Rain, rain, go away? We’ve all been there — you’re ready to make core memories with your kids. Then, you check the weather and realize that Mother Nature is literally going to rain on your parade.
If there’s one thing parents can’t control, it’s the rain (and a toddler’s ever-changing opinion on blueberries). However, a drizzle or a downpour doesn’t mean you have to hibernate with a rowdy crew of kids with weekend or day-off energy to burn. The Hamptons is full of indoor activities that’ll literally and figuratively fill everyone’s cups.
From ways to get plenty of play to restaurants that’ll keep your brood full, these rainy-day Hamptons ideas for families with kids will give you a sunnier outlook.
Long Island Aquarium should definitely be on your short-list of rainy day fun places to go with the kiddos. (Photos courtesy of Long Island Aquarium)
Play and Learn
The outdoors can serve as an underrated classroom, helping kids immerse themselves in wildlife and lessons on playing nice in the sandbox. But there are no-desk indoor activities across the South Fork that’ll keep kids’ minds and bodies moving. The Long Island Aquarium has been an accessible way for Hampton residents and up-Islanders to dive into marine life education for the last quarter-century. Kids can feed sting rays at the Ray Bay touch tank, watch penguins do their thing and even get up close with sharks on a dive (for people 12 and older).
At the Parrish Art Museum’s Creativity Lounge, people of all ages and stages will adore the chance to let their imaginations run wild and create art. It’s free and usually open on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, plus some Saturdays (a ticket to explore the gallery is required but worth considering for a peek at world-class art). After-school art classes are also offered monthly for kids in grades K-5.
New this past year to Hamptons, Southampton welcomed ColorPop Workshop, an outpost of the Upper East Side creativity hub for kids. On Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week there are hour-long Open Studio sessions where kids ages 3 to 15 can pick a project and dig in, be it clay or canvas-centric.
The Children’s Museum of the East End is a no-brainer for parents — rain, shine or wind. The classic windmill gives kids a lesson on wind power that’ll blow them away. They can also dress like pirates and firefighters, go ham on an indoor playground and chef up something delicious in at the Food Truck.
CMEE’s nine-hole mini-golf course may not be in the cards on a rainy day. But if you’re craving competition, The Clubhouse in East Hampton has numerous activities that might be right up your alley: Bowling and an arcade with everything from pinball to virtual reality.
And if you just want to push your kids out the door and have some me-time? A little Friday-night foresight can go a long way. Project Most offers Weekend Wonder camps in East Hampton that let kids do everything from baking to art. Check the weather and be up by midnight on Friday for Saturday sessions that can last up to three hours (9 p.m. to 12 p.m. or noon to 3 p.m.) or give you a full day (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) of rainy-day respite.
Catch a Show
Rainy days can invite us to sit back and slow down — why not enjoy a show while you’re at it? Nix the Bluey binge or video game marathon and head to a theater. The Suffolk in Riverhead in a good place to start. A crown jewel on Main Street set inside 1930s art-deco digs, the theater sometimes has family-friendly entertainment, like holiday shows and Disney flicks, plus tribute bands that’ll have the whole crew tapping their toes. Further east, Bay Street Theater offers similar programming, including special family shows — think ghost-centered shows around Halloween will leave you screaming…with laughter.
If your clan is 20/10 feeling “movie,” Sag Harbor Cinema has new releases and throwback surprises, like the 1977 version of Winnie the Pooh. And Southampton Playhouse has the areas only IMAX theater, and always something fun screening for the kids, too, on one of its three other screens.
Get Cozy with Books
Curling up with a book is a natural fit when it’s damp out. The sheer action of finding a nook and opening a good read exudes all the cozy vibes. But you may want to experience those vibes outside of your house. Indie shops A Book Place (Riverhead), Sag Harbor Books and BookHampton are a treasure trove of new and classic titles.
If you’d rather borrow than buy, hop on over to a local public library — you’ll find them from Hampton Bays to Montauk.
Eat Your Heart Out
If the rain has you feeling blue, pour your heart out over a plate, glass or bowl of something that fills your belly and soul. Estia’s Little Kitchen serves up mostly breakfast and lunch dishes (plus Friday and Saturday dinners from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.) with a touch of Mexican flair. Golden Pear has three laidback cafe locations: Southampton, Bridgehampton and East Hampton. Each has breakfast and lunch menus, full of coffee that’ll help you (almost) match your kiddo’s energy and muffins, paninis and pastries that’ll satisfy all the taste buds. And for dumpling and noodle fun, hit up Kumiso in East Hampton (and even get a Japanese language lesson from the recording in the bathroom that plays over the speakers).
Al fresco dining by the canal may not be on the menu at CowFish in Hampton Bays, nor is playing on the pirate ship. But enjoying the views in the rustic indoor space — along with sushi, a lobster roll or a generous 21 oz. Ribeye absolutely is. Amagansett’s Rowdy Hall may have a pub charm that appeals to 21+. However, it’s a hidden gem for kids 10 and under, offering a just-for-them menu that includes Shirley Temples, chocolate milk, grilled cheese, and shell pasta with butter.
If dessert is more your vibe, scream for homemade ice cream regardless of the temperature in retro-style luncheonettes, Bridgehampton Candy Kitchen (cash-only, FYI) and Sip ‘n Soda in Southampton.
