58 Enjoyable Things to Do at the Beach When It Rains
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You can still make the most of your beach vacation with these fun rainy day activities.
When you planned your beach vacation you were probably envisioning sunny days, sandcastles, and endless ocean views. But when the rain causes your beach plans to be put on hold, it’s easy to feel like the day is ruined. Fortunately, a rainy day at the beach doesn’t have to mean a boring day.
I’m no stranger to rainy beach days. One particular time during a beach vacation, we found ourselves faced with an unexpected all-day downpour that completely disrupted our plans for a sunny day at the beach. Instead of letting the rain spoil our trip, we stumbled upon a charming coastal art museum. We ended up spending hours there, captivated by the exhibits and the cozy atmosphere. Even now, years later, we still reminisce about that day. If it hadn’t rained, we would have never discovered this hidden gem that became one of the highlights of our trip!
Coastal towns and their surrounding areas are full of hidden gems and activities that can keep you entertained, whether you’re a family with kids, traveling with teens, or enjoying an adults-only getaway with friends or your partner.
From exploring local culture to trying new restaurants, there’s something for everyone to enjoy when the weather isn’t cooperating. Families can embrace indoor activities like visiting aquariums or creating beach-themed crafts, while teens might enjoy the thrill of indoor sports or arcade games. If you’re traveling as a couple or with friends, rainy days offer the perfect opportunity to unwind with a wine tasting, take a food tour, or pamper yourselves with a spa day.
No matter your travel style, rainy days during a beach vacation can become just as memorable as the sunniest ones. Here’s a list of creative and enjoyable activities to make sure your vacation remains full of fun, even when the clouds roll in.
To make the most of your rainy day, you’ll likely want to choose a variety of activities from this list to keep everyone entertained. I suggest mixing things up with a combination of activities both inside and outside of your hotel or rental accommodations, so you can enjoy a change of scenery and avoid feeling cooped up if the rain lasts all day.
These rainy day activities can help make your beach vacation memorable, even if the weather isn’t cooperating!
Things to Do at the Beach When It Rains: Out and About
If you find yourself caught in unexpected rain during your beach vacation, this list of rainy day activities will help turn a gloomy day into an opportunity for fun.
1. Ride indoor boardwalk amusement park rides
Enjoy the fun and exciting rides and games at the indoor section of a beach amusement park.
2. Visit a local museum, such as a maritime museum, lighthouse museum, historical society museum, or art museum
Explore local history and culture with a visit to a nearby museum.
3. Go art gallery hopping
Discover unique works of art at local galleries and maybe find a new favorite piece to bring home.
4. Go shopping for souvenirs
Hunt for the perfect beach souvenirs and gifts while shopping in town.
5. Go to a local bookstore
Enjoy the endless possibilities of browsing a bookstore, and grab some books, activity books, puzzles, or games to help keep everyone entertained.
6. Visit a local library
Check out the local library for kids’ activities like story time, crafts, or even movie screenings. While you won’t be able to check out any books unless you’re a local with a library card, you should be able to enjoy a full experience while in the library.
7. Go bowling
Enjoy a few rounds of bowling for some indoor fun for all ages.
8. Go to an aquarium, nature center, or interpretive center
Get up close with sea creatures at the aquarium or explore wildlife at a nature center.
9. Visit a local science center
Let curiosity run wild at a science center with interactive exhibits and hands-on activities.
10. Play indoor mini golf
Enjoy a round of indoor mini golf, perfect for a fun escape from the rain.
11. Go to a water park
If there aren’t thunderstorms in the forecast and the water park is open, don’t let the rain stop you because you’ll be getting wet anyway! If you’re lucky enough to have an indoor water park nearby, that’s even better.
12. Go to the movies
Load up on movie snacks and watch something exciting on the big screen.
13. Go to a trampoline park
Bounce your way to fun and get out some energy at a nearby trampoline park.
14. Eat a meal at a seafood restaurant
Spend part of your rainy beach day enjoying delicious local seafood at a restaurant with a coastal vibe.
15. Create your own local food tour
You can approach a food tour in numerous ways. Here are some ideas, but feel free to come up with your own: you can stop at numerous restaurants for one appetizer at each; you can get an appetizer at one restaurant, an entree at a second restaurant, and dessert at a third; or you can select one specific food item, such as a lobster roll, or slices of pizza, and share them at numerous locations so you can rank who has the “best” in that beach town.
16. Get ice cream cones
Stay cool and enjoy an ice cream cone at a local shop.
17. Go to a candy shop or bakery
Indulge your sweet tooth with delicious treats from a local candy shop or bakery.
18. Go to an arcade
Head to an arcade for some classic games and friendly competition.
19. Challenge yourselves to an escape room
Test your problem-solving skills with an exciting escape room experience, where you’ll need to solve a series of puzzles in order to escape the room in a certain amount of time.
20. Sign up for an exercise or yoga class
Find your zen and stretch out with a calming yoga class, or get your heart pumping with an exercise class.
21. Go indoor rock climbing
Challenge yourselves with a thrilling indoor rock climbing adventure.
22. Play laser tag
Engage in some high-energy fun with a fast-paced game of laser tag.
23. Get creative at a pottery painting studio
Get creative and paint your own pottery as a unique vacation keepsake.
24. Go to a paint and sip
Unleash your creativity while sipping wine and painting at a fun, casual event.
25. Book time at the spa for a spa day
Treat yourself to relaxation and rejuvenation with a day at the spa or a couples massage.
