Make a Rainy Day Less Gloomy With One of These Dates! 

Don’t let a rainy day be a gloomy day! Even if the clouds are rolling in and the skies are gray, you can still have fun and bring light to your relationship by enjoying a date with your spouse. We’ve done the thinking for you and listed 20 rainy day date ideas below for couples of all ages. From puddle jumping to having a cook-off, we’ve got you covered with cool date ideas for the next rainy day you experience. 

1. Create a Cheese Board 

Gouda, brie, cheddar, goat cheese…it’s time to expand your palette. Head to the deli section of your local grocery store and load up on different cheeses. If you want to add more touches to your board, grab complimentary meats, crackers, pickles, and jams. When you’re back home and dry from the rain, assemble the tasty cheese board with your spouse and enjoy all the different flavors and pairings. 

2. Create an Ice Cream Bar 

Especially on a rainy summer day, but on any rainy day, ice cream will certainly add some cheer! For your ice cream bar, pull out all the stops—ice cream, cones, syrups, toppings—display it all and then load up your ice cream sundae with all your favorite things.  

3. Have a Cook-off 

Channel your inner Bobby Flay! Since you’re stuck inside, challenge your spouse to a cook-off. You guys create the rules—you can only use what’s in the pantry and refrigerator, you only have X amount of time, you have to use X amount of ingredients, etc. Set the rules and get to cookin’! 

4. Have a Takeout Food Feast 

Don’t settle for takeout from just one of your favorite restaurants. Create a spread! Get appetizers from your favorite Mexican restaurant, get entrees from the nearby Chinese place, and get an Italian dessert to go. You won’t be able to claim, “I don’t know what I want to eat,” after this endeavor. 

5. Go Indoor Skydiving 

You definitely can’t skydive on a rainy day…but you can certainly go indoor skydiving! If you and your spouse love a thrill, capitalize on the weather by checking indoor skydiving off your bucket lists. Then, you’ll be ready for the real thing. 

6. Enjoy a Fancy Brunch 

Whether you brace the weather and head out to a brunch spot you’ve been eager to try, or you make a fancy brunch at home, when you see rain on the radar, use it as an excuse to get a little extra sleep and then enjoy a delicious brunch meal. Now’s the time to try your hand at eggs Benedict or a homemade quiche. 

7. Complete a Paint by Numbers Project 

Don’t wait until rain comes, go ahead and order a paint by numbers kit to have on hand. Then, next time you and your spouse are stuck indoors, you’ll already have a date on hand you can execute. Light some candles, pull out some snacks, and enjoy a slower afternoon painting together. 

8. Attend an Indoor Yoga Class 

Search for a local yoga studio near you to try a class. Or stay home, find a video online, and practice yoga right in your living room. Make a relaxing rainy day even more restful after yoga. 

9. Jump in Puddles 

Become a kid again! Put on your rain boots and rain jacket and head outside. As long as it’s not a thunderstorm, go seek out the biggest puddles to jump through with your spouse. Who cares who’s watching? Who cares if you get wet? Embrace the rain and embrace being like a kid again. 

10. Try Tapas 

Tapas are traditionally Spanish hors d’oeuvre—if you and your spouse have never tried them, now’s the time. Skip the traditional dinner and look up restaurants near you that serve tapas. Typically, these meals are more relaxed, and you can spend longer having in-depth conversations. Plus, you get to try a variety of foods. It’s a win-win! 

11. Go Thrift Shopping 

Especially if it’s after a holiday, go to your local thrift stores and see if you spot any unique finds. Many people donate no-longer-used holiday decor. You might stumble across a cool cookie jar, candle sticks, or a lamp that would make the perfect addition to your home. 

12. Have Afternoon Tea 

Calling all girl dads—when you see a rainy day impending, jump on the opportunity to have afternoon tea with your wife and daughters. Get all dressed up, make sandwiches, scones, and cookies, and share an enjoyable afternoon with your girls. 

13. Sing Karaoke 

Dust off the karaoke machine in your closet and jam out to some tunes with your spouse. Sing like nobody’s listening! Dance like nobody’s watching!  

14. Plan a “One Day” Day 

You know all the things you and your spouse say, “One day, we’ll…” “One day, we’ll rent a convertible and drive along the coast.” “One day, we’ll camp out in our backyard.” “One day, we’ll go skydiving.” Well, today may not be “the day,” but use today to plan your ultimate “one day” day! 

15. Visit a Bookstore 

Would it be a list of rainy day date ideas without including a trip to a bookstore? What better day than a rainy day to grab a coffee, head to a bookstore, and pick out a new read. Curl up in a corner there, or head home to cozy up on the couch for an afternoon as a bookworm.

16. Try a New Cuisine 

Have you noticed a theme with several of these rainy day date ideas? They’re centered around food! If you can’t get out and enjoy nature, then take advantage of the gross weather to enjoy good food. Try something you’ve never tried before—Indian, Thai, French—what will you discover that you like that you didn’t know? 

17. Go Antique Shopping 

If you like adding eclectic pieces to your home, take advantage of the rain to do a little antique shopping with your spouse. See if you stumble upon any unusual antiques you want to bring home. 

18. Walk Down Memory Lane 

Spend the afternoon reminiscing with your sweetie. Pull up old photos on your phone and recount stories from your favorite vacations. Watch your wedding video together and relive that special day. Spend uninterrupted time reflecting on your marriage journey and the sweet times you’ve shared. 

19. Learn a New Dance 

You don’t have to commit to several weeks of dance lessons to learn something new. Search for a dance tutorial video on YouTube and learn a new dance like salsa right in the comfort of your living room. 

20. Play Video Games 

If either you or your spouse is a gamer, utilize a rainy day to show interest in their hobby. You might not become a lover of video games but be willing to try something new like learning how to play a video game for the afternoon. 

You can no longer claim you have “nothing to do” the next time a rainy day rolls around. Bookmark this list of rainy day date ideas to pull from whenever gloomy weather appears.