11 fun indoor activities to do in Charlotte on a rainy day
Rainy days can make anyone want to stay in — but you don’t have to. Charlotte has many indoor activities available so you can have fun on a rainy day.
A dark and gloomy day can change a person’s mood from cheery to dreary, but we know of great places to turn that around when rain is in the forecast in Charlotte. Things to do include artsy classes, breweries, kid-friendly options for the whole family, indoor mini-golf and much more.
Here are 11 places to check out when it’s raining:
Be a kid at Frankie’s Fun Park
Location: 10621 Bryton Corporate Center Dr, Huntersville, NC 28078
Neighborhood: Huntersville
Frankie’s Fun Park is perfect for an indoor day because it offers a variety of activities to keep you busy for hours. Indoor options include arcade games, bowling, laser tag and much more.
Cost: Varies per activity. Bowling is $35 weekdays or $40 on weekends, plus $5 shoe rental; bumper cars are $7; laser tag is $9; mini-golf is $10; rides are $6+.
Explore Charlotte’s Uptown museums
Location: 420 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Neighborhood: Third Ward/Uptown
Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture
Location: 551 S. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202
Neighborhood: Second Ward/Uptown
Location: 400 E M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28202
Neighborhood: Second Ward/Uptown
When rain dampens your day, head Uptown to check out some of Charlotte’s museums. You can explore the Bechtler for modern art history or learn about African-American history at the Harvey B. Gantt Center. Or zoom into the NASCAR Hall of Fame to find out everything you’ve always wanted to know about auto racing.
Cost: Bechtler and Gantt Center range from free to $9; NASCAR Hall of Fame ranges from $20 to $27, with add-on packages available.
Pro tip: Admission to many of Charlotte’s museums are free on Wednesday nights as part of Wednesday Night Live.
Go bowling
Location: 1700 Montford Drive, Charlotte, NC 28209
Neighborhood: Montford
Location: 4125 Yancey Road, Charlotte, NC 28217
Neighborhood: York Road
Avoid the rain at 10 Park Lanes or Queen Park Social, which are among the best bowling alleys in the Queen City. There’s nothing like a little trash talking with friends over food and drinks to pass the time.
Cost: 10 Park Lanes prices vary, depending on time of day, but expect a range of $100-$200 for 2.5 hours plus bowling shoe rental for two people, and an automatic $20 food and beverage gift card may be added in peak times when you make reservations online. Queen Park Social’s lanes are $35/hour for a maximum of six people, plus $5 shoes per person.
Lounge at PAPARAZZI CLT
Address: 9539 Pinnacle Dr, Charlotte, NC 28262
Neighborhood: University City North
PAPARAZZI CLT is a selfie bar, restaurant and lounge with interactive selfie walls and photo booths for patrons 21+ to enjoy and get picturesque photos — perfect for an indoor kind of evening. The dining menu has a variety of options tied to the day, like Taco Tuesday and Fried Night, and its highly popular brunch is available on weekends. Make reservations via OpenTable or the QR code on its website.
Cost: Prices vary, depending on the entertainment offered, but women are often free with an RSVP.
Make your own creation at Lip N Pour
Address: 1811 Sardis Rd N Suite 204, Charlotte, NC, 28270
Neighborhood: East Forest
Instead of shopping online on a rainy day, people who love lip products can make their own instead. In Lip N Pour’s class, guests make their own lipstick, with options including creme, matte, liquid matte, lip glace or lip smoothie. You can make reservations online in advance.
Cost: Classes are $65.
Putt-putt at Puttery
Address: 210 Rampart St, Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: Brookhill
Puttery, an indoor mini-golf course, is a perfect place to get out of the rain. It not only has great scenery for mini-golf, but also great food and drinks, such as lamb chop sliders and the Tasty Green cocktail. As you advance through the courses, the difficulty increases.
Cost: $18/person
Roll around at Kate’s Skates
Location: 4114 E. Franklin Blvd, Gastonia, NC 28056
Neighborhood: Gastonia
Location:1151 Skating Rink Drive, Gastonia, NC 28054
Neighborhood: Gastonia
Location: 14500 E Independence Blvd, Indian Trail, NC 28079
Neighborhood: Indian Trail
Location: 1530 Celanese Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29732
Neighborhood: Rock Hill
Don’t be rained in at home. When was the last time you put on a pair of skates and went to a roller rink? You can spend a day at Kate’s Skates, grooving out to your favorite songs while skating around, then take a break for some nachos or a slice of pizza.
Cost: Pricing varies per location, but starts at $5-$10 admission, plus $5 skate rental.
Sip a drink at Flower Bar
Location: 1201 Village Harbor Dr., Ste 103, Lake Wylie, SC 29710
Neighborhood: Lake Wylie
Location: 1988 Cherry Road, Rock Hill, SC 29732
Neighborhood: Rock Hill
Step out of the rain showers and into The Flower Bar, a floral shop that’s also a wine slushie bar and holds various classes. This might be the activity for creatives who want to put together wreaths or floral centerpieces while enjoying a rose, raspberry and hibiscus wine slushie, or a Legal Remedy Watermelon Wheat beer with a charcuterie box.
Cost: Beers are $3+, customizable wine slushies are $9.50 and $12.50. Classes and floral arrangements vary.
Try a craft beer at Charlotte breweries
Location: Multiple
Neighborhood: Multiple
Charlotte has dozens of breweries to choose from, including Armored Cow Brewing Co., Brewers at 4001 Yancey, Devil’s Logic, Legion Brewing and more. These breweries have a variety of styles to try — IPAs, gose, porters and lagers. Many of the breweries offer food, too. But remember, drink responsibly, and don’t drink and drive.
Pro tip: You can find many of the area’s best breweries in our CharlotteFive Best Breweries poll — voting is underway now.
Cost: Varies
Update your socials at The Good Life at Enderly Park
Location: 2122 Freedom Drive, D, Charlotte, North Carolina 28208
Neighborhood: Wesley Heights
Don’t let a rainy weekend stop you from heading out to brunch or grabbing a cocktail at The Good Life at Enderly Park, a hotspot for seeing and being seen. The event space holds both Babe Cave and Brunch on Sunday, venues decorated specifically to help curate your social media..
Cost: Varies, with separate reservations for Babe Cave and Brunch on Sunday. Saturday night cocktail entrance starts at $35, which includes two drinks and photo ops access. Brunch on Sunday pricing depends on meal choice, starting at $36.
View ocean creatures at Sea Life Charlotte-Concord
Address: 8111 Concord Mills Boulevard, Concord, NC 28027
Neighborhood: Concord
What better way is there to beat rainy day blues than seeing creatures of the sea? Adults and children alike can enjoy the aquarium, with exhibits including Tropical Ocean, Interactive Touchpool, Sea Turtle Rescue Center, Stingray Bay, Shoaling Ring and Jellies.
Cost: $14.99+
