19 Unique Indoor Activities In Phoenix To Try Next Time It Rains (2024)
- Date: April 25, 2024
- Topic: Events
- Contributors: Written by Nina Gunther-Segal
Source: Peerspace
You may not associate the desert city of Phoenix with torrential rain (it only rains 36 days per year on average). However, the region does have a rainy monsoon season that lasts from mid June to September. If you’re dealing with one of those few rainy days, you may not get to enjoy the usual outdoor activities you love in and around the city. But you’ve still got a wealth of indoor activities in Phoenix to choose from! (For what it’s worth, these suggestions will also be equally helpful when the weather is too hot and sunny to spend much time outdoors!)
Need help finding ways to keep yourself entertained when the weather is less than stellar? Great! We’ve compiled a list of 19 suggestions for indoor activities in Phoenix, doing our best to include a range of unique options that’ll appeal to a wide range of city residents and visitors.
1. See a world-famous avant-garde artist’s stunning installation at the Phoenix Art Museum
Visit the contemporary galleries at the Phoenix Art Museum. You can see an incredible installation by Yayoi Kusama titled “You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies.”
2. Buy taxidermy and other oddities at Curious Nature
If you’re the kind of person who goes to a natural history museum and wishes you could bring home the specimens on display and use them to decorate your home, you’ll appreciate the wide variety of offerings at Curious Nature! If not, it’s still a fascinating place to visit, and you might just fall in love with a unique item they’re selling.
3. Throw an impromptu party at a Phoenix Peerspace venue
If a rainy day has you down in the dumps, invite your friends to a spontaneous party—one of the best ways to cheer yourself up is by socializing with your best buds.
But how about the venue for your party? There are all kinds of reasons you might not be able to host it in your own home, whether it’s because you have roommates who are unwilling or it’s too small for the guest list you’re putting together. If so, renting a party venue in Phoenix is easy using Peerspace (the leading online marketplace for short-term rentals of all kinds).
Check out these examples of spaces in and around Phoenix that you can easily rent through Peerspace:
- This boho space in Encanto Village is one of the most popular event venues in Phoenix for a reason, with more than 290 glowing reviews—it’s affordable while also being a beautiful space with lots of plants, a top-notch Sonos sound system with four speakers, and a lighting system with customizable color options. The space is also quite open and relatively free of furniture, and at 1,000 square feet in size, it’s a great fit for a gathering of up to 50 people at a time.
- For true affordability that doesn’t sacrifice quality, consider this multi use event space with an “eclectic living room vibe,” otherwise known as Let’s Meet Up. For just $50 to $75 an hour, you can rent a cozy yet elegant venue that accommodates intimate events of up to 25 people within its 1,000 square feet. Even more appealing features that make this venue stand out include 12-foot ceilings in the main room, exposed brick, a charming enclosed porch, a 42-inch TV on a rolling stand, a large chalkboard wall, tables and chairs included with your rental, and various board and card games to entertain your guests.
- This contemporary Southwestern-themed home is a great fit for larger events, with a capacity of up to 76 people at a time. It is a 2,500-square-foot private residence with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large grand room, and a full kitchen. There’s also a property-wide built-in sound system, an HD TV, lots of free parking, and even more amenities that’ll take your party to the next level.
4. View an architectural marvel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright may very well be the most famous architect of all time, which makes the opportunity to visit his designs extra exciting for architecture enthusiasts. If you weren’t aware, the First Christian Church in Phoenix was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright himself, and it’s an incredibly impressive and visually stunning space both inside and out.
5. Dine at the highly unusual Hanny’s restaurant
Located in an architecturally significant building that used to house a department store, Hanny’s is one of the more unusual restaurants you’ll find in the city, and it’s definitely a worthwhile indoor activity in Phoenix! Check out their menu to see if it appeals to your tastes.
6. See the Arizona Diamondbacks play at Chase Field
You might be asking how visiting a baseball stadium can be an indoor activity—amazingly, it’s because Chase Field is a truly state-of-the-art facility that actually has a retractable roof! On hot days, the arena is even air-conditioned to ensure that both players and spectators stay cool and comfortable during the intense desert heat. Click here to see their upcoming schedule and purchase tickets.
Our gorgeous indoor photoshoot locations in Phoenix will protect you from the elements while helping you create awesome content!
7. Bring your kids to the Children’s Museum of Phoenix
Keeping kids entertained indoors can be a challenge, which is why the Children’s Museum of Phoenix is such a lifesaver. There are three floors’ worth of interactive activities to explore that’ll appeal to a wide range of kids aged 10 and under.
8. View the amazing collection of Native American art and artifacts at the Heard Museum
For a list of their wide-ranging exhibitions, which include lots of historic art as well as more contemporary work, visit the Heard Museum’s website.
9. Check out books and bask in the airy modern ambiance of the Burton Barr Central Library
Browse one million (!) volumes and see the impressive architecture of the Burton Barr Central Library, which takes “grand” and “spacious” to the next level. In fact, the Great Reading Room on the fifth floor measures a full acre in area!
10. Browse nearly endless antiques at the Brass Armadillo Antique Mall
Do you love antiquing? Then there’s no better way to spend your rainy day than browsing the offerings of more than 3,500 antique dealers at the Brass Armadillo Antique Mall!
11. Unwind at Phoenix’s top-rated spa
If you’re going to spend your time and money on a spa, why not choose the best one in the city? Tocaloma Spa and Salon is most people’s pick for the best spa, so we strongly recommend it.
12. Enjoy craft beer and tasty pub classics at North Mountain Brewing
This family-owned brewery is known for its friendly service, delicious beer, and great food. This makes it the perfect place to hang out on a gray, rainy day.
Check out the most popular places in Phoenix that you can rent with ease through Peerspace any day!
13. Educate yourself on the history of the telephone at the Pioneer Telephone Museum
Situated inside the larger Pioneer Living History Museum, the Pioneer Telephone Museum is a worthwhile visit for anyone interested in history, with items on display dating back to the era of Alexander Graham Bell.
14. Choose from a variety of immersive puzzles at Puzzle Effect Phoenix
If you appreciate a good brain teaser, visit Puzzle Effect Phoenix to choose from an array of challenges with different aesthetics, storylines, difficulty levels, lengths, etc.
15. Visit a dine-in movie theater
For a date night or just a fun evening with friends, a trip to any of these eight dine-in movie theaters in and around Phoenix is an unbeatable way to spend a few hours.
16. Explore the only global musical instrument museum in the world
Interested in music and the history of the instruments used to play it? Visit the Musical Instrument Museum—you won’t find a comparable collection of musical instruments from all around the world anywhere else!
17. Learn about the history of firefighting at The Hall of Flame Museum
With a range of firefighting-related artifacts from all over the world, and dating back to the 18th century, the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting provides unique insights into the history of firefighting, while also recognizing all the courageous people who have fought fires to protect their communities.
18. Taste some of the world’s best fry bread at Fry Bread House
The unbelievably light and fluffy fry bread at Fry Bread House is some of the most delicious you’ll find not only around Phoenix, but anywhere in the world—so it’s no wonder it’s won a coveted James Beard Award as well as several “Best of Phoenix” awards! Try it for yourself next time you need some tasty comfort food.
19. Sample 99+ flavors of soda at a real vintage soda fountain
MacAlpine’s Diner and Soda Fountain has been a Phoenix staple since it first opened as a pharmacy in the 1920s. These days, its biggest attraction is a selection of over 99 soda flavors from its original soda fountain. Sampling as many of these flavors as possible is an awesome indoor activity in Phoenix for a rainy day!
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