Your guide to enjoying Vancouver in the rain

What to do on a Rainy Day in Vancouver

Rainy Day Vancouver

Why did I start the website Rainy Day Vancouver?
Well I have lived here in Vancouver for 10 years now and have loved every minute of it. However, on a rainy weekend, I have spent way too much time on Google searching for things to do. So after ten years of living here I believe I have a good number of rainy day activites to share with other people just like me – looking for some fun, educational, or athletic activities for when it’s raining in Vancouver

Things to do on a Rainy Day in Vancouver

There should be no suprise that most of the activities you find on Rainy Day Vancouver are indoor activities. It’s an obvious fact that most people don’t enjoy being outdoors on a rainy winter day in Vancouver.
Some of the most popular activities include:

  • Shopping
  • Restaurants
  • Coffee Shops
  • Cultural Activites
  • Exercise
  • Cook/reading/relaxing at home
  • Planning your next vacation

 

You can go outside when it’s raining in Vancouver

But not every rainy day in Vancouver is a bad day. No, you can still go outside.
Throw on a waterproof jacket (we all own one of those here no don’t we) and enjoy. I find the light rain and foggy days to be great for thinking or coming up with ideas. A trip to the park or a lake in weather like this can be just the thing to cure writer’s block or to come up with that breakthrough idea. These comtemplative west coast (wet coast) days are a dream for philosophers, artists, photographers, and authors.
Some of my favourite outdoor activites on a rainy day in Vancouver are:
A walk in the park or lake (Buntzen Lake!)
A jog
A walk to my local coffee shop for a dark west coast blend as a warmup.

 

Exercise is the greatest remedy

Some people are affected more by the long periods without sunshine that others are. Personally I am not overly affected by the rain, but some people do get the rainy day blues, if not the well named Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Of course a sunny day is the best remedy (plan your next trip!), but that’s rarely possible during the winter. I have found the next best thing to a day in the sun is an hour of exercise. Whether you’re doing Insanity or P90X at home, swimming or lifting weights at the gym, or going for a good old fashioned jog, exercise helps. In fact, studies have shown that exercise releases endorphins and other compounds that make us feel good.

 

It never rains in the mall

I find that a lot of people head for the mall on a rainy day. I confess, I sometimes do too. We have some great malls with lots of shopping opportunities. Also, most of these malls have fantastic restaurants within walking distance. Most restaurants have lunch specials which allow you to have some wonderful food at a much better price than going out for supper.

 

Rainy Day Vancouver – you source for ideas

Please stay tuned to this blog, follow me on Twitter, sign up for my mailing list to be sent updates and resources full of ideas helping you to enjoy the unavoidable rainy days in our beautiful city here – Vancouver

Let me know your ideas and recommendations for things to do around the GVRD on one of our famous rainy days.  Thanks!

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