Even though it's the weekend, you couldn't wait to get up. After all, it's autumn and the weather's been perfect. You made the decision that you were going to enjoy the outdoors with your family, today, on one of the few really beautiful days the season promises, before the cold of winter sets in.

You thought about taking a scenic drive, or walking through the woods, collecting leaves with your kids-they're growing up so fast, and this is the kind of weather that's perfect for spending time with them, outdoors, before they realize it's not cool to hang out with their parents. But now you sip your coffee and stare out the window, disappointed. It's gray and wet, and the forecast calls for more of the same, right up until Monday.

Oh, well, maybe next year? It looks like, today, you'll catch up on some of those indoor projects you've been putting off, like painting the basement, or organizing that "everything drawer" in the kitchen. And the kids can always entertain themselves with video games.

But before you break out the paint-brushes, look outside, again. What do you see? Those are raindrops falling, not asteroids. Who made up the rule that weekend plans have to be scrapped, if water droplets descend from the sky? Sure, it may not be a great day for badminton or kite-flying, and touch football could get ugly and muddy, but that doesn't mean you have to lock the doors and shut the family inside, as though the neighborhood was suddenly overrun by packs of wolves. It's rain!

A day like this is perfect for a family trip to a museum or an art gallery. This is a day to visit the indoor exhibits at the zoo, and learn about all those animals you never see in the summertime.

When was the last time you took your kids to a play? Many regional theatres have Saturday matinees, which are the least attended performances of each week-you can probably pick up tickets at the last minute.

If you live in or near a state capitol, it might be the perfect day to take a tour of your capitol building. Children can learn about the history of your area and about your government at the same time.

Many public libraries routinely offer Saturday activities for families as well.

There are dozens of ways for families to fill a rainy day, together. But, you don't have to stay inside, all day, and you don't have to travel anywhere. Why not do the unexpected, and take a walk in the rain with your family? It can be a new kind of adventure. Such a jaunt requires a little preparation-you want to make sure your kids are dressed warmly, in water-repellant outer clothing, with their heads covered in waterproof hats or hoods.

It really can be an opportunity to observe nature, differently, than on a sunny-day journey. The air feels and smells differently, in the rain; sound carries further, in a drizzle, than in a sunny wind. Birds and squirrels move about more deliberately, as they dodge raindrops, preparing for winter. And the end of a rainy-day walk is the perfect excuse for a treat like hot chocolate.

A gray, wet autumn day isn't a prison sentence. With a bit of creative planning, you can turn this day into one your family will remember for years.