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What to do with toddlers on a rainy day
Outdoor Getaways

Fun Rainy day Cottage Activities for Families

Just because it’s raining outside, doesn’t mean that your cottage day is ruined. We’ve got some fantastic rainy-day cottage activities for you to try.

Bad Weather Can’t Stop the Fun When You Getaway Well

As much as we might like to, no one can control the weather. It’s an unfortunate fact of life that’s thrown a wrench into many vacations.

But bad weather doesn’t have to mean bad memories. There are lots of things that you can do to encourage good physical fitness and have a good time while making the most of a soggy afternoon at the cottage.

With that in mind, we’ve put together some enjoyable suggestions for rainy-day cottage activities for kids and parents that you can use for shaking off the blues.

Don’t worry, we even talk about what to do with toddlers on a rainy day at the cottage, so you’ll have ideas for your littlest travel companions too.

Embrace the Rain!

Rainy-Day Outdoor Activities

A little water never hurt anyone.

Getting damp shouldn’t be an excuse for spending the whole day sulking inside. There are plenty of rainy-day outdoor activities you can try.

Put on your rain boots, get the kids bundled up, and go jump in some puddles! A drizzle can be refreshing and soothing – especially if you stop worrying about the water and embrace the rain.

Put on your rain boots

Sure, you might get a little wet. We think a change of clothes is definitely worth making the most of a bad weather day. Wouldn’t you agree?

Plan a Rainy-Day Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

Rainy-day outdoor activities offer us some unique benefits that we don’t get from normal cottage activities. Especially when we’re surrounded by nature, there are lots of things to look for that you might not normally be able to find.

Finding some of these rare appearances can be quite fun, which is why planning a rainy-day outdoor scavenger hunt is a wonderful way to whittle away an afternoon.

Search for makeshift rivers, soggy animal or insect friends that only appear during the rain, or even try to find rainbows during the brief moments when the sun reappears.

If you really want to make it interesting, and you know ahead of time that you’ll be experiencing some inclement weather, you can even get some rainy-day outdoor scavenger hunt bingo cards.

Young or old, there’s nothing quite like a scavenger hunt to get people excited.

Do Some Rainy-Day Photography

Outdoor rainy-day cottage activities offer many beautiful, scenic opportunities that you may not want to miss out on, which is why some rainy-day photography can be a fun, artistic way to spend some time.

Rainy-Day Photography

Take a close-up shot of strings of water running down the windows of your cottage. Snap some candid shots of worms, slugs, and snails, as they peek out to refresh themselves. Maybe even catch some bolts of lightning streaking across the sky – if the weather gets bad, and you’re quick enough on the camera button.

Speaking of cameras, consider getting yourself a waterproof camera for your rainy-day photography. It’s a small investment to protect your phone from getting soaked, while you’re trying to capture that perfect photo.

Don’t Be Afraid to Get Wet

Half of the fun of rainy-day cottage activities is getting out and not being afraid of a bit of water.

Build a dam over a makeshift river flowing along with the property. Make a slip and slide out of some tarp. Find nature boats and float them down streams or have races to see who can find the fastest boat.

Soak your feet. Get drenched. Dance in the rain. Play some outdoor fitness games. Lie down in the mud and get dirty. Clothes can be cleaned, and so can you. Dirt is temporary, memories last a lifetime.

Be a kid again. Make it a point to splash in as many puddles as you can. Be free to enjoy yourself and forget about the weather. This kind of freedom is sure to help you Getaway Well.

Engaging Rainy-Day Cottage Activities for Kids

Of course, it can be easier entertaining ourselves as adults than it is for kids. Thankfully, there are plenty of rainy-day cottage activities for kids that you can use to keep them occupied and entertained, while you’re staying dry inside.

Most kids love to draw and color, which is why keeping lots of colored pencils, paper, markers, and paints at the cottage is a smart move.

Engaging Rainy-Day Activities for Kids

Or, keep some construction paper, scissors, and glue handy. Then, together with the kids, you can make paper dolls to put on a show. 

It can be a good idea to keep a couple of your favorite board games handy for rainy-day cottage activities for kids.

There’s something very nostalgic about curling up with some blankets on the floor or around the dinner table, drinking mugs of hot cocoa, and playing a few rounds of Monopoly or The Game of Life.

You could even spend some time working together with your kids to create your own board games. The fun you have is only limited by your initiative and imagination.

What to Do with Toddlers on a Rainy-Day at the Cottage

When you’re traveling with the little members of your family, finding fun times can be a little bit more challenging.

Simple, engaging activities are the best to try if you’ve been wondering what to do with toddlers on a rainy day at the cottage.

Take turns playing peek-a-boo, or hide and seek around the cottage. It may not seem that exciting to you, but odds are your toddler is going to be ecstatic about this game, and isn’t that all that really matters?

Don't Be Afraid to Get Wet

Build a fort using all the pillows, blankets, and cushions you have on hand. The best part about fort building with soft tools like this is that even if your fort comes crashing down around you, no one has to worry about getting hurt.

Do a dance party/workout! We all know how hard it can be to stick to our morning fitness routine when we’re away at the cottage, but this can be a perfect way to burn some calories while keeping your toddler very literally on their toes.

Put on some music everyone enjoys, take your toddler by the hands, and dance the day away. You’re bound to work up a sweat after a while. Plus, your little ones will burn off some of their excess energy, so that you can still get them to sleep when you need to. It’s a win-win!

Rainy-Day Cottage Activities for Parents

For people traveling without kids or looking for something to do when the kids are sleeping or otherwise occupied, there are plenty of rainy-day cottage activities for parents, as well.

Board games are definitely not just for kids. There are tons of fantastic, entertaining board games that are designed for more mature audiences.

Cards Against Humanity, Sequence, and Rummikub are just a few of our favorites, but you should play whatever interests you and your travel partners the most.

If you don’t feel like getting wet, but you don’t want to miss out on your daily workout, you can adopt hotel room workouts to be used at the cottage.

How family can spend Rainy Day at the Cottage

Workouts are great rainy-day cottage activities for parents. They can work well for shaking off a case of the bad weather blues, and get you back in the positive mindset you need to make the most of your cottage trip.

Flexibility is Your Key to Relaxation

With the Right Mindset, You’ll Always Getaway Well

The most important thing to remember when you’re taking a trip to the cottage is to be flexible.

You can’t control the weather, and even when unexpected weather gets in the way of our plans, we shouldn’t let it stop us from enjoying our trips.

Roll with the punches. Plan for bad weather contingencies, because then if they happen to occur, you won’t be left frustrated or scrambling.

Rainy-day cottage activities can be a lifesaver for you and your kids. And as long as you’re together, making great memories, you’ll always Getaway Well.

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