20 Rainy Day Date Ideas for Dating and Married Couples

Most people abhor rainy days. Let's face it. When you make plans on the weekend with your partner, no one is hoping for rain.  Most people cancel their plans when the weather turns to rain, but don't despair!  Maybe you can alter your plans instead and try one of these indoor date ideas on a rainy day.

Ice skating is an aerobic form of exercise that focuses on strengthening your leg muscles so you will get an awesome workout.  If you haven't been ice skating before, don't worry.  You and your partner can hang onto the side boards of the rink to help steady yourselves.  If one of you is a better skater than the other, you can help keep your partner vertical.  Holding hands while skating is romantic.

Even though the ice rink is indoors, it will be cold.  Make sure you dress in layers so that you can remove your coat, but you have enough sweaters and vests on that you will not be frigid.  Don't forget to wear gloves because when you fall (and you probably will), your hands will be freezing if they touch the ice.  Extra thick socks will keep your feet warm and dry.

There are thousands of museums in the United States.  According to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, there are 33,000 museums in the U.S.  This means there is bound to be at least one museum in your area that you can visit on a rainy day. Do some research so you can go to one of the lesser-known museums that are right in your backyard.

There is literally a museum for everything.  Do you like to sew? Visit the museum of thread.  If one of you likes illusions, there are museums devoted to illusions.  There is a museum of neon art.  Some metropolitan areas have pop up temporary exhibits. NYC had the museum of pizza for a week, and yes, you were able to sample some pizza.  There are so many fun museums out there, so start searching!

Bibliophiles will delight in spending a rainy day browsing the stacks in any used bookstore, but you do not have to be a book nerd to enjoy this indoor date.  Used bookstores are either very well organized or a complete maze of randomness.  The random type are a lot of fun because you need to start pulling out books to see what is there.

If you are looking for a specific book or you are interested in a particular genre, ask the bookstore employee to point you towards the right direction.  There could be many floors of books and it is a bit like finding a needle in a haystack, which is hugely appealing to some.  Roll up your sleeves and breathe in that wonderful smell of antique books.

An aquarium is a nice place to spend a rainy afternoon or evening.  The wonder of seeing sharks gliding past you is something you won't forget.  The beautifully colored salt water fish are something you don't normally see.  Whip out your cell phone and take selfies with puffer fish and penguins.

Karaoke is wildly popular in the U.S., coming to us from Japan.  If you've never heard of karaoke, where have you been?  Karaoke is popular music with the lyrics displayed so the person singing (someone at the club), can see the words and sing along.  

Karaoke is fun for those who are singing since they are the center of attention, and for those in the audience.  If you cannot carry a tune, it's okay.  Most of the people singing can't, but it doesn't stop them.  They enjoy getting up and performing. Those in the audience listening are always polite and clap for everyone.  Pick out your favorite song, give it to the DJ and wait for your turn at the microphone.  Find a duet that you and your partner can sing together.

You've probably played rooftop golf at the beach, but miniature golf is experiencing a resurgence due to indoor mini-golf facilities. Yes, they do cater to children's birthday parties, but adults love to play too.  The latest craze is playing mini-golf under black lights.  The backgrounds are created with fluorescent paints that pop under the black lighting.  In addition to golf, the indoor places have arcades so you can play video games and maybe win a prize or two.  You and your date are sure to have a blast while it is raining outside.  

Animal shelters can always use volunteers. Go to your county animal shelter's website to see what items they currently need.  You and your date can gather some of these items and take a trip to the shelter to donate them.  While you are there, take some time to visit all of the animals waiting to be adopted.  Living at the shelter is a highly stressful place for dogs and cats, so they appreciate people walking around to check on them.  Who knows, maybe one of you will come home with a new furry friend!    

Libraries are not just about books.  Most boast state of the art media centers.  You and your partner can visit the media center and look up the newspaper from the day you were born.  It's interesting to see what was on the front page of the paper on your birthday.  It is also a hoot to see some of the ads in the paper and laugh at how cheap stuff was back then.   

Since it's already raining, why not run around outside and play like a kid?  Go ahead and jump in puddles and splash around.  Bring water gun pistols and make a game of hide and seek while you hunt each other down.  Because you are adults, you might want to wear rain boots and a raincoat so that you can enjoy the rain a little more without totally getting soaked. 

Road trips are fun, even in the rain.  It is even more exciting when you do not tell your partner where you are going.  This requires that you plan it out ahead of time. You might give your date a few hints, but don't give it away and see if they can guess as you are en-route to your mystery destination. 

