19 Indoor Activities In New Orleans To Try Next Time It Rains (2024)
- Date: June 2, 2024
- Topic: Events
- Contributors: Written by Peerspace Staff
Source: Peerspace
Did you know that it rains around 200 days per year in New Orleans? That means you’ll need to be prepared in case the weather forecast looks grim. You don’t have to cancel your plans to go out with friends, though. Not when the city has so many unique indoor activities to try. Peerspace is all about helping people have a good time so we’ve put together this list of fun indoor activities in New Orleans to beat the rain! Do you have something in mind already and just need a space to make it happen? Take a moment to browse our collection of party venues in New Orleans instead!
1. Try a new restaurant
New Orleans is rightfully known as one of the nation’s best food cities. From classic cajun and creole cooking to international options, the Big Easy punches well above its weight class. For an upscale take on regional specialties like turtle soup and Texas redfish, head to Commander’s Palace! The restaurant specializes in ingredients sourced locally for sustainability reasons and is set inside a beautiful Victorian mansion.
2. Invite your friends and host a game night
Rainy days are the perfect chance to host a game night with friends or family. That might mean breaking out the playing cards, dusting off a board game, or hooking up a console system. Regardless of the kind of games you’re into, a special venue will make an upcoming game night even more memorable. Peerspace has hundreds of venues for a game night with friends. Check out this Seventh Ward property, built in 1899! Antique pieces, hardwood floors, and a wood study library provide a cozy backdrop for an indoor special event!
3. Visit the Aquarium of the Americas
As far as educational indoor activities in New Orleans go, it’s hard to beat the Aquarium of the Americas! Rated one of the top ten aquariums in the nation by Travel & Leisure, the Aquarium of the Americas has over 250 species of animals behind its doors. You can see riverine and Gulf species from the region, African penguins, Amazonian fish, and more! You can even touch sharks and rays inside of a special touch pool.
4. Check out a video game arcade
Arcades are a great place to head indoors when the inevitable rains come. You’ll get to browse a massive collection of retro classics like Galaga and Mrs. Pacman! Some arcades even provide unlimited gaming with a single entry pass. Others still are arcade bars that have full drink and meal menus to enjoy while you game. One of our favorites is Emporium, an arcade bar that also counts as a full-on entertainment complex. They have foosball, skeeball, billiards, and beer to go along with the standup video games!
5. Break things at a rage room
We’ve all had the urge to let loose and smash some things…Now you can at a rage room near you! NOLA has several to choose from; check out The Break Room NOLA for some stress-reducing fun. Rage rooms offer packages that include items like dishware or electronics to smash, plus a bat, hammer, or other tool to finish the job. You can even make a special event out of it and include a rage room tour as part of a birthday, bachelor party, or other outing!
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6. Get cultured at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art
New Orleans is a cultural hotspot for the South but did you know that it’s also home to the largest collection of Southern-specific artistry? The Ogden Museum of Southern Art focuses on artists throughout the American South, showcasing their work through exhibitions, public events, and educational programming. The museum currently has 4,000 works of art and continues to grow.
7. Catch a dinner theater at the House of Blues
You don’t have to choose between dinner and a show, not in New Orleans! Enjoy a dinner theater at the House of Blues the next time it rains in NOLA. This venue does triple duty as a restaurant, club, and bar located in the trendy French Quarter. Live performances and Southern cooking are a must-try combination!
8. Visit Mardi Gras World
The Mardi Gras carnival happens in January each year but you can get a taste of the experience year-round at Mardi Gras World! The venue gives guests a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to make Mardi Gras so special each year. See how floats are made in a workshop and take selfies with authentic props. You can also take self-guided tours 7 days per week or join a guided tour for extra insights!
9. Take a cooking class
Looking for an indoor activity in New Orleans that will level up for skills? Consider taking a cooking class! They are fun for date nights, outings with friends, or as a solo activity. The New Orleans School of Cooking has a mixture of hands-on classes where you’ll get to participate in creating a home-cooked meal. You can also join demonstration events where an expert chef does all of the work and the audience takes notes and asks questions. The New Orleans School of Cooking focuses heavily on Cajun and Creole cuisine, one of America’s top contributions to the culinary world!
