What Are the Best Rainy-Day Places to Visit in Lexington?

Spring showers may bring flowers, but it’s pretty frustrating for human beings to constantly be trapped indoors because the weather outside is so fickle. You may be seeing the sun peep through the clouds only infrequently, as bad weather is really the rule at this point in the year, not the exception.

Luckily for you, Lexington is full of surprises, and there are plenty of venues that are perfect when you want to escape the final snows of the season or the gray, rainy weather that comes with the change in seasons. We’ve got some ideas that should suit just about anybody:

Explorium of Lexington – 440 W. Short St.

Spring Break isn’t even here yet, but the kids may already be pretty restless – so why not give them someplace to go where they can interact with others their own ages? The Explorium of Lexington is half museum and half experience, and they offer all kinds of special programs involving story arts, STEM exploration and experiments in music and movement. 

Everything here is geared toward kids between one and 10 years of age, and the little ones are encouraged to bring their curiosity with them. This is a great spot when you want your kids to learn new things and still have a good time playing.

Champs Entertainment Complex – 297 Ruccio Way

If your kids are a little bit older (or already teens), or you and your significant other need a place to have some fun, consider Champs Entertainment Complex. 

This arena has about 50,000 square feet of indoor fun that includes laser tag, miniature golf, arcade games, roller skating and more – and there’s an on-site kitchen that specializes in finger food, like chicken tenders, pizza, hot dogs and fries. If you’re a big kid at heart, this is one guilty pleasure that you’ll want to revisit again and again.

James E. Pepper Distillery – 1227 Manchester St. #100

Located right in the heart of downtown Lexington, this award-winning and historic distillery offers educational tours that include complimentary tasting flights and a souvenir glass. 

The Pepper family had been making Kentucky whiskey since the time of the American Revolution, but the distillery fell on hard times back in the 1960s. In 2008, the brand was officially relaunched as part of a cooperative effort to restore the distillery to working order, and it’s been producing whiskey from a historic recipe ever since.

Mary Todd Lincoln House – 578 W. Main St.

Is history your thing? If you’d rather spend an afternoon surrounded by artifacts from a different time, the Mary Todd Lincoln House may be perfect for you. The girlhood home of one of the country’s most famous First Ladies reopens for the season on March 15, 2023, for self-guided tours. 

The 14-room house features amazing family portraits, furniture and atmosphere from a bygone era, all of which touch on some of the most remarkable times in this nation’s history.

The Aviation Museum of Kentucky – 4029 Airport Rd. 

Aviation lovers have been flocking to this Kentucky museum since it first opened to the public back in 1995. It has more than 20,000 square feet of exhibits, including a library and restoration shop – and an entire aerospace education center that you and your kids will both enjoy.

You can browse the gift shop, look at aviation simulators, play with the interactive displays and get a look at some remarkable aircraft up close. They even have a complete Crosley Moonbeam biplane and a Blue Angels Skyhawk.

Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. – 401 Cross St. 

Naturally, you’re going to find plenty of distilleries in the heart of bourbon country, but few have quite the storied history that you’ll find at Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co. Started in the 1700s, this grande dame of distilleries was revived by Pearse Lyons and his family in 1999. 

Since then, the distillery has begun offering tours and has been a proud part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail since 2012, with on-site tastings of all their spirits. This is, naturally, an adults-only venue, so this is perfect if you want to get away from the kids for a while with your spouse.

Malibu Jack’s Family Fun Center – 2520 Nicholasville Rd.

The weather is never an issue when you take the gang to Malibu Jack’s. This all-indoor family park has everything from arcade games and laser tag to go-karts and indoor roller coasters. They also have a 4D motion theater, a bouncy area, virtual reality experiences, hoops and bowling. 

In other words, this is a place you’re going to need to visit more than once before you can even begin to take it all in!

The Kentucky Theatre – 214 E. Main St. 

Last (but not least), you may want to check out the historic Kentucky Theatre, where you can catch big-name films, midnight screenings of cult classics and small indie films alike.

This non-profit theater has been in existence since 1922, and the gorgeous architecture and design of the building alone is a major draw for visitors – but the real attraction is simply a good bonding time with family or friends on an otherwise dull day.

Rainy days can put a damper on outdoor plans, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay cooped up inside all day – not when you have all the indoor activities and attractions in Lexington to keep you entertained. So, the next time the forecast calls for rain, don’t let it get you down. Check out our list of things to do on a rainy day in Lexington, and make the most of your time indoors!