Rainy days are great for staying home, but you can only lounge around the apartment for so long. Luckily, there’s plenty to do in New Haven on a rainy day. Here are some suggestions from The Audubon New Haven for when the weather’s bad but you still want to get out of your luxury apartment.
Visit one of New Haven’s many museums
To cover all of art history in an afternoon, go to the Yale University Art Gallery Even if this weren’t the oldest college art museum in the country, it would still be at the top of any list of things to do in New Haven. Spread across three connected buildings that cover one-and-half city blocks, the museum has more than 4,000 works of art on view from ancient times to the present day. If that sounds like a recipe for museum fatigue, don’t worry. Since it’s free and close by, you don’t have to see everything in one visit—you can come back often. On your first visit, however, you’ll probably want to see some of the museum’s most famous works of art: a certain Van Gogh, a well-known Picasso, or very recognizable Hopper. But don’t miss some of the lesser-advertised works, like those in the study gallery. You never know what you might find in this frequently changing display of whatever Yale classes are studying at the moment.
Note that Yale Art Gallery is as revered for its architecture as its art collection. The 1953 building is the first major building by noted modernist architect Louis Kahn, who also designed the Yale Center for British Art across the street. That museum, which houses the largest collection of British art outside the UK, is another New Haven must-visit. (And it’s also free.) Both museums are a pleasant 17-minute walk from any luxury apartment at The Audubon New Haven in good weather. But if the rain makes you want to drive, you can be there in five minutes.
If you prefer other types of museums, New Haven has those, too. Who doesn’t love the Hall of Dinosaurs at Peabody Museum? It’s a 10-minute walk (or three-minute drive) from The Audubon New Haven. Even closer is The New Haven Museum (an eight-minute walk or three-minute drive), where you can learn about the history of your city. And while technically not a museum, the Beinecke Library has changing exhibits. Plus, it’s frequently listed among the most beautiful libraries in the country. Walk there in 12 minutes from The Audubon New Haven.
When’s the last time you played a board game?
Board games are a classic rainy day activity. If that old Monopoly board you moved into your luxury apartment doesn’t cut it, however, head to Elm City Games. For a $10 day pass, you can claim a table and try any of the 1,400 games at New Haven’s only board game shop and library. Their vast collection spans many kinds of tabletop diversions including board games, card games, and dice. They also have supplies and books for other types of gaming, like role playing. About the only kind of gaming they don’t cover is video—everything here runs on paper and brains. And since everything’s for sale, if you find a game you like, you can take it home to your luxury apartment. Elm City games, located on the second floor of a coworking space on Chapel Street, is an easy 10-minute walk from The Audubon New Haven.
Escape boredom, but not your luxury apartment. (Maybe just for an hour.)
You may love New Haven, but a dreary day could make you want to escape. The easy way to do that is to walk just a couple of blocks from The Audubon New Haven. That’s where you’ll find Escape New Haven, the local entry into the growing world of escape room games. Like a real-life video game or suspense movie, escape rooms put players behind a locked door with a challenge to overcome. Teams get out by solving a series of series of puzzles. At Escape New Haven, players can choose game settings including ancient crypt, art gallery, game show, or space station. They then have 60 minutes to crack the mystery. (Few do, the operators say, but part of the fun is learning how close you got when it’s over.) Reservations are required, so be sure to book your spot when the weather forecast looks grim. Then grab your raincoat and go. From the Audubon New Haven, it’s a seven-minute walk. It may take an hour to complete your adventure, but you’ll be back to your luxury apartment in no time.
Photo: The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library is a great place to visit on a rainy day when you want to get out our New Haven luxury apartment— and it’s convenient to The Audubon New Haven.