10. Get free of an escape room
Escape rooms are a chance to test your wits and solve puzzles before the timer runs out. Each venue is a themed space where you have a storyline that adds to the suspense. You typically work as a group so it helps to bring friends along. Clue Carré is one of our favorites, with eight rooms across two locations in NOLA.
11. Book a private yoga class
Rainy days offer plenty of time to work on yoga and other movement arts. You can join a yoga class with a large group – or you could book a private workshop instead with your favorite instructor. Imagine spending 60-90 minutes working with an expert yogi in a private venue where you have their undivided attention. You’ll need to book a studio in advance; Peerspace has several studios for hire in the New Orleans area! Check out this well-lit industrial studio space in Slidell! You’ll have 2,200 square feet of well-lit space for a private movement arts class.
12. Play laser tag at Adventure Quest
For a more competitive indoor activity in New Orleans check out laser tag! You get armed with laser blasters and head out into an obstacle-filled arena where you score points by hitting each other. Adventure Quest is one of NOLA’s top laser tag arenas as well as an entertainment complex with bumper cars, a video game arcade, and indoor miniature golf!
13. Enjoy sumptuous wine at a wine bar
Enjoy wine and good company at a wine bar in New Orleans the next time it rains. Wines are the main event here but you’ll also find cocktails, beer, and snacks for something different. Choosing the best wine bars are a matter of taste since it comes down to selection, decor, ambiance, music, and many other factors. Start your search with Pluck; this wine bar and restaurant offers something for everyone in a cozy, stylish venue!
14. Take a brewery tour
New Orleans has no shortage of bars. It would take years to try every single one of them. But you can get a good head start on it by taking a brewery tour of the city. Brewery tours introduce you to the finer points of brewmaking and offer some background on the history of each venue. You’ll even get to taste what’s on tap at each one! New Orleans Brewery tours can even pick you up and drop you off at a set downtown location, ensuring you stay dry during a torrential downpour.
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15. Discover new old music at Euclid Record Store
Are you a fan of vinyl and CDs? Check out Euclid Records on Chartres St! This independent music store has one of the largest collections of records and CDs in the city. You’ll find both new and used products here, making Euclid Records a bargain hunter’s dream.
16. Shop at The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk
Downtown New Orleans is home to The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk, a group of 75+ retail stores selling electronics, high-end fashion apparel, luxury goods, and more. The mall is home to American Eagle Outfitters, Armani, Forever 21, and other name brands. Everything is indoors and spread across two floors so you won’t have to walk far to find what you’re looking for. Plus there are multiple food vendors to grab a bite at once you need a break from all that shopping!
17. Visit the St. Louis Cathedral
The St. Louis Cathedral overlooking Jackson Square is one of the most easily recognizable buildings in New Orleans. As the oldest cathedral continuously in use in the USA, services still happen here regularly, but you can still pop in for a visit to take photos and learn about its history. Three churches have existed on this site, with the first built in 1718. Masses were held in French for the first two centuries of its existence, only switching fully to English in the 1920’s.
18. Discover a new coffee spot
Coffee shops are some of the best places to escape the rain and boy do they get crowded! New Orleans has an excellent selection of venues to grab a cup of joe, including Rue De La Course, a two-story cafe that’s been a local favorite for three decades. If you love healthy meals alongside your coffee, Church Alley Coffee Bar is hard to beat! They have vegetarian naan sandwiches, salads, breakfast paninis, and more to enjoy with your hot drink!
19. Take a riverboat cruise
You can experience the Mississippi River without getting a drop of water on you by taking a riverboat cruise! New Orleans is home to one of the last working steamships; the Steamboat Natchez, where you can have a dinner and jazz cruise indoors on a rainy day. Riverboats are one of NOLA’s most iconic sights and a great place to host a wedding reception, birthday brunch, or other special event!
Indoor activities in New Orleans: conclusion
New Orleans is one of the South’s premiere party cities so it’s no surprise the fun doesn’t stop even when it rains. Indoor activities in New Orleans include everything from a relaxing time at the museum to brewery tours that span downtown. You can even book your own party venue for a movie or dinner night through Peerspace! As the nation’s leading online marketplace for special event venues, we’d love to help you make lasting memories with friends. So take a look at the party venues we have in NOLA while planning your next event!
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