10 Ways to Spend a Rainy Day in Detroit

Story by Lindsay Whitman Drewes | Photos by Great Lakes Crossing, Bill Bowen

Don’t let a little rain ruin your visit to Detroit. There are plenty of fun ways to stay dry and enjoy The D.

heck out this list of the 10 best ways to spend a rainy day in Detroit.

Detroit's Rainy Day Activities

1. Embrace the rain

Get inspired by the rain and have a fun-filled, water-themed day? Hanging out with underwater creatures at Sea Life Michigan Aquarium and eating lunch at Rainforest Cafe (which just so happens to be next door to Sea Life Aquarium) is the perfect way to make the most out of a rainy day.

2. Go shopping

Head to Great Lakes Crossing Outlets (which is also home to Sea Life Aquarium and Rainforest Cafe) and stay dry hopping from store to store. With 180 retail and dining options (25 of which are the only location in the state), you won’t be lacking the perfect place for your tastes.

3. Catch a movie

Watch a movie at one of these metro Detroit movie theaters. Cinema Detroit features indie, cult, classic movies and more in the heart of Detroit. Check out an Emagine Theater for the latest blockbusters and kick back in heated leather recliners.

4. Go bowling

Play a classic game of bowling with friends at one of metro Detroit’s bowling lanes. Garden Bowl and Bowl One Lanes are perfect spots to hide out from the rain. Step back in time at Bowlero in Royal Oak, a completely restored retro-boutique bowling alley, vintage arcade, and cocktail lounge.

5. Try your luck at a casino

Duck for cover in one of the casinos and hit the tables or enjoy fine dining, entertainment, and world-class spas.

6. Get inspired at a museum

Detroit has so many museums, you could visit a different one every day it rains. With the Arab American National Museum, Detroit Historical Museum, Motown Museum, Detroit Institute of Arts and many more, you’re sure to find one that piques your interest.

7. Play inside at Punch Bowl Social

There’s so much to do at Punch Bowl Social, you and your friends will easily widdle away a rainy day. Enjoy elevated comfort food and exciting spirits while bowling, playing shuffleboard, darts, Scrabble and more.

8. Visit the conservatory and aquarium at Belle Isle

Forget the rain as you wander through the Anna Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory and Belle Isle Aquarium. Enjoy the shining green glass tiles overhead at the oldest aquarium in the United States. Discover exotic and rare plants at the conservatory as the rain pitter patters on the glass dome above.

9. Explore The Henry Ford

With three attractions spanning 250 acres, The Henry Ford is calling you to discover the innovation that built Detroit and America. Described by the New York Times as, “One of the world’s coolest museums…”, its an inspiring way to spend a rainy day.

10. Plan your next adventure at Outdoor Adventure Center

Don’t let a rainy day get you down. You can spend it exploring the Outdoor Adventure Center and making plans for your next Michigan outdoor adventure. Learn about what the state parks have to offer, explore a yurt, take a simulated kayak trip and more.

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