Activities for a Rainy Day in Austin

A rainy day in Austin in generally quite rare; however, we've been having quite a few lately.  Naturally, that spurs the question, what's one to do in Austin when the weather is less than superb?  Don't let the clouds put a damper on your day, the city still has plenty to offer when the sun isn't shining.

The obvious choice for a rainy day is the movies.  Luckily, Austin offers a variety of local options that are much more exciting than your conventional theater.  

1.  Alamo Drafthouse-  Distinguished for its in-theater food and drink purchases, this brand boasts multiple outposts throughout the city.  A small bar in front of each row of seats allows for patrons to indulge in a selection of adult beverages and full meals in addition to traditional movie fare.  The theater also offers unique programming on occasion.  For example, past programming has included a Beyonce music video sing along or a showing of a timeless classic.

2. Violet Crown- This recently opened theater in downtown Austin also offers visitors the benefit of being able to dine in the theatre. They offer a nice selection of local brews, and their brussel sprouts are delectable! What differentiates Violet Crown from the above mentioned draft house is its small theater size that allows for an intimate viewing experience. In addition, all seats must be reserved ahead of time. I highly recommend you arrive early in order to take advantage of the first row's deluxe recliners. They don't cost anything extra, but only 2 can be reserved ahead of time. The middle seats cannot be reserved online and are offered on a first come-first serve basis.

If you're feeling a little more active, the Goodnight offers multiple sources of entertainment all in one location.  In addition to being a bar and a restaurant, the establishment offers a number of activities sure to keep your mind and body stimulated all night long.  While pool and shuffleboard are popular at many establishments across the city, the Goodnight also has an in-house bowling alley. If you're still not sure if the Goodnight has enough to offer, they also have a wide selection of board games, ping-pong, karaoke and air guitar!

If you're near the UT campus, the Blanton Museum of Art houses the largest university art collection in the country. Opened in 2006, the museum offers a variety of consistently changing exhibitions.

Also located on the university campus is the school's Union Underground Bowling.  The bowling alley is located one level below the food court and is known for its legendary glow bowling where you can bowl under the black lights.  In addition to bowling, they also have billiards and a variety of arcade games.

While Austin has plenty to offer on a sunny day, a stormy day can be filled with excitement too if you just know what to do!