Rainy days happen. There isn’t anything you can do about it. But if it isn’t a work day and you’re plans to go out to the park or farmer’s market have been trashed, your day doesn’t have to be a bust.

To help you out we’ve put together a list of ideas that can keep everyone busy, entertained, relaxed or some combination of those 3.

Good luck.

Board Games
‣  Monopoly: Fun for the whole family. Until that 1 person gets way ahead and starts acting like a jerk and the guy with 2 properties, no railroads and no money starts getting really upset.
‣ Scrabble: A smart game, so make sure everyone has had their coffee before you break out the tiles. And keep a dictionary handy for challenges!
‣ Sorry: Just remember that Sorry can get messy if someone feels like they’re getting ganged up on unfairly. You’ve been warned.
‣  Life: Go to school, get a job, get married, have kids, make money, spend money, drive around in that car. Good luck!
‣  Anything but Battleship: I’ve never liked that game.

Cards
‣  Uno: Great for big groups. Keep things light hearted with lots of jokes because someone is going to be really upset when they end up being told to pick up 32 cards.
‣  Euchre: If you’ve got a group of 4, go for it! Just be careful of the pair that have played a lot together, they can be sneaky!
‣  Poker: Bet pretzels or money, whichever you’re comfortable with. Bonus points if everyone has a hat, hoodie, sunglasses or some combo of the 3.
‣  Crazy Eights: A family classic. Pick up those cards!
‣  Solitaire: If you’re home alone you can still play card!

Books
‣  The Gospel According to Disney: Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust [Mark I. Pinsky] An interesting work at Disney’s classic animated films. Broken into 2 time periods, 1) Walt Disney & 2) Michael Eisner. The morals, religion and themes of the stories tell a bigger story about the social times each one came from.
‣  Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity and the Perfect Knuckleball [RA Dickey] I’m reading this book right now and I promise that if you have any interest in baseball, know who RA Dickey is, or just want to read a great story about a man who struggles with HUGE things on his way to happiness, you won’t be disappointed.
‣  Moneyball [Michael Lewis] Yes, before Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, this was a book about the way the Oakland A’s and Billy Beane were changing the way people at the top thought about baseball.
‣  The Celestine Prophecy [James Redfield] This book probably changed me more than any other when I was a teen. A story of finding yourself, faith, zen, questions and answers. This isn’t about religion, so don’t get squirmy if you’re not into that kind of thing.
‣  Any Batman comic books. Really, you can’t go wrong. Enjoy!

Netflix
‣  Orange is the New Black: Season 2 is available now in case you haven’t been online anywhere and weren’t already aware. In fact, I should be watching it right now instead of writing this post.
‣  Friday Night Lights: I didn’t get into this series until this winter, and I was definitely missing out. Texas forever. Tim Riggins for President. Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose.
‣  Nashville: Another show that I’m watching right now. Season 1 was a blast and season 2 is shaping up to be even better. If you love country music, drama, attractive people, or the music business you owe it to yourself to check this baby out.
‣  Archer: I’m not sure what to say about Archer. If you’ve heard of it you’ve probably watched it. But if you’ve only watched occasionally on TV, you can do one better and watch every episode of seasons 1-4.
‣  Dawson’s Creek: Maybe my all-time favourite television show. The entire thing is on Netflix, from Pacey’s fling with Ms. Jacobs to the finale and the most gratifying pay-off to a love triangle ever!

Naps
‣  Couch: A great option for rainy days. Fall asleep watching TV or reading and wake up later.
‣  Bed: No need to explain here. We all know your bed is comfy.
‣  Floor: Sometimes a nice cool tile floor or fluffy carpet are the best place to lay down for a quick relax and recharge session.
‣  Comfy Chair: If you’ve got an awesome recliner and you aren’t napping in it, you’re doing it wrong.
‣  Bathtub: Keep the bath water low to avoid accidents. Then light a couple candles, turn on some music, turn off the lights and relax!

There you have it, 25 things you can do on a rainy day. I hope that something on this list clicks for you the next time your picnic gets washed out.

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Joshua Murray

creator of content, daddy blogger, writer, coffee drinker, fan of the Batman. proud mo bro. prouder dad.