Eugene doesn't slow down in the rain. That's what keeps our hiking trails green and our rivers flowing. We know all you really need is rain boots and a hood and you can do all the things you would do on a sunny day. But when you are ready to be inside and out of the weather, try this list of favorite indoor activities.

A row of pinball machines light up.
: Melanie Ryan Griffin

Level Up Arcades

Barcades

BlairAlly Vintage Arcade in the Whiteaker neighborhood is a fun place to spend some time playing classic games like Mortal Kombat and Pac-Man while listening to music from the 80s and 90s and sipping a beer.

Level Up is another barcade you'll love. Level Up is near downtown Eugene and offers a little bit of everything. Come on a Friday or Saturday to enjoy a live DJ while you play pool or blast bad guys. 

Art Galleries

Step out of the rain and into a world of art at one of these great local galleries — Maude Kerns Art Center, Emerald Art Center, New Zone, White Lotus Gallery- Asian Arts and Four Winds Gallery - Native American Arts.

Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art

Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art

Museums

Visit two of Eugene's finest museums on the University of Oregon campus. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art offers collections of historic and contemporary art from around the world and the Museum of Natural and Cultural History is great for hands-on learning about Oregon's past which includes artwork and traditions of the Indigenous Kalapuya people and extinct wildlife such as the woolly mammoth and saber-toothed cat. Lane County History Museum tells the story of a unique place and the tough folks who made it here.

The Shelton-McMurphy Johnson House is a Victorian-era mansion and local landmark where visitors can get a taste of what life was like for some of Eugene's first European settler families. Also, tour the historic Mims House to see the first Black-owned home in Eugene and learn about the resourceful family that lived there and their famous guests like Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday. Please call museums directly for current hours of operation. 

Theaters & Performance Halls

Broadway Metro is a downtown art cinema house where you can enjoy great independent movies as well as some of the top releases out today. The Shedd Institute is a music school that stages classic, world and American music.  Hult Center for the Performing Arts is where you will find performances from some of the largest acts that come through the city. 

Farmer's Union Shops

The shops at the Farmer's Union building include Down to Earth home goods store, Oak Street Vintage and Mountain Rose Herbs Mercantile. Shop for gifts at Down to Earth, find a unique treasure at Oak Street Vintage and delight your senses at Mountain Rose Herbs. All of these are housed in old buildings that were once a mill and warehouse. Enjoy coffee from Farmer's Union coffee shop as you browse. 

Rainy Day at 5th Street Public Market by Melanie Griffin

Rainy Day at 5th Street Public Market

5th Street Public Market & Market Alley

At the 5th Street Public Market and the adjacent Market Alley, you can find a variety of shops including Pendleton Woolen Mills, local souvenirs at Made In Oregon, zero waste goods at Marley's Monsters and more. When you are finished shopping, have a cocktail or a glass of wine and dine at the many eateries located here - from fine dining to pizza by the slice.

Moon Rock Records Store
: Melanie Ryan Griffin

Moon Rocks Records Store

Record Stores

Eugene is an excellent place for crate-digging for a unique addition to your record collection. House of Records has been supplying rare cuts to Eugenians since 1971. Moon Rock Records near downtown allows you to sit and play a record before committing. Epic Seconds is a great place to buy, sell and trade movies and video games, but head upstairs and you'll find an epic record collection.

Rainy Day at Smith Family Bookstore
: Melanie Ryan Griffin

Rainy Day at Smith Family Bookstore

Used Bookstores

Another great way to spend a rainy day is to browse at a used bookstore such as Tsunami Books known for its poetry slam nights or the popular two-story Smith Family Bookstore. Support a smaller local bookstore, Black Sun Books in the University of Oregon district. 

Oregon Axe

Oregon Axe

Axe Throwing

Learn to throw an axe like a true Pacific Northwesterner at this indoor club. Oregon Axe is a lot of fun and great for teambuilding. By the end, their "axeperts" will have you throwing bullseyes. 

Escape Rooms

The whole crew will need to work together to Escape the Room before the time is up. Search for clues and solve the riddles in the themed mystery rooms as a team and win. 

Trampoline & Ninja Parks

Defy Eugene features trampoline floors, a ninja obstacle course, trampoline basketball and dodgeball, balance beams, aerial silks, a zipline and more! Train with a coach from the tv show American Ninja Warrior at Northwest Ninja Park. This massive facility features many of the well-known obstacles from the hit show. Reservations are required.

Climbing Gyms

Crux has been the go-to playground for climbers in Eugene since 1994. There are easy walls for beginners and more challenging routes for the advanced climber.  Elevation Bouldering Gym offers next-level bouldering for all ages. Both gyms are located at the foot of Skinner Butte where, on sunny days, climbers can be seen scaling the natural basalt columns.

Earl grey and matcha macarons with tea on a rainy day

Portal Tea Company

Coffee & Teahouses

Portal Tea Company is located in the heart of Eugene and is a popular spot to sip tea. The Rabbit Hole is a great place to enjoy a variety of teas and boba- now with two Eugene locations. Coffee lovers will enjoy the beautiful downtown coffeehouse and wine bar, Perugino where you can sit and watch the rainfall with a latte or a glass of wine. Explore all of Eugene's most popular coffee shops. 

Thinking Tree Spirits
: Thinking Tree Spirits

Thinking Tree Spirits

Spirits

Thinking Tree is a craft distillery in the Whiteaker neighborhood.Enjoy a tasting of their incredible gin, rum or vodka or enjoy a cocktail in this intimate space full of art. Heritage Distilling Co. is known for its Brown Sugar Bourbon but also offers flavored vodkas, rum, whiskey and gin. The Whiskey Lab at PublicHouse hub in Springfield is the ultimate rainy day food and drink destination. Here, you can enjoy a cocktail, grab food from one of the many food vendors or a craft beer all in a renovated church with beautiful stained glass and a covered and heated outdoor seating area. 

Beer & Wine

Falling Sky Brewing House is a great restaurant and brewery but the discount on beer anytime it rains is the best reason to add it to your schedule. The Bier Stein is one of the largest beer halls in Oregon with more than 20 beers on tap and 1,000 bottles in the cooler. Shop the different beers from around the world and find a favorite to enjoy by the fireplace. Oregon Wine LAB is one of the many urban wineries in downtown Eugene. Head out into wine country on a rainy day for a cozy tasting experience. 

Food

Embrace the cool weather and choose something warm and spicy at a local restaurant like Sabai Thai. Soak up warm weather vibes with a visit to McMenamins North Bank restaurant and Kapu Hut bar. Downtown Eugene and the Whiteaker neighborhood are culinary treasures where you can savor farm-to-table comfort foods like a bowl of ramen or hearty pasta.

More Rainy Day Adventures