Ok, we’re only a couple of weeks into the summer holidays and the memory of the late July heatwave already seems like a distant dream. With the weather set to take a something of a down turn over the coming days and perhaps into the weekend, you may be frantically Googling “things to do in Dorset when it’s raining”, or “rainy day activities in Dorset”. Rainy school holiday days usually mean the kids are cooped up at home and climbing the walls with boredom.
So, what can be done on those rainy days to alleviate the ennui? The inevitable trips to the cinema can usually be relied on to save the day in an isolated incident, but there are only so many times you can watch The Lion King or Toy Story 4 before that particular avenue starts to wear thin. Add in the fact that you have to remortgage the house to pay for a family ticket and snacks these days, and it soon becomes clear that other, less expensive pursuits might need to be, erm, pursued.
Those of us familiar with childhood family camping trips might recall the misery of many a wet summer’s spent being dragged along on a wet and windy hike, belligerent parents immune to your cries of protestation and stubbornly determined to put on a brave face and make the most of their time off. On the days when the weather forced even the hardiest of parents to admit defeat, time seemed to stand still as you spent seemingly endless afternoons cramped in together in a damp tent, listlessly listening to the rain hammering down whilst small puddles grew exponentially around you until everything you possessed was waterlogged and threatening to float away.
We were once forced to cut short a camping trip to the Lake District after 48 hours of torrential rain left us several feet under water. Driving six hours home clad in nothing but a wet pair of pants is an interesting experience but not one I’d particularly recommend if you’re looking for some rainy-day fun.
In those days, perhaps you might be lucky enough for the rain to relent long enough to make a dash to the local pub for some fish and chips and a game of cards. Or perhaps your dad would finally relent, bundle everyone into the car and find the nearest cinema, which, let’s face it, was never very near.
Thankfully, although the weather can never be relied upon in the UK, the fun doesn’t have to stop when the rain starts. It’s still possible to find ways to enjoy being active on a rainy day. Indoor play centres offer a welcome respite for parents and the increasing popularity of indoor climbing centres offers another great alternative to get active on a rainy day. However, in our humble opinion, there’s nothing quite like getting out in the fresh air. Far better we think would be to get yourselves outside somewhere where the smiles don’t stop and it’s impossible for the rain to put a dampener on things when you’re already soaked to the skin. Somewhere quite like Dorset Adventure Park in fact.
If you’re that way inclined, there’s nothing stopping you from driving home afterwards glad in nothing but a wet pair of pants, but we’d recommend bringing with you a spare set of dry clothes and a suitable waterproof bag to throw your wet or muddy clothes into afterwards. Nothing fancy needed here, a heavy-duty bin bag will do the trick. We’ll supply the wetsuits for the waterpark, and for the mud trail all you need is a set of old clothes and footwear you don’t mind getting wet and muddy.
Outdoor activities that aren’t reliant upon favorable weather conditions are few and far between, that’s why we’re proud to be in the unique position in that both the water park and mud trail offer something active to keep the family entertained whatever the weather. The park offers the perfect way to burn off some of that excess energy, share some fun and have a laugh together. It’s also a great way to encourage team work and collaboration, so if the kids have been driving each other crazy due to being stuck inside, it’s a great way to break the ice and reconnect. Happily, we’re also equally good fun in the sun, the mud trail is still muddy, the waterpark is still wet, so come rain or shine, why not pay us a visit for some fun family time? It’s sure to last longer in the memory than an instantly forgettable afternoon at the indoor play centre or an emergency trip to the cinema.
