Don't let rain ruin your fun

By: Emily Abbate

Posted: 6/15/09

Rain has put a small damper on much of the summer. But weather is no reason to let your summer adventures slow down. Here are some suggestions of ways to spend those humid wet days.

Around Connecticut

The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk gives visitors an opportunity to visit sharks and play with stingrays. Boasting a low admission price of $9.75, this attraction is open year-round and is home to an IMAX movie theater with a screen that is a whopping six stories tall.

For the adventurous, Go Vertical Indoor Rock Climbing in Stamford could be right up your alley. The elevated experience costs $13

between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and is open year round. Go Vertical has the largest indoor rock climbing facility on the East Coast and is a great option for days when your outside exercise regimen is ruined by stormy weather.

Westfield Shopping Town has malls in Stamford, Milford, Meriden, Trumbull and Enfield with more than 130 different stores. Rain or shine, the malls offer one-stop shopping with stores that range from Nordstrom, Coach and Bare Essentials to lower price shops like Target, Forever 21 and J.C. Penney. All shopping destinations have a wide array of dining options and provide hours of economy boosting fun.

On the Web

Of course this is nothing new. But, there are several Web sites that can provide hours of entertainment even for the biggest skeptic. Try stumbleupon.com, a Web site that helps its users "discover the best of the web," where you are encouraged to click through a series of topics and select ones that interest you. After creating a username, the Web site sets you on a journey through the Internet, taking you to hundreds of different Web sites that few would find on their own.

Another rainy-day Web jewel? Visit Sporkle.com. Many UConn students discovered this site during the finals push, but for those of you who haven't yet enjoyed hours of trivia games and brain-twisters, this Web site is both hilarious and enjoyable.

Anywhere

Some of this summer's potential blockbusters, including next installment of "Transformers" or "The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3" have some definite potential. Or better yet, take the experience home for only $1 by renting a flick at any of your local Redbox, commonly found in grocery and drug stores.

A rental revelation, this machine allows customers to rent a movie for $1 per night with the swipe of any credit card. Microwave a bag of popcorn and pour yourself a glass of soda, and you can make your movie-watching experience cheaper than the much pricier alternative.

And then there's always the occasional bowling trip. Although the lanes could be a bit costly depending on the number of games, there are often summer specials or cheap leagues. Make a team with friends as a joke, and spend another rainy day making T-shirts from a $10 Hanes 5-pack.

Bowling not your scene? Then maybe you could try a pottery class or pick out a piece at a local studio. Often these ceramic creations cost under $20, and are a fun gift idea for a parent or relative.