As much as we’d all like to have warm and sunny days every day of the year, that’s just not realistic. So if you’re looking for something fun to do on a rainy day, we’ve come up with a list to keep you having fun adventures all day long!

Museums
The Willmar Lakes Area has a variety of museums that highlight the unique history of the area, from Native American tribes to rural life on the plains to industrial ages of trucks, trains, and tractors. Here are a few of the museums that would be great options for a rainy day activity : Kandiyohi County Historical Society & Museum, Raptor Ridge Museum and Schwanke’s Museum.

The Village Children’s Museum
Travelling with kids while in the area? Then make sure The Village Children’s Museum is on your list of places to visit! This indoor play space is dedicated to bringing play and learning to the cultural diversity of West Central Minnesota. Children will enjoy the wide variety of exhibits that’ll keep them engaged for hours all while learning and growing. The museum will bolster their natural curiosity with hands-on exploration and encourage brain development as they play with kids of different ages and cultures. Parents and grandparents alike will enjoy watching and playing alongside the kids during their visit. The Village is geared towards children birth-12 years.

Mr. B’s Chocolates
No one can visit the Willmar Lakes Area without stopping at the most delicious chocolate store in West Central Minnesota! The story of Dwight Barnes and how he started Mr. B’s Chocolates at the age of 56 is a unique and interesting tale that involves him apprenticing with the world-renowned chocolatier Hans Burie in Belgium. The new owner of Mr. B’s Chocolates continues Barnes’ legacy and technique of creating the most delicious chocolates by importing raw chocolate from Belgium, importing cocoa butter from France, using dairy cream and butter from Minnesota, and making homemade marzipan. In addition to all your nostalgic favorites – truffles, caramels, fruit creams, and the like – Mr. B’s chocolatiers hand paint few-of-a-kind masterpieces that go from small farm animals, dinosaurs, and roses all the way to the intercut champagne bottles, Thanksgiving turkeys and three-dimensional Christmas trees! And of course, no chocolate shopping experience is complete without a free sample of the chocolate!

Willmar Indoor Golf & Cages (WIG)
If golf is more your style, don’t miss out on a round at Willmar Indoor Golf, where you can practice your swing rain or shine. Indulge in some friendly competition with golf simulator technology so advanced that you will feel like you are actually playing the best and most beautiful golf courses on the planet. For the baseball or softball enthusiast, WIG also features 2 state-of-the-art batting cages that feature best in class HitTrax providing real-time stats and key performance metrics, along with powerful video analysis, trend reports and more. Call or email them to reserve a spot as they are open by appointment only this summer.

Alley on Ash
Alley on Ash is a family friendly business with a fun atmosphere. It’s a great place to relax and enjoy an afternoon or evening! They have eight lanes that have been updated to create an even more enjoyable league night or bowling experience. Don’t want to participate in the bowling, grab a table near the lanes and watch the action while enjoying delicious burgers, pizzas and variety of beers!

Artsy Fartsy
Unleash your inner artist by painting ceramics at Artsy Fartsy! Stop in during their normal business hours (Tuesday-Friday 1-6pm and the 2nd & 3rd Saturdays of the month 10am-5pm) and select the ceramic piece that you would like to paint. Each piece is priced separately and includes the paint and supplies. Have fun creating your own personalized souvenir!

Breweries in the Area
The Willmar Lakes Area is home to three amazing breweries: Foxhole Brewhouse, Goat Ridge Brewing Co. and Intuition Brewing. Each one is family friendly and serves a veriety of food and beverages to meet your needs. They also host live music, trivia nights and other fun events throughout the year. Check out our Events Calendar to see what they have coming up.

Shopping District of New London
The Shopping District of New London is a unique attraction on its own with the variety of boutiques and shops, there’s definitely something for everyone when exploring the shops. Whether you’re looking for quilting material, unique and fashionable clothing options, toys and games, gourmet popcorn and sweet treats, home decor and kitchen items, you’ll find it all in the Shopping District of New London.

Theatres
The Willmar Lakes Area is blessed with two community theatres, a college theatre and two movie theatres. What better way to enjoy a rainy day than by watching a production at The Barn Theatre or Ridgewater College Theatre, or taking in some live entertainment at the Little Theatre Auditorium. If you happen to come when they don’t have events going on, you can always enjoy one of the many new releases at Spicer Cinema 4 and Golden Ticket Cinemas Kandi 6.

Rendezvous Axe Throwing
And opening soon in Willmar, you’ll be able to unwind and destress by doing some axe throwing at Rendezvous Axe Throwing. Come for throwing, stay for great pizza and appetizers!

Rainy days in the Willmar Lakes Area don’t have to be dreary. From exploring local history and culture to indulging in the arts and literature, there’s a wealth of indoor activities to keep you entertained and inspired. So, the next time the skies open up, embrace the opportunity to discover the many charms that this beautiful region has to offer, even when the sun isn’t shining.