full of interesting buildings and people.
We travel a lot of National Parks and have found we can spend several rainy hours exploring the visitor’s centers and chatting with park rangers. During our trip to Denali National Park, when it rained for 3 days straight we spent a wonderful rainy afternoon listening to a ranger talk about the Indian lore of Ravens and watching Native Dancers in the main hall.
Go Underground
How about visiting a cave where you can explore nature without any concern about the rain? Or many cities have underground tours like the Catacombs in Rome or the popular Seattle tour through the connecting underground tunnels.
Road Trip Time
Hop on a city sightseeing bus tour and not only do you get to see the city, but you also get a narrative as you go. Or hire a driver for the day and ask them to take you to the favorite spots of the locals.
Take time to Relax at your Hotel
Sometimes we get so tied up in go, go, go that we forget this is a vacation. Vacations are meant to rejuvenate. Use that rainy day to take some time for yourself.
Start with a Game Day
Your vacation pack should always include a deck of cards. Get out of your room and play cards in the hotel lobby. You’ll find that interesting people will stop to chat with you. We found checker/chess tables and boxes of games set out for guests at Lake McDonald Lodge in Glacier National Park.  Add in your beverage of choice and the party might just start with you.
Enjoy a Nap
Yes, that’s our secret code for intimacy in the middle of the day. It’s the ultimate indulgence for couples that have busy work schedules and constant interruptions at home. And perhaps you might really fall asleep after enjoying a bit of afternoon delight.
Pamper Yourself
Take advantage of Spa Services at the hotel. Treat your travel-weary feet to a mani-pedi. And you’d be surprised how the stark contrast between a hot tub and cool raindrops will relax every muscle (as long as it is not lightning).
Storm Watch
Curl up under the awning of your balcony or in the hotel bar by the window with your favorite beverage and just watch the storm. This is especially my favorite if it involves a beach or a mountain in the distance! It’s almost as fun to people watch as they run in and out of the rain and you are all snug inside.
Bring it on! – Embrace the Rain
A lightweight rain jacket and waterproof shoes can get you far on a drizzly day. And the best part is you often avoid the crowds that follow perfect weather. Don’t be afraid to trek on out into the rain and see the sites. Who knows, you just might catch a rainbow.
About Walking The Parks
Ladona Stork writes at Walking The Parks where she and her husband help vacationers plan memory-making vacations in the US National Parks. Since she loves tent camping just as much as a cushy hotel, getting creative on a rainy day has become a critical part of their travel life.
About Travel Tip Tuesday Series
This series on travel tips is all about bringing other voices on to share tips about traveling. Every week, a new topic is added, making a great library of travel tips. If you enjoyed this post, give it a share to social media, check out the other posts around Horizon Uknown and grab your free PDF checklist to make travel planning easy!
Check out all the Tuesday Travel Tips series posts!
Thanks for reading!
Happy and safe travels!
