It’s shaping up to be a cloudy, wet week. Here's a list of some of our favorite indoor activities that will help you and your kids get through a rainy summer day.

• 1. Check out your local library. You know what they say: Give your kids a book, and, well, they’ll have a book. Give your kids a library card, and they’ll have books for the rest of their lives. Libraries usually host story time (check out our calendar listings for ongoing story times) and other kid-friendly programs during the day. While you’re there, sign up for the Vermont summer reading program to keep your kids reading through the summer months! Click here for a list of libraries.




• 2. Take in a movie. Support your local theater, and add some nostalgic charm by heading to a historical spot like the Savoy in Montpelier. Others, such as the Big Picture in Waitsfield, offer food and events. At the Palace 9 in South Burlington, you can catch live showings of operas and theater performances from Lincoln Center or London’s National Theatre. Some theaters also have special showtimes for families with young children, or nursing mothers. Click here for a list of local movie theaters.



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  • Sky Barsch Gleiner
  • Bouldering at Petra Cliffs

  3. Looking for something a little more active? How about indoor rock climbing? Petra Cliffs Climbing Center in Burlington provides climbing and bouldering for all ages and levels. They also offer their services for birthday parties and summer camps. Check out this Fit Families piece about Petra Cliffs from our August 2011 issue.




• 4. If you’ve got a young Tony Hawk on your hands, try the Talent Skatepark in South Burlington, where you can flip, grind, ollie and jam to your heart’s content. Talent also gives summer camps and skateboarding lessons. Some ski resorts, such as Smugglers' Notch, also have skating facilities – check their websites for more information.



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  5. Strike out at the bowling alley. Get your bowling shoes on and hit the lanes! Lights and music usually turn bowling into a party, while games and snacks are available for those who aren’t so keen on knocking down pins. You can also turn this into a stealthy math lesson, as you and your kids count up the scores. Click here for a list of bowling alleys.




• 6. Visit the Fairbanks Museum in St. Johnsbury. Kids will love to explore the wildflower table, bug mosaics, and planetarium, among this natural history museum’s many attractions. And if the weather changes, you’ll be the first to know – this is VPR’s Eye on the Sky broadcasting station.

Want more ideas? Browse our Family Resource Guide — and don’t forget to share reviews and comments about your experience.