Fun Things to Do with Kids When it Rains in Orange County

Although rain is a big commodity here in Orange County, it still can be a bit of a nuisance when you are stuck inside the house. Since the most popular activities in Orange County are outdoors, rain eliminates a bulk of the activities to do in the OC.

(updated January 2023)

Us Southern Californians aren't used to this! Playing outdoors is what we do...thanks to having such awesome weather here.

Rainy Day Play Ideas for Kids in Orange County

So, where can we take kids on rainy days in the OC? Here's a list of some of the places that offer shelter from the rain, and also keep the kids entertained:

Things to Do on Rainy Days in Anaheim, CA

Billy Beez An enormous Play Arena with wildly twisting slides, bouncy trampolines, intricate obstacle courses, sports courts, a toddler area, and so much more.
Seascape Kids Fun 3 story arena featuring slides, an inflatable obstacle course, 13 foam ball shooting air guns, and a huge indoor playground where your child and friends can play. Parents can enjoy free Wi-Fi access while kids play.
Sky Zone Trampoline House The world's first all-walled trampoline playing court! It features an array of fun, fit and low-impact activities ranging from Freestyle Jump to Ultimate Dodgeball.
Camelot Golfland
Ultimate Ninjas Provides a fun and challenging way to help your kids get out all of their energy while tackling obstacle and agility courses! Fine tune your skills on a single obstacle, or practice running our customizable courses.

Things to Do on Rainy Days in Brea, CA

Color Me Mine Color Me Mine offers painting on ceramics for all ages. Choose from hundreds of ceramic shapes and dozens of colors to paint with! It's a great place to spend quality time with friends, and family just relaxing and being creative together!

Things to Do on Rainy Days in Buena Park, CA

John's Incredible Pizza Pizza, arcade, rides, bowling and laser tag.
Big Air Trampoline Park Literally bounce off the walls! Jumping surfaces include trampoline dodgeball courts, slam dunk courts, ninja-warrior courses, launch pads, foam pits, a massive freestyle court, climbing wall & much more!
Play Pie Over 15,000 sqft space of FUN! Tons of arrange new slides, equipment and activities.

Things to Do on Rainy Days in Costa Mesa, CA

Color Me Mine Color Me Mine offers painting on ceramics for all ages. Choose from hundreds of ceramic shapes and dozens of colors to paint with! It's a great place to spend quality time with friends, and family just relaxing and being creative together!
South Coast Plaza Enjoy the Carousel, LEGO Store, Toy Store, Pottery Barn Kids, and food places such as See's Candy, Boudin's and Ruby's.

Things to Do on Rainy Days in Fullerton, CA

Bricks & Minifigs - Resale LEGO store with lots of hard to find minifies and fun sets.

Things to Do on Rainy Days in Fountain Valley, CA

Prehistoric Pets - The Reptile Zoo Largest display of reptiles. my kids LOVE this place. feed meal worms to turtles and hold snakes and lizards.
Fountain Valley Skating Center

Things to Do on Rainy Days in Dana Point, CA

Visit the Secret Dana Point Waterfall

Things to Do on Rainy Days in Garden Grove, CA

Nickel Nickel NickeL! NickeL! 5 cent Games, is the affordable family fun center where we offer our guest the very latest in coin operated entertainment at an exceptionally low cost.
Little World Over 18.000sqft space of fun! Tons of slides, donut slices, pole slides, toddler areas, small & big kids areas, trampoline, climbing wall, swings, mirror house, ninja warrior course, canonball, and games!

Things to Do on Rainy Days in Huntington Beach, CA

Get Air Trampoline Park Indoor trampoline parks offering family-friendly fun with features like wall-to-wall trampolines, foam pits, ninja obstacles and dodgeball.
We Play Loud A kids' indoor playground. We have rides and fun your kids have never seen & will never forget.

