Fun whether the weather cooperates

Admit it. When you daydream about your next destination, the weather is perfect. The sky is blue, the sun is shining and the breeze is gentle.

Your reality is probably not going to be like that -- at least, not all the time. But you can still have a terrific time.

In England, we hiked part of the Peak District in a howling wind. In Italy, we explored the Borghese Gardens after a cold downpour. In Germany, we watched from a ferry deck as the sky turned dark blue, then black before pelting us with sleet on our trek to the hostel.

In all these places, we created happy memories that only include the weather when we look at photos or watch videos.

Unless you're traveling to a desert, rain falls in most places at least once a week. You can check the weather forecast before you go on weather.com, accuweather.com or holidayweather.com and see how many days of the week or month are likely to have poor weather.

Just know that weather forecasts change, as we learned when the steady 65-degree forecasts for Berlin and Vienna popped up to 90 degrees during our stay. It also changed from rainy to dry to torrential downpours. We weren't thrilled, but we missed very little.

Even if part of the forecast looks iffy - which is likely - packing the right gear will be a big help to you. A proper raincoat, good hiking boots and an insulated layer will keep your dry and comfortable in most weather.

But after a certain point, even those apparel items can fail. What saves you then?

Your attitude.

Don't let bad weather devastate your day or ruin your plans. Keep a Plan B in line; museums are an excellent rainy day activity, for example. If the weather is terrible, consider public transportation instead of that brisk walk to your destination. Scout out places that have shelter along the way.

And delight in the amazement that comes with being a mammal. If you get wet, you'll dry. If you get cold, you'll warm up. If you get hot, you'll cool off.

You're unstoppable!