19 Indoor Activities In San Jose To Try Next Time It Rains (2024)
- Date: July 4, 2024
- Topic: Events
- Contributors: Written by Peerspace Staff
Source: Peerspace
Rain or shine, San Jose is one of the nation’s most exciting places to live! Even lifelong locals won’t exhaust the number of things to do here. But sometimes we need a little inspiration to plan our next outing. What kind of indoor activities in San Jose are best explored on a rainy (or hot) day? Peerspace is here to help; we are the nation’s leader in event ideas and venues for good times! So browse some of our ideas below and let us know what you think!
1. Head to an arcade bar
Video game arcades only get better with time; as new games come out, the list of options only grows longer! Arcades in San Jose have retro classics like Galaga and The Simpsons sitting alongside modern standup and console games. For even more fun under a single roof, you should head to an arcade bar like Miniboss in downtown San Jose! They have a full menu with pizza, appetizers, beer, and ramen to go with their arcade games!
2. Throw a dinner party
Looking for an indoor activity in San Jose that everyone is guaranteed to enjoy? Host a dinner party for friends and family! You can make it a potluck party where everyone contributes to the menu or handle all of the cooking yourself. Whichever option you go with, don’t forget to choose a dinner venue large enough for your guest list! Did you know that Peerspace has dozens of dinner venues ideal for a private party in San Jose? We think this downtown San Jose clubhouse is a great spot to consider! You’ll have seating for up to 36 guests, a pool table, shuffleboard, and other nice amenities for a dinner party.
3. Try a new restaurant
San Jose has some of the best dining opportunities in the Bay Area, a region that’s already in the top five for restaurants in the country! Whether you’re craving pan-Asian cuisine, classic Southern cooking, or a big hunk of steak, you can find restaurants at any price point here. San Jose has Michelin star-level restaurants, places reviewed by the world-famous Michelin guide as having a level of quality and cuisine beyond compare. Begin your Michelin journey with Petiscos Adega, a Portuguese restaurant in San Jose offering artistically prepared small plates!
4. Take the pups to a dog bar
If it’s too hot or rainy outside, it’s best to keep the dogs indoors. That doesn’t mean they can’t get some exercise, however. Not when San Jose is home to the Dog Bar Bay Area, the region’s first indoor dog park and bar. You can relax with snacks and a drink while your pups have fun with their friends! The Dog Bar Bay Area even has special events like doggie disco parties, beer gardens, and days for small or large breeds only!
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5. Visit the Winchester Mystery House
The Winchester Mystery House is one of the most iconic “haunted houses” in the country. Mostly because it actually has a history to back its Scooby-Doo mystery-mansion appearance! The home was built by Sarah Winchester, wife of gun magnate William Winchester. Sarah’s husband died in 1881, after which Sarah became obsessed with the idea that she was being haunted by ghosts. To appease the restless spirits, Sarah began expanding the mansion, turning it into a sprawling complex with secret rooms, stairs leading to nowhere, and other spooky additions you can explore!
6. Play at the Plex
The 240,000 sq. ft. Plex facility is one of the Bay Area’s largest indoor sports arenas! From lacrosse to martial arts, the Plex is the best place to play indoors, regardless of age or skill level. Kids under 12 have an inflatable jump area to explore if you want to give them something fun and unstructured to do. You can even join sporting leagues here for future fun and potential new friends!
7. Take an Art Walk
First Fridays are a tradition in many big cities where you can explore the work of national and local artists! Enjoy gallery exhibitions, table stands, and indie performers at South San Jose’s own Art Walk, a free exploration of what the Bay Area’s best artists have to offer. From live music to photography, you’re sure to have a good time. Plus you might even find something to hang up at home!
8. Visit the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
Niche museums are some of our favorite venues to explore when looking for an indoor activity in San Jose. And the Museum of Quilts & Textiles is one of the more unique institutions in the country! Their mission is to preserve knowledge of quilts and textiles, including their creation, history, and artistry. You’ll find fabrics from tropical islanders, artworks by notable Bay Area artists, learn about the influences of textiles on history, and more!
9. Learn at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
Open Friday-Sunday, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is one of San Jose’s hidden gems. It houses the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in the Western USA, displayed in a collection of permanent and rotating exhibitions. You can explore in-depth topics like the fascination ancient Egyptians had for felines. The entire collection is spread over three floors open to self-guided tours!
