19 Unique Indoor Activities In Los Angeles To Try Next Time It Rains (2024)
- Date: April 25, 2024
- Topic: Events
- Contributors: Written by Nina Gunther-Segal
Source: Peerspace
Although Los Angeles doesn’t normally experience a ton of rain—in fact, New York and Chicago usually have three to four times as many rainy days as LA—when it does rain, it can be that much more frustrating, especially if it ruins your plans for the day. Thankfully, though, there are at least as many fun indoor activities in Los Angeles to enjoy as there are great outdoor activities.
To help you discover ways to keep yourself occupied on a rainy day, we’ve put together a list of 19 of the best indoor activities in Los Angeles—just keep reading to discover our top picks!
1. Check out some of the best arcades in LA
First on our list of indoor activities in Los Angeles is spending a few hours (or a whole day, let’s be honest) at one of the city’s best arcades. Whether you’re more excited about vintage arcade games and pinball machines or would prefer to focus on high tech VR experiences, you can find exactly what you’re looking for at numerous locations across the city!
2. Browse used books in a former bank vault at The Last Bookstore
The Last Bookstore is the largest new and used book and record store in California, as well as one of the biggest independent bookstores in the world, with more than 250,000 books to browse in their 22,000 square foot space! Even if you don’t end up buying a book, simply visiting this massive store is one of the more uniquely entertaining indoor activities in Los Angeles.
3. Invite all your friends to a spontaneous party at a Los Angeles Peerspace venue
Throwing a party with your best friends and having a blast together can definitely take away some of the sting of having to stay indoors on a rainy day! If you can’t have it in your own home, then consider renting a Los Angeles party venue on Peerspace instead.
Here are a few examples of the kinds of amazing spaces we’re talking about:
- This downtown LA Arts District space has everything you could possibly want from a classic loft style venue: amazing natural light, a full working kitchen, a view of the Los Angeles skyline, tables and chairs available for rental, and so much more. The hosts describe it as a particularly good fit for upscale parties, so if you’re hoping to give your gathering a classy vibe, this is an affordable (at $90 to $140 per hour) yet appealing option. The space also measures 1,600 square feet and has room for as many as 60 guests at a time.
- This intimate black box theater in Hollywood is an ideal choice if you’re planning on hosting a movie screening rather than a more conventional party. Measuring 1100 square feet, the intimate space has 36 seats as well as a projector and full size screen.
- This modern Silver Lake multi-level house will absolutely elevate your event, from the natural light offered by lots of windows and skylight to the beautiful reclaimed wood accents throughout the home’s inside and outside. At about 2,000 square feet, the space can accommodate up to 40 people, and has over 100 glowing reviews from past renters confirming that it’s as amazing a venue as it seems.
Once you’re ready to begin searching Peerspace for yourself and finding the party venue of your dreams, make sure to filter your search results based on your top criteria: price per hour, number of attendees, date and time of the event, etc. This streamlines your search for the ideal venue by ensuring you only see listings that meet your party planning needs and preferences among your search results.
4. See a movie at the historic Egyptian Theatre
The Egyptian Theatre has been around since the silent film era (it was built back in 1922), making it an important part of film history and of the history of Los Angeles. Renovated from 2021 to 2023, it’s now been perfectly preserved to maximize its historic charm as well as its current functionality as a movie theater—showing all kinds of great films you won’t find at chain theaters!
5. Or see a mind-blowing IMAX movie at AMC Universal City Walk
For a more modern movie-going experience, spending a few hours seeing an IMAX movie at this state of the art theater is one of the best indoor activities in Los Angeles, especially for a rainy day!
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6. Get up close and personal with sea life at the Aquarium of the Pacific
Displaying over 12,000 animals from the Pacific Ocean, the Aquarium of the Pacific is the largest aquarium in the region. It’s always worth visiting for animal lovers and ocean enthusiasts, and is a fantastic indoor activity in Los Angeles for kids (as well as for anyone of any age).
7. Grab lunch at the world renowned Pink’s Hot Dogs
Dating all the way back to 1939, Pink’s Hot Dogs has been a Hollywood landmark ever since it opened as a pushcart that the founders purchased for a mere $50. But it’s more than a historic gem—Pink’s is a purveyor of some of the most delicious and unusual hot dogs out there. There are roughly thirty varieties of hot dog to choose from, to be exact.
8. Or eat Charlie Chaplin’s favorite dish at Musso and Frank Grill
For over a hundred years (and across four generations!), Musso’s has been serving consistently great food to Hollywood residents and Hollywood legends alike. You can still try Charlie Chaplin’s favorite dish—grilled lamb kidneys with bacon (if you’re feeling brave)—as well as more conventional fare like fettuccine alfredo, Lobster Thermidor, and chicken pot pie.
9. See the world’s biggest collection of rabbit-related memorabilia
With more than 45,000 bunny-related objects, the Bunny Museum is the creation of a bunny-obsessed couple that began when they started exchanging bunny gifts on a daily basis in 1993. It’s one of the more unique attractions in a city filled with unusual sights and creations.
10. Go roller skating at Moonlight Rollerway
A rainy day doesn’t mean you have to give up your plans to get some exercise! If you enjoy roller skating (or would like to give it a try), head to Moonlight Rollerway for great music and great vibes.
11. Educate yourself at the Natural History Museum
Science enthusiasts will definitely enjoy spending the day at the Natural History Museum, which offers a range of exhibits on various fascinating topics, plus tons of events and programming to choose from throughout the year.
12. Unwind at one of Koreatown’s best Korean spas
In LA, you have not just one, but many Korean spas to choose from—here’s a list of the top choices in Koreatown.
13. Visit the world’s best automotive museum
Are you a fan of cars and automotives? Visit 25 galleries with over 350 vehicles on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum!
14. Or check out the world’s greatest wax museum, Madame Tussauds Hollywood
With more than 125 celebrity wax figures, Madame Tussauds is a top tourist destination because it’s genuinely a blast to visit.
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15. See a performance at the stunning Pantages Theatre
Visiting this historic theater for a show will make you feel like you’ve stepped back into the 1930s, and the selection of musicals and plays is wide-ranging enough that there’s sure to be something you’ll enjoy coming up soon!
16. Explore the West’s largest art museum
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has a collection of more than 120,000 works of art from ancient times all the way to contemporary art, and from all around the world—it’s an absolute must-see for art lovers!
17. Grab delicious burritos from a gas station at Cilantro Mexican Grill
For an affordable and incredibly delicious burrito, visit Cilantro Mexican Grill inside the Chevron gas station in North Hollywood, where talented chef Adolfo Perez prepares incredible Mexican food. We strongly recommend trying the surf and turf burrito, which contains both beef and shrimp.
18. Experience regional California history at the Valley Relics Museum
You’re not going to find a museum that’s quite like the Valley Relics Museum anywhere else in LA (or even worldwide). It has an enormous collection of artifacts from the San Fernando Valley, with items including rare documents, photographs, vintage neon signs, postcards, yearbooks, negatives, clothing, books, art, automobiles, and BMX bikes, among many others. It’s a truly fascinating destination.
19. Choose from over 600 flavors of soda at Galco’s Soda Pop Stop
Sample unique sodas from across the U.S. and around the world at Galco’s Soda Pop Stop! They also offer a wide range of alcoholic beverages, many of which you won’t find elsewhere: craft beers, hard ciders, hard-to-find sakes, exotic wines, honey meads, French champagnes, and more! There’s even a Soda Creation Station where you can mix your own soda with any of the 100+ syrups available for your use.
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