A rainy day can sometimes feel daunting with little ones but it also can be an opportunity for a new kind of adventure. Our family’s philosophy is “there’s no bad weather, only the wrong clothes.” Our beautiful area has so many places to spend a stormy day and plenty are free.
If you are in need of a warm drink and yummy treat, our favorite coffee shop to spend some cozy time at is Bookworks in Pacific Grove. Along with a great selection of organic coffee and baked goods, they have a wonderful assortment of children’s books to enjoy. As a special treat on a cold day, Paris Bakery has a location in Seaside as well as in Monterey. You can’t go wrong with a quiche!
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is an incredible opportunity for year-round learning and fun. Along with their breathtaking animal exhibits, they have three interactive play areas and a private nursing room. My Museum also offers many interactive exhibits for the whole family. If museums spark your little one’s interest, the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History is a wonderful place to spend some quality time learning!
After all these wonderful learning activities, if you and your kiddo need to get your bodies moving, the Monterey Sports Center pool is spacious and warm. Oscar’s Playground is a new addition in our area for indoor rainy-day fun. If arcades and escape rooms sound exciting, this is the place to be!
Staying home on a rainy day can be magical too. With the comforts of home close by, we seize the opportunity to get messy! Some of our favorite activities are mud kitchen, puddle hunting, and worm rescue! The first step to all these messy activities is the right clothes. Start with your cozy base layer and top it off with a full waterproof shell. You can choose coveralls or rain pants and a jacket; either way, your kiddo will stay dry. Don’t forget the rain boots! For a mud kitchen, find the muddiest part of your backyard or even a nearby park. We have a designated box of garage sale finds: cupcake tins, strainer, mixing bowl, spoons, you get the idea. Then have your kids make mud treats and get dirty! The rain usually makes worms move around in places they don’t quite belong, so for worm rescue, we gently collect all the worms on the cement and find them homes in our garden or nearby dirt. Puddle hunting is a great way to get our bodies moving and worn out. See who can find the biggest one. What about a puddle with the most unique shape? After all that fun, a warm bath, a yummy meal, and maybe even a hot cocoa are the perfect recipe for a rainy day snuggle or nap.
There are so many wonderful indoor activities to do at home, but our very favorite is making handmade postcards. Just cut a piece of cardboard 4 in. by 6 in. and let the kids do the decorating. All you need to do is address it, stamp it, and you are ready to send a one-of-a-kind keepsake to a friend or family member. Everyone loves surprise art in the mail.
Whether you stay home or venture out, we live in a spectacular place for rainy days. As long as the snacks are flowing and the kids stay dry, you are in for a wonderful adventure.
Kayla Myers is a veterinary technician, freelance writer, nature enthusiast and mother of two adventurous toddlers. Kayla was born and raised on the peninsula and currently resides in beautiful Carmel Valley with her husband, children and menagerie of four legged friends.
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