Rainy Spring Day Activities in LHC

April showers bring May flowers… but what do you do when the showers never seem to end? Dreary spring weather can bring you down and drive the kids crazy – but here in Lake Hartwell Country, we have tons of adventures to work around rainy days. Read on to learn more about our favorite indoor activities in LHC for when the next downpour hits!

April showers bring May flowers... but what can you do during the rain?

Anderson County

Enjoy some time inside the Anderson County Museum, located in the heart of Anderson. This award-winning museum offers both permanent exhibits as well as rotating displays, and with more than 25,000 artifacts, there is always something new to see and learn. The museum is free to visit, so this option is both cost-effective and educational!

For a high-energy indoor activity, try out Exit 4 Escape Rooms, also in downtown Anderson. With four unique escape rooms, every experience will be different as you exercise both your mind and body trying to escape. It’s also located right above The Bradbury Bistro, so you can have a nice glass of wine or steaming cup of coffee to wind down after your adventure. Don’t worry – there is also plenty of food for the kids to enjoy at this European-inspired café as well.

Another option is to take a trip to Belton to explore the Belton Center for the Arts. This art gallery is open to the public both for browsing and buying, and it also offers classes for children and adults. If you aren’t ready to take a large piece of artwork home, the gift shop offers souvenirs and prints of some of the permanent pieces, as well as toys and trinkets young artists will love.

Check out what's new at the Anderson County Museum. It's a great way to spend a few hours!

Oconee County

Oconee County is home to both an intriguing and unusual energy source: Oconee Nuclear Station in Seneca, one of the United States’ largest nuclear power plants. The interactive World of Energy installation is open to the public and is a great way to teach kids about renewable energy, like nuclear power. There are myriad educational exhibits as well as a new video game area where you can put your new knowledge to use. And if the clouds clear a little bit, you can also enjoy scenic views of Lake Keowee outside the education center or sit down for lunch under a covered picnic shelter.

If the kids are starting to climb the walls, get some of that energy out at Sweet Retreat Fun Center, located in Walhalla. Enjoy laser tag, race go-karts, win arcade games, and top it all off with some tasty ice cream – all dry and warm indoors. Come back on a sunny day to take advantage of their eighteen-hole mini golf course, too!

If you prefer to curl up in a cozy chair with a good book to enjoy a thunderstorm, there’s something for you, too. First, swing by First Chapter Bookshop on Ram Cat Alley in downtown Seneca to find a great new read. Then, take just a few steps down the street to BREWS on the Alley, a cute nook that offers both craft coffee and craft beer. Order your favorite beverage and settle in amidst the rustic brick walls and wide windows for a quiet, relaxing break.

Ram Cat Alley in Seneca is home to BREWS on the Alley, First Chapter Bookshop, and much more.

Pickens County  

Home to Clemson University and its vibrant, walkable downtown, Pickens County has no shortage of cool places where you can wait out a rainstorm. Hunker down in one of the restaurants or pubs along College Avenue, like the famous Clemson institution TD’s. You’ll warm up from the inside out with fresh, hot food.

Also in Clemson is the Bob Campbell Geology Museum, located in the South Carolina Botanical Garden. This small but mighty museum is free to the public and is home to a wide variety of fossils, gems, and minerals. Fossil preparators work weekly to excavate fossils and give patrons a live look at paleontology. This museum is a must-see for both dinosaur-crazy kids and adults who once were dinosaur-crazy kids!

Finally, consider a visit to the Foothills Playhouse in Easley, where you can see a community theatre show. Running April 4-13, The Miss Magnolia Senior Citizen Beauty Pageant provides plenty of laughs for an older crowd. More shows throughout the year also offer a welcome escape from the elements, and tickets can either be purchased online or at the box office.

On rainy days or sunny, downtown Clemson has plenty of shops and restaurants to enjoy.

April showers bring May flowers, but those showers can get old fast. Don’t let the doldrums get you this spring – explore Lake Hartwell Country and experience these indoor attractions. What will your next adventure be?