1, Aquarium
The aquarium in La Rochelle is the number one destination for all our families on a rainy day. Unfortunately everyone else has the same idea so either go early and get there at opening time or leave late in the afternoon and take advantage of the late night opening when it's always much quieter.
Find out more about the aquarium....
2, Amuzetvous play centre
in Saintes, just a 30 min drive from our family holiday cottages this is the perfect indoor activity for children aged 0 - 12 years. A huge soft play frame of towers, tunnels, slides etc, four large enclosed trampolines, a baby ball pit for the littlest ones and even an 'ice rink' in summer. There is wifi and café and board games too. I have spent many a rainy afternoon with a friends playing scrabble and drinking hot chocolates whilst the children wear themselves out ! During July and August it is open every day however in 'school time' it is only open wednesday afternoons and weekends.
3, Paleosite
A mostly indoor interactive museum about the 'Pierette' neanderthal skeleton found on the site. Activities such as making fire, spear throwing and morphing your face into a neanderthal keep the younger kids interested and lots of interesting facts for the older ones too. A perfect rainy day activity as much of it is indoors and only a 30 min drive away from our family holiday cottages.
Find out more about Paleosite.....
4, La Palmyre Zoo or Zoodysee
obviously these are much more enjoyable on a hot sunny day but both animal parks are located in woodland with very tall trees so unless it's actually lashing down you are quite protected for the most part by the canopy.
Zoodysee is relatively local, about a 30 min drive so although not as good as La Palmyre (it's European animals so lots of brown and often nocturnal animals ! So more of a pleasant woodland walk) it's a better option if you just have to get the kids outside for a couple of hours to burn off some steam
Find out more about La Palmyre Zoo......
5, Corderie Royal
in Royan, an easy hours drive from our family holiday cottages. The royal rope making factory has some really interesting and family friendly activities. Learn how pulleys work by pulling on the ropes, be amazed at the length of the building, visit their regular special displays (we saw one on Shackletons Antartica voyage) It's also next to the Hermione which although now finished and has travelled to Boston already, is regularly docked at Rochefort and may be visited if the rain stops although many of the working displays are under cover, it's only the ship that's in the open air.
Find out more about the Hermione here.....
6, Cognac distillery tour
Just a 30 min drive from our family holiday cottages, Cognac is a great rainy day activity as many of the tours are mostly indoors. The Hennessy tour is fast moving and you are only ever in one place for 5 minutes, it even includes a short trip in a boat. The lighting and smells will keep even toddlers interested (take some snacks to keep their mouths occupied just in case !) This area is all about Cognac so it's a must when staying with us come rain or shine.
Find out more about Cognac tours....
7, McDonalds in Saintes
There are Mcdonalds all over the place of course but the one in Saintes is where I used to take my boys when they were little on a rainy day. It has a great play room - like a soft play tower with tubes and many levels.
They'd spend literally hours chasing each other and making friends and just come out to me when they needed a drink. For the price of a few soft drinks and a coffee the kids burn off steam and you can sit back and facebook or twitter all afternoon !
8, Restaurants
A long lunch in a restaurant in La Rochelle - although not most parents idea of relaxing with young children !
Andrés in La Rochelle is a great choice. There are fish tanks to sit next to which have kept our two (when toddlers) happy while we tucked into our oysters. They also have crayons and puzzle/coloring sheets and a good kids menu too.
After lunch you can take a walk through the streets which are for the most part covered walkways (designed to keep the sun off but works for rain too ! ) and if the rain should stop for a while there is the town beach which will keep them happy
Find out more about Andrés.....
and La Rochelle......
9, Laser Lander
Laser Lander in Saintes is a great way to while away a few hours blasting each other with lasers. Get together with a couple of other families and all go together.
To extend the afternoon or if you have younger children (under 6) then a simple trip to McDonalds opposite Laser Lander is a good option as it has a great indoor play area.
Find out more about Laser Lander
10, Stay home
Stay in your cottage with some local cheeses and local wines and have a tasting while the kids have popcorn and a movie on the sofa. We have a whole dvd library to choose from all free of charge. Kids can get their wellies and rain coats on and hunt for snails in the garden or invite a new friend over from one of the other cottages.
As you can see there are lots of ideas for rainy day things to do when staying at our family holiday cottages here in the Charente Maritime region of France but since we have the second most sunshine hours in France after the south coast then rainy days are the exception rather than the rule. Fingers crossed you'll be able to enjoy all these ideas - but in the sunshine !
Content by Wendy Blakeman