10. Take a cooking class
A rainy day is a great chance to improve your kitchen skills! Why not book a cooking class the next time it rains? You can make it part of a date night idea or Bay Area birthday celebration! If you want to keep your cooking class private instead of public, think about booking a venue with us! Peerspace has venues like this modern renovated home in East San Jose with a full kitchen, patio, and media room for a cooking class date night!
11. Plan a paint & sip class
Painting is fun and so is sipping wine! Have you ever combined the two into a single fun-filled afternoon? Book a paint and sip class the next time it rains in San Jose. Most are BYOB – or you can take one hosted by a local wine bar. Paint and sip classes may have themes like paint your own selfie, pet portraits, or flower arrangements. It all depends on what you want to do!
12. Take the kids to the Tech Interactive Museum
How about a family-friendly indoor activity in San Jose that will engage your kids? Head to the Tech Interactive Museum, a children’s museum in the Bay Area! It’s designed to use play and hands-on engagement to help kids learn without feeling like they’re at school. From virtual reality exhibitions to IMAX theater shows, kids (and parents) will get an entire rainy day of fun at the Tech Interactive Museum.
13. Break free of an escape room
Escape rooms are imaginative adventures where you can test your wits with a group of friends in a set amount of time! Each space comes themed with decor to create a pirate ship, murder mystery mansion, or other venue. Do you love solving puzzles, finding clues, and time-sensitive activities? Then head to the PanIQ Room for one of San Jose’s best escape room experiences!
14. Find a new coffee shop
Is there even a right answer to “what is the best coffee shop in San Jose?” Probably not but that shouldn’t stop you from trying to find the answer! Coffee shops offer all kinds of experiences, from minimalist modern interiors with white walls and a few seats to luxurious cafes with wall art from local artists. Philz Coffee is a Bay Area staple, with locations throughout the region. For a truly Instagrammable interior, Nirvana Soul is a must-visit!
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15. Throw a tea party
Tea houses are a delightful alternative to the ever-present coffee house. After all, tea is the world’s most popular drink (after water) so why not expand your tea horizons? San Jose has several tea houses serving traditional English and Chinese brews along with venues specializing in sweet boba tea! For a classy afternoon tea party with friends in an elegant space, check out Enchanted Rose Tea Parlor!
16. Go indoor rock climbing
If you want a fitness-oriented indoor activity in San Jose, it’s hard to beat rock climbing! Unlike outdoor courses, indoor rock climbing takes place in an air-conditioned, bug-free space. Head to Touchstone Climbing in San Jose, where you can explore 11,000 sq. ft. of climbing space, including a 40 ft. tall lead wall and 3,000 sq. ft. of bouldering area! You’ll also find facilities for yoga, fitness, and free weight exercises here.
17. Make and paint pottery at Petroglyph Ceramic Lounge
Pottery painting sure looks like fun but what if you’ve never done it before? Head over to the Petroglyph Ceramic Lounge for a hands-on lesson! You can choose from hundreds of pre-fired clay pieces, including vases, plates, cups, and bowls. Once you have your 3-D canvas, choose from their 80 paint colors and start creating! Once you have the colors laid, Petroglyph will then glaze and fire it for you for pickup in 2-3 days.
18. Play indoor miniature golf
Golf is one activity that’s easily spoiled by bad weather. Fortunately, San Jose has many miniature golf courses you can try instead! Have you been to Urban Putt yet? As a golf course, bar, and restaurant, you can spend hours here putting through 18 holes and enjoying a meal with friends. Each hole has its own theme, including crashed UFOs and golf ball-eating sharks, to keep things interesting!
19. Visit the computer history museum
Technology lovers should make a point of visiting the Computer History Museum the next time it’s too hot or rainy outside! This museum showcases the history of computers as well as new advances in technology. You can see how the first computers were invented and for what purposes. From source codes to laptops, the CHM offers a deep dive into the impact of one of mankind’s most important inventions.
Indoor activities in San Jose: conclusion
From art galleries to coffee shops, there’s an endless list of indoor activities in San Jose! We’ve picked a few of our favorites to get you started. Now that you have some ideas, don’t forget to choose a venue to match your upcoming special event! Peerspace has hundreds of venues in San Jose waiting for your next indoor birthday or bachelorette. Let us be a part of your next party!
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