Spring in the Okanagan means some unpredictable weather. You think it’s summer and then BAM, 3 wet cold days. But don’t get grumpy! We have 10 great ways to keep you and the kids entertained inside on rainy days - and bonus, they are all super Okanagan-y!
Bake Some Recipe-less Cookies.
Open your pantry and grab… whatever you’ve got. DTO’s Katie Lindskoog of Lifestyle Revolution plus her two sidekicks Cole and Nora created a recipe-less cookie video. You’ll be in good company as you “measure” ingredients and bake to “precision”. Here’s a great Mom-hack for you - start out the day by baking with your kids, so you can use the product as bribery All. Day. Long. Toss in some extra chocolate chips or smarties just for this purpose ;)
2. Make Some Fluffy Slime.
If you tell your kids they get to make their own slime - well… prepared for some ‘World’s Best Parent’ hugs because they’re coming (probably with happy screaming, so maybe be prepared for that too). Join DTO’s Kristen Thompson with kiddos Polly and Isla for this recipe that is easy, quick and not (too) messy. And if slime just isn’t your bag, check out our other indoor craft and activity ideas to get the kids through at least until mid-morning.
3. Do Some Yoga.
You don’t need kids for this one! But if you did just bake cookies and make slime, you may have actually bought yourself enough time to do something quiet… but let’s be honest though, it’s probably not much time. Luckily, Hannah Day from Happy Day Yoga created this 5 minute Standing Yoga video that you can do before your kids notice you’re gone -or- do together with them.
4. Princess Storytime Video.
Let the kids check out some super cool story time videos made by Kelowna company Dream Party Productions. The Snow Sister Storytime video above was created just for Do The Okanagan - and they have a whole bunch more on their Facebook page. Kids LOVE them and you will definitely have enough time to find that cold cup of coffee you started 2 hours ago and give it a reheat.
You’re welcome.
5. Shop for Some New Clothes.
Rainy days are meant for online shopping. Nothing -NOTHING- is more fun on a -blah- day than scrolling through clothes you want to buy while laying on the couch and watching re-runs of Friends. And online shopping USED to mean Amazon until we made shopping local brands and boutiques online super accessible.
Okazon has all your local faves so supporting them (while never leaving your home) is easier than it’s ever been. Shop for clothes, gifts and local treats (and have them delivered!) What could be better?
6. Try a New Pizza Recipe.
A rainy day is the perfect day to try a new recipe for dinner. Our favourite part about making pizza is that once the dough is made, the toppings are so customizable! Let the kids make their own so there’s NO COMPLAINING (they may still complain). Turn on some music, pour yourself a glass of wine and make it a pizza party.
Be creative. Here are some of our faves:
BBQ sauce as the base with leftover chicken, bacon, mushrooms and/or green peppers.
Alfredo sauce with mushrooms, shrimp, scallops, salmon, and/or mock crab meat.
Pesto sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, canned artichokes, shrimp and/or pine nuts.
Our friends at Olive Us have an amazing pizza crust recipe you can try. It’s super simple and super delish - your family will be impressed. Feel free to tell them it’s an old family recipe (even if you’re not Italian, they might believe it, who knows?)
7. Wind Down with a Board Game.
Okay, this one is sort of a no brainer because board games are synonymous with rainy days and being, well, bored. But did you know that there is a huge selection of board games out there - way beyond the classic Monopoly and Scrabble?
The Boarding House Cafe, Vernon Teach and Learn and Loadza Toys all have amazing selections of board games for sale for a variety of age ranges (and some puzzles too). Stock up on a few new fun games for your next rainy day, support local and spend a couple hours having quality family time (at least until someone gets mad and flips the board, that’s definitely a possibility, there’s one in every family).
8. Do Your Own Wine Tasting.
A nice glass (or 5) of wine after a day of keeping the kids entertained inside sounds just about right. DTO even has a local wine recommendation list to make navigating a sometimes overwhelming section of the liquor store wayyyy easier.
If you’re feeling fancy, grab a couple bottles and have a mini at home tasting by lining up 1 oz of 2-5 different wines. Maybe plan ahead and order yourself an amazing charcuterie board from The Fig because wine and charcuterie really just go hand and hand.
9. Make a Fancy Cocktail.
Do The Okanagan recently hosted The Cider Games by BX Press Cider and the winner was Jazz, Bambi’s Drunk Cousin, with her decadent Cherry Cider Coconut Float! This drink is perfect for a rainy day - it has chocolate, cider, Malibu and ice cream! It’s the ultimate comfort food/drink/dessert combo.
WARNING This drink looks so amazing that if your kids are still awake at this point they are going to want their own version of this, so be prepared (or just wait until they pass out).
We also hosted the first annual Clash of the Cocktails in 2020. Check it out and find more amazing drink recipes using Okanagan booze and ingredients.
10. Watch an OKV Movie.
Did you know that there are a ton of movies and tv shows that were filmed in the Okanagan Valley? How fun is it to see our own little part of the world up on the screen!
Check out our OKV Cinema and make your selection. It’s much more fun than scrolling through Netflix for the next two hours and arguing over romantic comedies -verses- alien blood baths. Trust us.
