19 Unique Indoor Activities In Chicago To Try Next Time It Rains
- Date: April 3, 2024
- Topic: Events
- Contributors: Written by Nina Gunther-Segal
Source: Peerspace
Whether you live in Chicago and need something to do when it rains, or are simply on vacation and looking for a way to stay busy and entertained during inclement weather, Chicago has indoor activities for everyone. The Windy City (as it’s been nicknamed for more than a century) is a beautiful city with a rich history and an array of attractions to choose from. Although many of them are best enjoyed outside, many others are perfect for a rainy day. We at Peerspace have put together a list of our 19 favorite indoor activities in Chicago to help you start planning!
1. Explore the world-famous Art Institute of Chicago
Ranked number one on Tripadvisor’s list of Chicago attractions, the Art Institute of Chicago is first on our list of indoor activities in Chicago because it’s by far one of the best options. Check out the museum’s upcoming exhibitions and events to see if there’s anything on the list that sparks your interest.
2. Or visit the Field Museum of Natural History
If you’re more interested in science than art, the Field Museum of Natural History is a worthy alternative to an art museum. It’s one of the world’s largest natural history museums and has an impressive collection of scientific specimens and artifacts, including gems, meteorites, fossils, and more. If you do visit, be sure to visit Sue, one of the largest and best-preserved T-Rex specimens ever found.
3. Think of a reason (or don’t!) to plan a party at a Chicago venue through Peerspace
Although there’s technically no need for a specific reason to throw a party, basing your party theme on one of these weird national holidays is a surefire way to plan a unique celebration that your guests will remember. You might be drawn to National Middle Name Pride Day (March 8th), National Two Different Colored Shoes Day (May 3rd), or even National “Hurray for Buttons” Day (May 9th)—whichever you choose, we’ll bet that most people at your party will appreciate your efforts to choose a unique theme. There’s also always the idea of a rainy day-themed party, just to keep things relatively simple.
If you’re hoping to host a party but can’t or don’t want to use your own home as the setting, consider renting one of Chicago’s top party venues on Peerspace.
Here are a few examples of the kinds of spaces you’ll find in Chicago when you search for event venues and other such locations:
- This beautiful BYOB event space in Humboldt Park measures 1,100 square feet and includes a cozy sitting area and an impressive chef’s kitchen with a black marble backsplash.
- This modern and bright industrial loft in West Loop/Goose Island is suitable for gatherings of up to 40 guests and includes plenty of comfortable seating, a kitchenette, a minibar area, and a large farm table with seating for eight, among other amenities.
- This intimate art gallery loft in the heart of Fulton Market, a world-class neighborhood that’s known for its restaurants and speakeasy bars. The loft itself has a full kitchen with a large island, 12-foot ceilings, tasteful exposed brick, and other appealing features, and it has capacity for smaller gatherings of up to 25 people.
Are you eager to conduct your own Peerspace search and bring this indoor activity in Chicago to life? Search Peerspace for your dream venue, filtering your results according to the aspects that are most important to you (including hourly price, attendees, date/time of your event, and so forth). This way, you’ll only see spaces that are a good fit for the party you’re planning.
4. Enjoy the beauty of the outdoors (without the rain!) at Garfield Park Conservatory
Garfield Park Conservatory has earned the title of “landscape art under glass” because it’s a destination where you can explore landscapes while being shielded from the weather in any of its eight indoor display gardens. Most of its gardens have their own controlled tropical climates, providing a lovely break from rainy weather.
5. Come face to face with underwater life at the Shedd Aquarium
As the third largest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere, the Shedd Aquarium is an impressive destination with roughly 32,000 animals on display. We can’t imagine a better way to spend an afternoon than this indoor activity in Chicago. By the way: because there’s high demand for tickets most days, it’s recommended that visitors make reservations for the aquarium.
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6. See a Broadway (in Chicago) show
You don’t need to travel all the way to NYC to see a Broadway show! Instead, check out what’s on offer from Broadway in Chicago.
7. Or see an opera at Lyric Opera
As one of the country’s leading opera companies, Lyric Opera is well worth visiting, even if you’ve never been to the opera before. Check out their calendar to see what’s upcoming.
8. Get your sweat on at Altitude Trampoline Park
If you’re in search of an indoor activity in Chicago that’ll help you get in a workout, Altitude Trampoline Park is an ideal option. Prefer to avoid the many children who go here every day? Then visit during one of their Adult Nights, a monthly event exclusively for those aged 21 and up.
9. Bring antsy kids to Purple Monkey Playroom
Purple Monkey Playroom is a 1,500-square-foot destination where kids can go for entertainment and to get out some energy. This is especially valuable when it’s rainy and they’ve been cooped up inside. If you’re a parent and you can’t make it to the playground due to weather, this is an unbeatable alternative.
10. Learn about the city’s past at the Chicago History Museum
Chicago’s rich history means that the museum dedicated to that history is full of fascinating exhibits. Visit the Chicago History Museum to see hundreds of years of artifacts, manuscripts, photos, and more.
11. Take your dog to one of Chicago’s indoor dog parks
If you have a dog that you don’t feel like walking in the rain, you can get in the exercise and fun that your dog needs with a trip to one of these indoor dog parks.
12. Spend an evening at a Chicago bar with indoor activities
There are plenty of bars in Chicago that offer activities, so why would you go to a bar that doesn’t?! The bars on this list have fun diversions like bowling, shuffleboard, skeeball, pinball, arcade games, and lots more to choose from!
13. Visit an amazing ping pong social club
Spin Chicago is an 18,000-square-foot space dedicated to ping pong. Because it’s a social club, there are lots of cool people to meet and the space also offers great ambiance, delicious cocktails, and excellent music choices.
14. Take a cooking class at The Chopping Block
One of Chicago’s top-rated cooking schools, The Chopping Block offers classes designed for busy home cooks who want to improve their practical culinary skills. There’s no limit to the cuisines and styles of cooking that you can learn here. Just take a look at the class calendar to see what’s coming up and sign up for the classes that interest you most.
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15. Race go-karts at Scene75 Entertainment Center
Visit Scene75 Entertainment Center to race up to nine other people at a time on their “Thunder Volt Speedway”! They offer a sophisticated lap timing system that’ll ensure you see exactly who wins the race and who comes in second, third, fourth, etc. Gather up a group of friends and head out for a day of thrilling go-kart racing together!
16. Play games and enjoy drinks at Replay Arcade Bar
With two locations—one in Lakeview and one in Andersonville—Replay is all about retro games. It also offers a delicious selection of craft beer and bourbon to choose from. It’s hard to imagine a more entertaining location to spend an evening!
17. Go shopping at Wicker Park Secret Agent Supply Co.
This fabulous and entertaining shop offers all kinds of gadgets specifically for secret agents. Think disguises, carrier pigeons, voice modulators, and more. But what you might not immediately realize is that it’s set up to benefit a nonprofit creative writing and tutoring center for kids, as the Chicago location of the larger 826 nonprofits.
18. Learn about medical history at the International Museum of Surgical Science
Those who have an interest in the history of medicine—and more specifically, the history of surgery—will love this unique museum! With more than 7,000 artifacts from hundreds of years of medical history and from all around the world, there’s so much to discover here for science enthusiasts.
19. Take a mosaic class at the Chicago Mosaic School
The Chicago Mosaic School is North America’s only mosaic art school. So if you’re a creative person who enjoys learning new skills, why not take advantage of the opportunity presented by their proximity and take a class there?
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