5 Great Things You Can Do on Those Rainy Summer Days in CNY

It's a bummer when we get those rainy, yucky summer days, but you don't have to waste the day. There are still plenty of things you can do in Central New York when the weather doesn't cooperate.

Unfortunately, we can't control the weather. That's just life. But we can still make the most out of all the summer days we get. Even if the weather is awful, it doesn't mean you HAVE to stay inside. Besides, at least it's not cold anymore, right?! We only get a little bit of warmer, enjoyable Central New York weather, we have to make the most of it. Here's just a few ideas of how you can spend those rainy afternoons:

1 - Head to Rome Cinemas or Marquee Cinemas: There are lots of good movies hitting theaters this summer. Sure, a lot of people don't head to the theaters in the summer because they want to enjoy all the nice weather. But if the weather is bad, might as well go see that movie everyone has been talking about, right?! Plus, you'll be inside so you don't even have to worry about the rain.

2 - Get Ice Cream: A little rain shouldn't stop you from enjoying a delicious ice cream cone. Plenty of places have umbrellas you can sit under... You'll be fine. If you're that worried about it, head to your nearest Stewart's Shops location or even a grocery store and pick up a pint or gallon of ice cream. Make your own cones and sundaes at home.

3 - Tie-Dye Some Clothes: Alright, this is fun no matter how old you are. You can buy a quick tie-dying kit at pretty much any supermarket for less than 20-bucks. Pick up a package of plain white T-shirts, and you're set to go. You can even do a quick google search (or look on Pinterest) on how to create crazy designs. A lot of times you just need some extra rubber bands to create those designs. Tie-dying will burn quite a few hours, and if your kids are "so bored" because they can't go outside, this is a good activity to keep them busy.

Naomi Lynn/TSM

4 - Check Out a New Restaurant: When the weather is awful, but you still don't want to be cooped up inside, this is a great one to do. I'm sure you know of a place or two you've been wanting to try, but just haven't gotten around to it. A rainy day is the perfect time to do that! Maybe you're not big into going to new places to eat (hey, you don't want to waste money if you don't like the food, right?) Well, you can post on Facebook looking for recommendations for a good place to eat - Your friends and family will be more than happy to help, and seeing as they know you, they should have a good idea for what you're exactly looking for. Still too much for you? Try a new recipe. Find something online or in a cookbook, head to the store, pick up what you need, and spend the afternoon cooking up something different.

5 - Relax and Cuddle on the Couch: Sometimes rainy, yucky days just don't make us want to do anything. If your energy level is lacking because of the weather, you could use this time to catch up on reading a good book. There's just something so "cozy" about relaxing on the couch while it's raining, especially if the windows are open or cracked and you can hear the rain, maybe even some thunder, while you're getting lost in a book.

Hopefully you can use this list the next time the kids say there's nothing to do because it's raining, or if you're looking for something to do (or even a date idea). And soon the sun will come back out, and you can get back to enjoying all those summer outdoor activities that you love.