Best Outdoor Activities for Rainy Days
The weather may be pretty bad outside, but since you’re craving an adrenaline rush, here are some suggestions of what to do on a rainy day… You don't necessarily want to stay cooped up at home, staring out of the window with an urge to get out! This article will guide you towards the best activities to do in the event of a downpour!
Lately, it’s all about the floods and storms around the world and all we want to do is try and stay dry. We can all agree that staying in and watching Netflix while drinking tea sounds tempting, but it’s not our thing. There are two types of sport you can enjoy when it's raining: indoor activities and some outdoor activities, particularly water sports. It depends on how strong the wind is, because although it can be a real advantage for kitesurfing, for example, it can be very dangerous for other sports (longboarding, skydiving....). Sports practised in the snow or the air are generally pretty unpleasant when it's raining hard, and sometimes they're banned altogether when the weather is bad.
Discover the best things to do when the sun isn't shining. So, even if it’s raining cats and dogs outside, here is a list of things guaranteed to give you an adrenalin boost!
Scuba diving
When scuba diving, no need to worry about the wind or rain since you are underwater, enjoy the beauty of this magnificent land below sea level, and forget about what’s happening above the surface. Rain can also clean the surface of the water, improving visibility underwater: rain removes dust from the surface and other particles, allowing them to be pushed to the seabed. Rain on the sea is a unique sensory experience, helping you to relax and create a soothing atmosphere!
If you are a beginner, a certified diving instructor will take care of you for 20 to 30 minutes of pure magic. You’ll dive up to 6 meters in depth while learning the basics of how to properly use all the gear (tanks, gauge, fins, wetsuits, fins, and BCD) and for those of you already qualified divers, you’ll enjoy this underwater haven guided by an instructor who will take you down to 30 meters in depth for a unique visit.
BMX, Skateboarding, Rollerblading
These urban sports are extremely complicated to try out in the rain, because when the ground is wet, you're guaranteed to slide, and even though they are gliding sports in theory, we wouldn't advise you to try them out in bad weather. If you want to try out an urban sport like skateboarding, BMX, freestyle scootering, or rollerblading, and it's raining, then we advise you to head for the indoor spots, where you'll be dry. Indoor skateparks allow you to practice all year round in complete safety!
What's more, you'll be able to have a good time and meet other skateboarding enthusiasts like yourself, because in this kind of place, the communities provide mutual support and encourage exchanges. As well as being dry, you'll have a variety of obstacles where you can explore your creativity. If you're in the French capital, you can go to the EGP 18 skatepark, which offers high-quality courses and workshops to help you get your tricks right.
Indoor climbing
Although the majority of climbing is done outdoors, on mountains or rocks, climbing is also very popular indoors, especially when it's raining! Climbing gyms offer a variety of routes for you to enjoy in complete safety! Most climbing gyms offer a variety of routes and walls of different levels. Physical strength, balance and concentration are the pillars of climbing, whether indoors or outdoors. In fact, climbing helps to develop motor function, coordination skills, concentration and other psychological aspects! In addition to these positive mental and physical effects, you'll be able to meet other climbing enthusiasts like yourself, creating a social circle that will motivate you to climb higher and higher...
Rafting
When you're navigating a white water river, rain is the least of your worries! Rafting is practiced on rapids of a river known as white water, aboard an inflatable boat that can be manoeuvred with paddles. These vertiginous descents offer some great scares and thrills. It's a sport that's generally practised in groups, creating a strong sense of group spirit and solidarity between participants.
Accessible to all, rafting offers a unique experience whatever the weather (unless there's a hurricane or cyclone, of course, your instructor always has the last word when it comes to safety). Despite the additional challenges, such as reduced visibility, rafting in the rain offers an extra challenge in a totally refreshing atmosphere! Why don't you try rafting in Fort William? With its gorgeous Highland scenery and mild rapids up to level 2, this trip is an amazing and enjoyable family adventure that will appeal to all ages.
Caving
Caving is the ideal activity for diving into the unknown and exploring a completely new ecosystem! Caves vary greatly in terms of landscape, from narrow passages to bottomless pits, which means you can't expect to see the same thing in every subterranean area!
Whatever the weather outside, this activity takes place underground. Delve into the depths of the Earth to discover some of nature's most beautiful tunnels. Expert guides will help you explore the caves, with passages that vary in ease of access. A trip into the bowels will give you a real challenge, sometimes with a compulsory abseil! You'll also admire the sumptuous scenery and the wealth of limestone, fossils, and crystals to be found in these underground caverns.
Virtual Reality
This innovative computer technology lets you immerse yourself in a world without travelling! Being an indoor activity, it's perfect when you don't know what to do on a rainy day... The immersion process takes place using a virtual reality helmet that displays a stereoscopic 3D display system that fits like glasses on your nose. In some models, detectors are fitted to detect head movements so that the user can see his/her environment. The images are then recalculated in real time to synchronize them with the direction of gaze. You can choose from several virtual reality adventures in Paris, including "Egypt and its Mysteries", "Flying over France", "Reliving Notre-Dame" and "Hidden Paris".
Indoor Skydiving
Did you know that you can experience the sensations of freefall without having to skydive? You can fly in a glass tube that reproduces the conditions of a skydive, where you can glide through the air. An indoor flight simulation will help you discover the sensation of stability and balance. If you're planning to try skydiving for the first time, then this activity could be the perfect solution, and may even overcome your fears. Once you've put on your suit, helmet and goggles, the thrill is guaranteed!
Wind tunnels are springing up all over the world: you'll find them in Paris, in Spain like Madrid, for example, or in Sweden. There's even a indoor skydiving adventure in Singapore, which is one of the largest indoor wind tunnels in the world! Some centres offer a flight in a glass tube, while others offer simulations with a virtual reality headset for total immersion: you'll have the chance to choose between Dubai, Hawaii or California.
Jet ski, Flyboard, Hoverboard
As a general rule, rain does not prevent you from taking part in motorised water sports. In theory, a little more water shouldn't bother you, and it shouldn't affect the way the equipment works either. Whether it's jet skiing or a more recent sport like flyboarding, you can still enjoy these thrilling activities whether it's raining or not.
If you're heading to a tropical destination, for example, you can still try jet skiing if you're going during the rainy season: don't forget, jet skis are made to be in contact with water! If you're travelling from November to April in French Polynesia, for example (during the rainy season), you'll be able to do a combo snorkelling tour and jet skiing in Bora Bora.
Surf and water sports
Are you keen to take your first surfing session or simply practise your tricks? Both surfing and SUP (stand up paddle) are sports that can be enjoyed in the rain (but not in a thunderstorm of course, make sure you inform yourself beforehand). You'll just be a little bit more wet, but it's the point of doing a surf session, rights ?
It's also an opportunity to try out a catamaran or trimaran, but beware of strong winds! Don't worry, you'll be guided by a sailing professional so you have nothing to fear, but just have a good time.
Wildlife experiences
You should know that rain does not affect wildlife watching as these animals are already underwater and you will have just as much chance of seeing them as in dry weather. What's more, you'll be sheltered under the boat, which certainly adds to your comfort. Nature boat trips in Scandinavia or whale-watching excursions in the Azores are perfect examples, and will delight you even when it's raining! The fjord discovery cruise from Tromso, for example, will take you along the mountains to admire the wildlife (seals, dolphins, eagles and sea birds).
One last activity to do when it's raining...
If the weather is much too bad, for example in the event of a thunderstorm, you may finally want to stay in the warm. We have a number of articles for you to read about films to watch! And yes, once you've cozied up under a blanket you can devour this list of the best surfing films, best scuba diving films or best dog sledding movies.