Date road trips can't be too lengthy, so don't plan something more than 1.5 to 2 hours away.  I went on a road trip to an old mine.  We went miles below the surface and walked through the mine's passageways. It sounds weird but was so much fun because I had never done something like that before.  Be sure to bring snacks like chips, and water and candy for the ride.  Set the radio to your favorite station and enjoy the ride. 

Walking in the rain is very different from romping in the rain.  The idea here is that you will take a romantic walk with your partner while it is raining. An umbrella is a must.  If you aren't sure if your partner has one, buy one for the date.  If you have a huge umbrella for two, it will be that much more sentimental.

If you live on a coast, walking along the shoreline or on the boardwalk is romantic.  Stop and get a latte or chai tea as you stroll along the beach.  Be sure to make frequent stops to look at the water and get a smooch or two.

I'll admit that this idea is a little touristy.  There is bound to be a harbor or river nearby that offers two to three hour cruises.  The longer cruises may offer food and dancing.  It's often called a cruise to nowhere because the ship takes you up and down the river, but you do not get off the boat.  Cruises take off whether it is raining or shining so it's another romantic date in the rain. 

Maybe washing your cars sound more like work than fun, but if you both have the right attitude, it will be an awesome date.  It's best if you do this on a rainy day in the summer, of course because you do not want to freeze.  All you need is a garden hose, two buckets, soap and sponges.  

You will both get wet as you wash your cars, but that is part of the fun.  Washing cars gives you a fantastic workout too.  Make sure you wear appropriate clothes. Tee-shirts, shorts and flip-flops or you can even wear your bathing suits! 

If running around in the rain isn't high on your list of date ideas, here are some date night ideas for couples at home.

Indoor camping is an idea I can get behind. Comfort and romance is the order of the night.  If you have a fireplace, definitely light it up. If not, get a bunch of candles and light them to set the mood. 

Move the furniture out of the way and cover the floor with blankets and pillows.  Remember, you want to be comfy.  Kick off your shoes and snuggle with your partner on the floor.

Make hot cocoa and cook up some smores to simulate the camping experience.  Remember, there is no tv tonight because you are camping.  

A box of dreams is literally a box filled with ideas of places that you want to go someday.  You can collect travel brochures or articles you see online of interesting places to visit when you have the time and money.  

It's exciting to plan out a trip and map it out.  You and your love can fantasize about the adventures that lie ahead of you.  When you are ready to actually take that trip one day, you will have the itinerary already done and all you will need to do is book it.

If you don't know how to play poker, you can read a book on it.  Five card draw is the easiest game to learn, so you can start with that.  You can buy poker chips at your local department store, or better yet, play strip poker.

For every hand that you lose, you remove one article of clothing.  It could make for an interesting night of romance. 

Fondue is always more fun when shared, so invite another couple over.  Cheese fondue is pretty simple to make. If you don't have a fondue pot, you can buy one at a Goodwill store.  Although you can make it in the microwave, the fondue pot makes it more fun because you get the long fondue forks.

1 pound Gruyere chese
1/2 pound Swiss cheese
1 cup of white wine
1 teaspoon of cornstarch
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
Pepper to taste
Nutmeg to taste
Toasted Italian or French bread cubed

Shred the cheese and add to the pot. Add in wine, cornstarch and lemon and cook until melted.  Add pepper and nutmeg before serving.

A dessert fondue is the perfect way to end your fondue party.  Melt milk chocolate in the fondue pot. Serve with cubed pound cake, blueberries, strawberries and pretzels for dipping.

I always hate it when I'm behind the masses when everyone has watched a series except me.  The best way to catch up is to binge the series.  You can spend a relaxed night at home catching up on a series with your loved one.  Pop some popcorn and grab some soft fleece blankets so you can snuggle up together on the coach to see how that zombie series ends.

Take the opportunity of a rainy day to reimagine your living space.  Maybe you feel as if things are too cluttered or the flow seems off.  Move your furniture around.  Maybe even flip your space by moving your dining area with your living room area.  It can make a dramatic difference.

Maybe take a shot at living the minimalist experience.  Pack up anything that isn't functional or doesn't give you joy.  Less is more.  Your partner might have some great ideas on how to redecorate your space.

Order Chinese from your favorite take-out place.  Set up the living room so that you can sit on the floor and eat around your coffee table.  Get out the chopsticks and cute little plates so that you get the feel of eating in a restaurant even though you are in the comfort of your own home. 

Just because the weather isn't sunshine and rainbows, it doesn't mean that you can't still have quality time with your date or spouse.  There are plenty of good ideas to choose from to enjoy the time with your partner no matter what type of weather is happening outside.