Rainy Day Things to Do on the Emerald Coast

Even on the Emerald Coast, some days bring rain. Summer afternoons often see quick thunderstorms, and a cold front in winter can wash out a whole day. The good news is that the coast has plenty to do indoors, from a free aviation museum with more than 150 aircraft to escape rooms, arcades and an upside-down science center. Here are the best rainy day things to do on the Emerald Coast, from Pensacola to Panama City Beach.

Quick answer

• Best free option: the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola.
• For kids in Panama City Beach: WonderWorks and Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, side by side on Front Beach Road.
• In Destin and Sandestin: Cloak and Dagger Escape Rooms or Blast Arcade & Laser Maze at Baytowne Wharf.
• A history fix: the museums of downtown Pensacola, all within a few blocks of each other.
• A night out: a show at the Pensacola Saenger Theatre.

Pensacola

Pensacola is the best rainy day base on the coast, with the most museums in one place.

• National Naval Aviation Museum: free admission and more than 150 restored Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aircraft, including four Blue Angels A-4 Skyhawks flying in formation in the atrium. Add a film in the Giant Screen Theater or a ride in a flight simulator for an extra fee. The museum is on Naval Air Station Pensacola, so enter through the West Gate on Blue Angel Parkway and bring a REAL ID or U.S. passport for everyone 18 and older.
• Pensacola Lighthouse & Maritime Museum: just down the road on the base. The maritime exhibits in the 1869 keeper’s quarters are indoors, and if the rain lets up, you can climb the 177 steps of the 1859 tower.
• Pensacola Museum of History: the story of the City of Five Flags inside the 1907 former City Hall downtown.
• Pensacola Museum of Art: modern and contemporary art in the city’s old 1906 jail, with galleries in the former cells.
• Historic Pensacola Village: restored homes and museums in the Seville Historic District. It’s a mix of indoors and out, so save it for a break in the weather.
• Pensacola Saenger Theatre: a restored 1925 theater on Palafox Street with touring Broadway shows, concerts, comedy and the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra.

Plan a full day downtown with our perfect day in downtown Pensacola guide.

Fort Walton Beach and Niceville

• Indian Temple Mound Museum & Heritage Park: a city-run complex in downtown Fort Walton Beach with the Indian Temple Mound Museum, the Camp Walton Schoolhouse and the Garnier Post Office.
• Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida: panhandle history in Valparaiso since 1971, with a children’s Discovery Room.
• Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park: much of the park is outdoors, but it’s a good pick for a showery day when the storms come and go. See dolphins, penguins and rescued sea turtles on Okaloosa Island.

Destin and Sandestin

• Cloak and Dagger Escape Rooms: private, themed escape rooms at the Village of Baytowne Wharf.
• Blast Arcade & Laser Maze: arcade games and a laser maze a few steps away in the same village.
• Destin History & Fishing Museum: the story of how a fishing village became the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village, across from HarborWalk Village.

For more ideas with kids, see our guide to Destin with kids.

Panama City Beach and Panama City

• WonderWorks Panama City Beach: hands-on science exhibits inside the famous upside-down building on Front Beach Road.
• Ripley’s Believe It or Not!: hundreds of strange-but-true artifacts and interactive exhibits, right next door.
• Panama City Publishing Company Museum: a small museum in a 1920 print shop in Historic St. Andrews, close to lunch at the neighborhood’s seafood spots.

See more in our guide to family attractions in Panama City Beach.

Inland: Crestview and Baker

• Exit 4 Escape Rooms of Crestview: locally owned, themed escape rooms on North Ferdon Boulevard.
• Baker Block Museum: north Okaloosa County history in the small town of Baker.

Eat, drink and wait it out

A long lunch is a time-honored way to wait out a storm. Try a brewery or distillery tasting room from our breweries and distilleries guide, or settle in at one of the spots in the best restaurants in Destin.

Rainy day tips

• Watch the radar, not the forecast. Summer storms often pass in an hour or two, so the afternoon may clear up.
• Get out of the water when you hear thunder. Lightning is a real risk on the beach. Read more about beach flags and safety.
• Go early. Indoor attractions fill up fast on rainy days, and the aviation museum stops letting visitors in when its parking lot is full.
• Check hours. Some smaller museums close one or two days a week, so confirm before you drive.

Rainy day FAQ

What is there to do in Pensacola when it rains? Visit the free National Naval Aviation Museum, the Pensacola Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, or the history and art museums downtown.

Is the National Naval Aviation Museum free? Yes. Admission and parking are free. The theater and flight simulators cost extra.

What can kids do on a rainy day in Panama City Beach? WonderWorks and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! are next to each other on Front Beach Road.

What’s the rainiest time of year on the Emerald Coast? Summer brings frequent afternoon thunderstorms, though they are usually short. See our guide to the best time to visit.