Although the denotation is the same, there is a slight difference in the connotation. When I hear “I like to walk in the rain,” for example, in my mind the focus, the emphasis, is on what the person likes. When I hear, “I like walking in the rain,” however, I picture the event, the walking in the rain.
If someone asked me why I’m studying Chinese, I would respond, “I like learning foreign languages” or “I like knowing about other cultures.” The choice between the two different forms, “like to” and “like –ing” is automatic, of course, and not a conscious thought at the time. I'm thinking about the pleasure of the activity.
So the difference is not so much in the meaning as in the usage. This distinction may or may not be felt by others.