26. Visit a local brewery, winery, or distillery for a tour and tasting
Sample local craft beers, wines, or spirits while relaxing at a brewery, winery, or distillery. Remember to drink responsibly.
27. See live music
Experience the local music scene with a band performance while enjoying food or drinks.
28. Go to a karaoke night or comedy show
Enjoy a night of laughter at a comedy show or sing your heart out at karaoke.
29. Go dancing at a bar or club
Hit the dance floor and enjoy a night out filled with beach music and fun.
30. Play pool or darts at a bar
Unwind with a friendly game of pool or darts at a lively local bar.
32. Sit in a coffee shop with a book or newspaper, or for people watching
Unwind with a cup of coffee while soaking in the atmosphere of a cozy café.
33. Go antique shopping
Discover unique treasures and vintage finds as you explore charming antique shops.
34. Sign up for a cooking class
Learn local flavors and culinary techniques while creating delicious dishes.
35. Go on a walk in the rain
As long as there’s not a thunderstorm, grab an umbrella and take a walk. If it has recently stopped raining, be on the lookout for a rainbow!
36. Take rainy beach town photographs
Capture a different side of the beach and beach town.
Things to Do at the Beach When It Rains: At Your Hotel or Rental House
This mix of indoor activities has something for all ages. Many of these activities can be done with things you already have with you, or should be easy to find in a local shop. If you’re packing for your trip and notice rain in the forecast, you can be better prepared by bringing along some of these indoor activities to ensure your vacation stays exciting, no matter the weather.
37. Paint seashells that you found on the beach
This creative activity also gives you keepsakes to bring home from your vacation.
38. Have a movie marathon with beach-themed movies
Keeping with the theme of your beach vacation, you can watch movies for the whole family like Lilo & Stitch, Surf’s Up, The Little Mermaid, and many more; and for adults, movies like Jaws, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and Summer Rental, to name a few.
39. Get cozy and read a book
Escape into a good book and enjoy some quiet reading time during your getaway. Click here for a list of short beach books and audiobooks.
52. Swim at the hotel pool
Take a refreshing dip and burn some energy at your hotel’s indoor pool. If there are no thunderstorms, you can also go in the outdoor pool.
40. Work out at the hotel gym, or get a day pass at a local gym
Stay active with a quick workout session at the hotel or local gym.
41. Do a crossword puzzle or word search
Keep your mind sharp with word puzzles that are both entertaining and challenging.
42. Play board games
Enjoy a laid-back rainy day or evening with classic or new board games. If you’re in a rental house there are probably some to choose from, but you can also bring your own.
43. Play card games
Pass the time with a fun game of cards, perfect for a relaxing day or night. There are many options to choose from for both kids and adults.
44. Play trivia
Split into equal teams or play one-on-one with a trivia card game, or download a trivia app on your phone.
45. Download a charades app on your phone and play together
One person holds up the phone to their forehead while it’s displaying a word to everyone else, and the person holding the phone has to try to guess the word based on everyone’s clues or actions before the timer runs out. This game works for 2+ people.
46. Write in a journal or write a story
Capture your vacation memories or unleash your creativity.
47. Play multi-player video games
Have a blast playing multiplayer video games with friends or family.
48. Do a jigsaw puzzle
Challenge yourselves with a jigsaw puzzle to see how fast you can put it together. If you didn’t bring one with you, you can likely find one at a local bookstore.
49. Cook a seafood feast in your rental kitchen with local seafood
Head to a local seafood shop for something freshly caught and enjoy trying a new recipe.
27. Stay in and play drinking games
Games such as Kings and Quarters are an exciting way to pass the time on adults-only rainy beach trips. Remember to drink responsibly.
50. Draw a picture, or color in a coloring book or adult coloring book
Express your artistic side with some drawing or coloring time. You can also pair it with watching a beachy movie (#38) or listening to music.
51. Do an activity book
Pass the time with fun and engaging age-appropriate activity books, whether for children or adults. You can pick some up on your trip to the local bookstore (#5).
53. Do a craft project, like jewelry making, knitting, etc.
A rainy beach day while on vacation is the perfect time to catch up on a favorite craft project that you haven’t had time for.
54. Have a DIY spa day with manicures and face masks
Pamper yourself with a home spa day using items you can find at a nearby pharmacy.
55. Take a relaxing long bath
Settle in for a relaxing bath with music or a good book.
56. Take a nap and recharge for later
Rest up so you can go out on an adventure later or have energy to run around on the beach when the weather clears.
57. Have a dance party with a beach-themed playlist
Find a beach playlist on Spotify or YouTube, or create your own and take turns suggesting songs for it.
58. Plan what you’re going to do at the beach once the weather clears—get ideas from my post 100 Fun Things to Do at the Beach for All Ages
There are always new fun and exciting things to do at the beach!
Related: The Best Beach Food Ideas to Easily Pack for Your Beach Day
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58 things to do at the beach when it’s raining
No matter who you’re vacationing with, there are so many entertaining things to do at the beach when it rains. Even though you didn’t end up with the sunny weather you had hoped for, there are still amazing memories to be made.
Whether you’re enjoying a family beach vacation, couples beach trip, or solo beach travel, you can spend a rainy day on your beach vacation with a combination of activities inside your accommodations and out in the beach town exploring the local attractions.
The most important thing is to keep an open mind and a positive attitude, and you’re sure to have a fun and relaxing trip.
What are your favorite things to do at the beach when it rains on your vacation? Share your ideas in the comments.