Things to Do on Rainy Days in Irvine, CA

Boomers! Boomers is the favorite place for fun in Irvine and has something for everyone. On rainy days, you can still enjoy Lazer Tag, enter the arcade to play video games or win big prizes on the skill games! Plus there are games, pizza, and more.
Pretend City Fun for babies, toddlers and children, I suggest 10 and under.
Bubble POP! Indoor bubble fun

Things to Do on Rainy Days in La Habra, CA

Things to Do on Rainy Days in Laguna Hills, CA

Big Air Trampoline Park Big Air offers high-flying fun for the whole family where you can literally bounce off the walls! Jumping surfaces include trampoline dodgeball courts, slam dunk courts, ninja-warrior courses, launch pads, foam pits, a massive freestyle court, climbing wall & much more!

Things to Do on Rainy Days in Lake Forest, CA

We Play Loud A kids' indoor playground. We have rides and fun your kids have never seen & will never forget.

Things to Do on Rainy Days in Mission Viejo, CA

Jump 'n' Jammin Enjoy multi-level play structures consisting of tube and web crawls, barrel roll, giant slides of all types, soft play, climbing structures, bridges and obstacle courses. You’ll also love the foam ball blasters, exploding foam ball volcano, vacuums, a tip bucket, interactive targets and much more. Even toddlers have a play area all their own.
Laserland Great for ages 5 and up! Enjoy laser tag, laser maze, trampolines, games, and more.
Color Me Mine Color Me Mine offers painting on ceramics for all ages. Choose from hundreds of ceramic shapes and dozens of colors to paint with! It's a great place to spend quality time with friends, and family just relaxing and being creative together!

Things to Do on Rainy Days in Orange, CA

Dave & Buster's
Play & Parties Kids Classes and playtimes with characters offered socially distanced in store! Check their calendar for playtimes. Plus creative craft kits, puppets, lollipops, children's storybooks, dress up play apparel and toys for purchase.
Holiday Skate
Thrill It Fun Center Orange county's most exciting indoor family fun destination. Enjoy laser tag, indoor ropes course, arcade, mechanical bull, rock climbing, and Ballocity.
Vans Skate Park (currently closed) Located at the Outlets of Orange, this is the largest indoor skate park in Orange County.

Things to Do on Rainy Days in Santa Ana, CA

Sender City at Sender One This is seriously one of our favorite places. it is loved by kids and adults! interactive rock climbing experience with a giant slide and staff that is amazing.
American Ninja Warrior Course Inspired by the popular TV show, this one-of-a-kind adventure park experience includes truss obstacles such as Monkey Swings, Spider Walls, Tilting Logs, Floating Bridges, the famous Warped Wall and an 10,000 sq. ft. inflatable obstacle course.
Candeeland Bright, colorful and filled with fun, Candeeland is a ultimate indoor playground paradise for toddlers and kids, a place where parents can relax while their children play in a child-safe environment.
Discovery Cube Orange County's favorite children's museum and science center. You could spend all day at the Cube. There are lots of exhibits, an indoor cafe and theater.
Round 1 Entertainment

Things to Do on Rainy Days in Tustin, CA

Color Me Mine Color Me Mine offers painting on ceramics for all ages. Choose from hundreds of ceramic shapes and dozens of colors to paint with! It's a great place to spend quality time with friends, and family just relaxing and being creative together!

Things to Do on Rainy Days in Westminster, CA

John's Incredible Pizza Pizza, arcade, rides, bowling and laser tag.
Sky Zone Trampoline House The world's first all-walled trampoline playing court! It features an array of fun, fit and low-impact activities ranging from Freestyle Jump to Ultimate Dodgeball.

More Rainy Day Ideas

Search online for your local listings.

Chuck E. Cheeses (nationwide) Yes, is said it. Usually it is not that busy on school days, and there is plenty of room and fun to be had eating pizza and playing in the arcade.
Local Library Programs
Play areas at fast food restaurants
Popcorn and a movies at a friends house
Play in the Rain Bundle up with rain jackets, umbrellas and rain boots and play in the rain!
Send them to grandma's house (seriously!)

Hopefully, some of these options will spark some ideas! good luck.