What to do on a rainy day in Destin
Sadly, it does rain in Destin. The weather on the Emerald Coast is unique, and rain usually comes in short bursts during the spring, summer, and fall months. But there are plenty of things to do around town to occupy those days when the rain never seems to end. Accuweather has one of the best weather radars for Destin area weather alerts.
Our first suggestion for a rainy day in Destin is to relax in your condo! It seems like the easy answer, but you’re in a beautifully decorated condo on the beach. Take some time to kick back, watch television or a movie, listen to the rain, and watch the waves. You could trek down to one of Destin’s local seafood shops and bring back some freshly caught shrimp to sauté. Better yet, soak in your favorite book on the balcony with a backdrop of crashing waves and falling rain. We still have major booksellers, Books A Million and Barnes and Noble.
Great Noms (Dining) If you don’t want to bother cooking seafood at the condo, why not venture out to one of Destin’s wonderful seafood restaurants? They serve fresh and local seafood, even on the rainy days. Or perhaps you’re tired of seafood; have you tried McGuire’s Irish Pub, Pepito’s Mexican Restaurant, or Fat Clemenza’s Italian fare? Check out our other dining-related blog post.
Destin takes pride in being known as a “family destination,” so maybe the kids would like to visit the Gulfarium or the Emerald Coast Science Center. The Gulfarium is one of the nation’s oldest marine parks. It features exhibits with sharks, penguins, dolphins, and other saltwater animals. The Emerald Coast Science Center was voted one of the best “Almost Free Activities” in the area. Here, kids can have fun and learn about science through hands-on interaction.
Bowling: Another great way to spend the day is to hit the bowling lanes. Hurricane Lanes or Uncle Bucks Fish Bowl offers families an active alternative when rain strikes, complete with a cafe, pool tables, and an arcade.
Arcades and More: Speaking of Arcades, the following places are great for the kiddos: Fat Daddies Arcade or the Track $20 buys over 100 tokens, which will keep most kids going for at least a solid 30 minutes of play. How about trying your hand at the Ax? Ax throwing in Destin is available at Axes & Ice Cream – Unique Ice Cream, Donuts, Axe Throwing & Activities – GulfCoastAxeHouse (axesandicecream.com)
Perhaps you would like a little more activity on your vacation in Destin / Miramar Beach. There is a great place to play Laser tag / black light mini golf Destin Laser Tag
Shopping: If you like to shop, head over to Destin Commons or the Silver Sands Outlet Mall. The Destin Commons is home to dozens of shops, including the Bass Pro Shop, Build-a-Bear store, and Sunset Shoes. The Silver Sands Outlet Mall boasts over 100 stores with up to 75% savings for shoppers. If high-end fashion stores like Anthropologie, Lilly Pulitzer, Vineyard and Vines, and Tommy Bahama are your favorites, then try Grand Blvd, just past the Silver Sand outlet.
I can always go for a movie on a rainy day, and fortunately, Destin is home to 2 movie theaters, the AMC Theater at Destin Commons and the AMC Classic Theater at Grand Blvd.
Cultural Arts: Try something completely different
If you want to come home with truly unique souvenirs, try Local Artist Phenome Maxine Oranges Splatter Studio in Fort Walton Beach Splatter Studio – maxineorangeart.com
If painting isn’t your thing, what about the unique art of glassblowing? YES, you heard that correctly. We have glass blowing classes in the Destin area, which are provided by www.glassdeer.com/ . They offer many different classes for kids and adults alike, including the art of glass blowing and glass fusion, to make a truly unique piece of art while on your Destin vacation.
If you’re in the mood to learn a little more about the Emerald Coast, you can visit a few museums. At the Destin History and Fishing Museum, you can see what life was like here before all the hotels and high rises or check out Earnest Hemingway’s rod and reel! Just across the island, you can learn about the “mound builders” who lived here thousands of years ago at the Indian Temple Mound Museum.
It’s a shame it must rain while you’re on your Destin vacation, but hopefully, some of these suggestions will brighten your day and leave you entertained and refreshed for the sunshine right around the corner! As always, check out all the great Destin blog articles to find helpful information about getting around Destin. Add our website to your favorites, and always book your Destin vacation with us at Beach Condo In Destin.
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