Posted on 7/22/2024

Rainy Day Activities on the Emerald Coast

Contrary to being titled "The Sunshine State", Florida does experience rainy days from time to time. This may not be ideal for a vacation intended to be spent at the beach, soaking up the sun but there are still a ton of fun activities that are rain-friendly along the Emerald Coast! Continue reading our blog for the top rainy-day activities in the area for all ages!


Make a splash with Flipper and friends, 7 days a week, rain or shine! The Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park is a locally operated, educational, and interactive aquarium with tons of marine life exhibits, amazing shows, and informative trainers! The stars of the show are The Panhandles famous bottlenose dolphins but you can also visit with seals, sea lions, sharks, alligators, sea turtles and more! Their exotic exhibits will keep you mesmerized for hours so this is a great way to spend the day, rain or shine. The dolphin and sea lion show times vary throughout the year.


The Destin History & Fishing Museum is another great way to spend a rainy day all while learning the history of this beautiful destination! The exhibits present the history of Destin and its journey from a small fishing village to a major tourist attraction, including historic photographs, artifacts, fishing equipment, and more. This attraction is fun for all ages also!


Fat Daddy's is one of Destin's newest arcades, offering a state-of-the-art indoor facility with over 80+ games! Fat Daddy’s Arcade in Destin, Florida is one of the area’s top attractions for family-friendly entertainment, featuring over 120 of the latest and greatest arcade games, in addition to traditional arcade favorites. Enjoy interactive arcade games like The Walking Dead, Jurassic Park, Pac-Man Smash Line, Fruit Ninja, Jumping Jackpot, Big Buck Hunter Open Season, Terminator Salvation, and more!


If you’re looking for the best way to spend the day indoors yet action-packed in the Niceville, Crestview, Santa Rosa Beach, Freeport, South Walton, or Destin areas, Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure park will be the perfect place! With new adventures behind every corner, Urban Air is the ultimate indoor playground for your entire family, making for a great rainy day adventure! Urban Air Trampoline Park has been voted BEST Gym In America for Kids by Shape Magazine, BEST Place To Take Energetic Kids, and BEST Trampoline Parks.


Be sure to check out this unique and exciting indoor activity during a rainy Destin day. Uncle Buck's bowling alley offers a bowling day like no other with its unique underwater ocean experience! Each lane features underwater scenery of sea turtles, sharks, stingrays, and more, you can also find amazing aquatic murals and aesthetics throughout! While you are there, you can grab some grub from Uncle Buck's Grill, or indulge in some shopping at The Destin Commons after you strike out from a day of bowling with the family!


Escape Rooms
The Emerald Coast has some of the most beautiful beaches to escape to, but there are also escape rooms! Whether you're looking for something exciting to do on a rainy day or simply need a day to cool off out of the sun, escape rooms are a crowd pleaser! There are two main escape room facilities in the area, Gulf Coast Escape Room in Destin's HarborWalk Village and Escapology in the Miramar Beach area.


2 words: Go Shopping!
Between The Destin Commons and Silver Sands Outlet, shopping is an absolute must in the Destin area! Which makes for a great rainy-day activity as well. The Destin Commons offers a diverse collection of retailers sure to satisfy nearly any shopper in your group. At The Commons, you can find retailers such as Bass Pro Shops, Steve Madden, Build a Bear Workshop, Bath & Body Works, and so much more! Just a few miles east of The Commons, you will find Silver Sands Premium Outlets. With over 110 stores including Coach, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Cole Haan, and more, you will be able to spend the whole day shopping for amazing deals on your favorite designer brands.


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