It doesn’t rain much in San Diego, but when it does, families are often scrambling for things to do to keep the kids occupied. Here’s a list of rainy day activities, including indoor fun at home, awesome places to play and explore in San Diego when it’s raining, and even things to do IN the rain.
FUN RAINY DAY OUTINGS IN SAN DIEGO
If you want to get the family out of the house, consider these indoor spots where kids can play, explore, shake out the wiggles or just be entertained for a few hours.
- Take an art class or paint your own pottery at The Hot Spot Studios in Liberty Station.
- Enjoy interactive science exhibits at Fleet Science Center (and check out the Blue Angels documentary at the IMAX theater).
- Catch a movie at UltraStar Cinemas in Mission Valley. Tickets are half-price every Thursday!
- Have a blast at indoor play zone, FUNbelievable in Lakeside.
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Explore ocean science through hands-on exhibits at Birch Aquarium in La Jolla. Learn about Little Blue Penguins, Weedy Seadragons, Leopard Sharks and much more.
- A world of discovery awaits at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Learn about dinosaurs, fossils, Southern California habitats, gems/minerals and the creepy, crawly animals in the Living Lab..
- Make a reservation for kids and parents to play together at Kids & Coffee in Carlsbad.
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Explore other museums in Balboa Park.
- Let the kids jump to their heart’s content at a trampoline park, such as Sky Zone or Get Air.
- Grab a burger and shake at the 50’s-style Corvette Diner in Point Loma. Don’t miss the Gamers Garage with over 60 fun games such as pinball, Skee-Ball and air hockey.
Find more fun indoor play places in San Diego --> HERE
FUN THINGS TO DO AT HOME ON A RAINY DAY
- Conduct science experiments: Visit the Family Science section of our site for engaging STEAM projects and science experiments.
- Choose your favorite ingredient and have a family cooking competition.
- Build a cozy fort and read.
- Play board games. Want new ideas? Check our list of new family board games. Or, take it a step further and design your own board game to play.
- Have a tea party or picnic in the living room.
- Make a "map" for toy cars or trains using a large portion of canvas drop cloth. Draw a city with parks, buildings, lakes, roads, bridges, etc. When done, just roll up the canvas until the next time you want to play with it.
- Bake chocolate chip cookies. The house will warm up and smell great.
- Set up a hot chocolate bar with homemade marshmallows.
- Write a letter or draw a picture and send it to grandparents or other faraway relatives. Learn how to “make” and send a hug at https://www.sandiegofamily.com/for-the-kids/crafts-for-kids/diy-send-a-hug.
- Have a Movie Marathon. Don’t forget popcorn!
- Get crafty: Choose a fun project by local art teacher, Alyssa Navapanich, by putting Art with Alyssa in the search bar above.
Get more ideas in our article “10 Indoor Activities for Kids.”
PLAY OUTSIDE
Yep, we said it. We often think about "hiding" when it rains—hunkering down in a cozy spot on the couch. Don’t miss fun exploration and discovery outdoors on rainy days!
- Put on some rain boots or waterproof shoes and jump in puddles!
- “Rescue” worms and snails (from being squished on the sidewalk, of course).
- Watch rain clouds.
- Make boats with the bottoms of paper or wax cups and race them down the gutter "river."
- Collect rainwater to water indoor plants.
Teach kids that rain is a very necessary, natural process that is to be celebrated and welcomed with open arms.
What would you add to this list? Email
Managing editor, Lisa Gipson, and San Diego Family staff created this list on a "cloudy with a chance of rain" San Diego day.
