30 Rainy Day Activities in Charlotte
Rainy days, you either love them or hate them. For some, a rainy day is the perfect excuse to kick back, relax and be lazy. But, don't let the weather get in the way of making plans in the Queen City.
by DeAnna Taylor
Whether you wanted to have family day, date night or catch up with friends, these 30 activities are sure to keep the good times rolling, even when the elements aren’t in your favor.
Here are a few things you can do in Charlotte on a rainy day:
For Friends
Laugh until you cry on a bus filled with comedy
Charlotte’s Funny Bus is a great pick-me-up even on a gloomy day. The mobile BYOB comedy show has window flaps to cover windows so your laughs won’t be interrupted by the rain.
Enjoy a little retro fun with your crew
Located in Plaza Midwood, Pins Mechanical is truly a blast from the past. Spend the entire day going from pinball machine to pinball machine, while sipping on cocktails like the Pinball Wizard (blueberry vodka, elderflower, ginger ale and blueberries).
Strike up the good times
What better way to pass the rainy day blues than with a few games of bowling at Queen Park Social. Adding delicious bar food and craft drinks makes the experience even better.
Create your own vibe while catching up
Paddywax Candle Bar is a great way to create your own custom candle scent while catching up with a friend or two during the process.
Support the home team during a game
While most of our professional and minor league teams play outdoors, you can still get in on the action on a rainy day. But, a Charlotte Hornets or Charlotte Checkers game is a sure way to stay dry.
Create your own rainy day bar crawl
Charlotte is no stranger to the brewery scene, and depending on which neighborhood you are in for the day, you can curate your own impromptu friends bar crawl trying some of the city’s bucket list-worthy beers.
Indulge on traditional Japanese or Korean barbecue
If your travel plans were canceled because of the pandemic, Gyu-Kaku, Iron Dish and several other local Korean and Japanese barbecue spots can curb your wanderlust foodie blues on any day— not just the rainy ones.
Get Your Food Network competition on
Book a cooking class at Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen and have a little innocent food competition fun, Food Network style, with your friends.
Build-your-own terrarium for your plant parent dreams
Use the rainy day as an excuse to become a plant parent, in a fun way. PlantHouse offers terrarium building as well as general plant shopping.
Get a bite of nostalgia at the city’s first cereal bar
If you didn’t eat cereal as a kid, you can now switch up your meal routine with a bowl of cereal or a cereal-flavored milkshake at Day & Night Exotic Cereal Bar in Uptown.
For Couples
Show your beau an indoor “cultured” night on the town
Nothing says date night like getting dressed up to enjoy a nice performance. The Charlotte Ballet is always the perfect choice when you really want to make a romantic statement.
Show off your golf skills
One of the most popular attractions in Charlotte, Topgolf is guaranteed to bring hours of smiles for you and your significant other – no matter your golf skill level. Make sure to order their delicious food and drinks, too.
Tee-off on a themed indoor putting course
Choose from two 9-hole indoor courses - The Conservatory or The Library - at Puttery, backed by pro golfer Rory McIlroy. While Plaza Midwood’s Stroke is half mini golf, half retro bar and lounge. You can play for only $10 while snacking on a few light bites.
Laugh the rain away
One of the keys to a happy relationship is being able to laugh with your partner. Check out a show at The Comedy Zone for a few hours of endless laughs.
Dine local while also supporting area artisans
Heading to the Artisan’s Palate is a great way to get more bang for your buck. Not only can you try Christa Csoka’s culinary masterpieces, you can also view the featured art gallery.
Share a few sweets with your sweet
Drop in to The Secret Chocolatier and handpick a mood-boosting selection of toffees, caramels, chocolate covered treats or your own brownie decorating kit.
Chop the rainy day blues away
Safely let out your weather frustrations with a few rounds of axe throwing at Bad Axe Throwing. It’s a fun way to get active and it’s oddly therapeutic too.
You say amateur painter, we say Picasso in the making
Show your significant other your artsy side with an original piece of art at Painting with a Twist or Vixen Ready Art Factory, made exclusively by you. It’s sure to impress on any day.
Relax, relate, release together
A rainy day is a great excuse to pamper yourself. Charlotte is home to several spas from over-the-top experiences and even budget-friendly options.
Design your life and your home
Hickory Furniture Mart provides hours, and sometimes days, worth of browsing. Take your time going through the multi-sectioned warehouse to check out some of the best furniture makers in the state and country.
For Families
Encourage your little one’s curiosity
Grab your tiny explorer and head to Discovery Place Science for hours of fun learning. For families with younger ones in tow, a trip to Discovery Place Kids interactive children's museum in nearby Huntersville or Rockingham is a must.
Splash away the rainy day woes
A water day makes everything better, even rain. Head to Ray's Splash Planet for tons of splish-splashing.
Reach new heights with indoor climbing
With locations in South End and Matthews, Inner Peaks is a great way to challenge your strength and determination. Take the family to see who really has the muscles in the household.
Explore sea creatures just outside of Charlotte
Take the littles ones to Concord’s largest aquarium featuring North Carolina’s only ocean tunnel at SEA Life Aquarium. Sea creatures include turtles, sharks, stingrays, seahorses and more.
Hop from food stall to food stall at Optimist Hall
Headquartered in a former textile mill, this food hall has more than a dozen stalls to choose from. Dine on eclectic tacos at Velvet Taco and end the day with a fresh-baked treat at Suárez Bakery & Barra. There’s sure to be something for even the pickiest eater.
Browse the latest exhibits at local museums
Whether you head to The Mint Museum, The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African- American Arts + Culture or Elder Gallery Contemporary Art — Charlotte’s museums provide a full day of history and art hopping.
Look for stars and walk with dinosaurs
The Schiele Museum of Natural History is a pleasurable interactive place to fuel your child’s curiosity about the natural world. They’ll really love the range of exhibits – from Dino Safari to North Carolina Natural History.
Get your game on at Frankie's
Just North of Charlotte in Huntersville you'll find the largest Frankie's Fun Park in the Carolinas with 84,000 sq. ft. of indoor (and outdoor) fun. This entertainment facility features 120 different arcade games, indoor "Drop Zone" ride, bumper cars, two-story laser tag zone, 24 bowling lanes, and a three story kids playhouse.
Jump around
If you want to burn off extra energy from sitting at home on a rainy day, a trampoline park is sure to do the trick. There are several options including Sky Zone, Big Air Trampoline Park and Defy Gravity.
Explore Charlotte’s racing roots
Put the pedal to the metal in the realistic racing simulators or prep a race car in the pit crew challenge at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.