Best Things to Do When It Rains at the Beach | Rainy Day on 30A

You’ve committed to a beach vacation, but unfortunately, dark clouds have rolled on it. It’s easy to get frustrated when it starts to rain on your beach parade. You were looking forward to your time in the sun and the surf, but now you’ve been driven indoors. A change in the weather doesn’t have to ruin your beach vacation, however. Here are seven of the best things to do when it rains at the beach on 30A.

1. Enjoy a Cup of Coffee at Amavida in Rosemary

Vacations are all about relaxing, and what better way to relax than with a soothing, hot cup of coffee? Amavida Coffee Roasters has organic, fair trade coffee and supports coffee growers and sustainable coffee farming through nonprofits. You can enjoy one of their delicious brews at Rosemary Beach Café, located at 104 North Barrett Square in the Unit 1A at Lofts West. This local coffee chain is a great place to kick back and enjoy a great beach read inside and away from the rain.

2. Work Up a Sweat at One of the Many Fitness Studios

Since you won’t be torching calories with a swim, consider working out at one of the many fitness studios in the area. If you don’t have a fitness room in your hotel or beach resort, don’t fret. There are several fitness studios located along the beach that allow drop-ins, from Fit-Your-Way and Sofitco Studios to 30-A Yoga and Otium Studios. Grayton Beach Fitness is a 24/7 gym offering daily passes to guests. Pilates by the Sea, a Pilates studio, offers three-day reboot and rebalance retreats. Before visiting a fitness studio, first, call ahead to verify the ability of guest passes or other short-term options.

3. Scout Out Beach Reads at Sundog Books

Beach vacations are such an ideal time to relax with a book that we’ve even developed the term “beach read.” While you won’t be reading on the beach, you can still curl up inside with a good read. Didn’t bring one? No problem. Find a fun, relaxing, or page-turning novel at Sundog Books, a family-owned, independent bookstore nestled in the heart of Seaside. For over thirty years, Sundog has been providing books, souvenirs, and gift merchandise to beach visitors. Located at 89 Central Square in Seaside, the local shop is open daily from 9 am to 9 pm.

4. Spoil Yourself with a Spa Day at Vivo

If relaxation is your goal, what better way to achieve it than with a spa day? At Vivo Spa and Salon, located at 8 Georgetown Avenue in Rosemary Beach, you can enjoy a variety of soothing treatments. The two-story spa is the largest on 30A and offers four spa rooms, three hair stations, and a private nail room. Whether you need a pedicure, a massage, a facial, or a haircut, Vivo has you covered. The salon is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm except for Sundays, when it is open from 10 am to 4 pm.

5. Catch a Movie at Nearby Pier Park

Escape the rain with an afternoon at the movies. The Grand 16 Theater at 500 S Pier Park in nearby Panama City Beach offers 2D, 3D, and IMAX options for viewing. With sixteen theaters, there’s bound to be a film that appeals to everyone in the family. Enjoy high-back rocking chairs, digital sound, wall-to-wall screens, and free refills on large popcorn and drinks. Stop by the game room to hang out and play for a while before your movie starts.

6. Head to the Outlet Malls in Destin

A rainy day is a great time to get a little shopping done! Silver Sands Premium Outlets located on 10562 Emerald Coast Parkway in Miramar Beach near Destin features 110 name brand and designer outlet stores. Save 25% to 65% off name brands and enjoy great deals while you shop a variety of stores from Adidas, Carter’s, and Calvin Klein to Gap, J. Crew, and Waterford. Grab a snack or treat at one of the many eateries, such as Pino Gelato, or have a full meal at a restaurant such as Carrabba’s Italian Grill. Stop by Book Warehouse to pick up a beach read or grab a pair of shades at Sunglass Hut for when the sun comes back out from behind the clouds.

7. Enjoy Seafood and Live Music at the Red Bar

It’s not a real beach vacation if you don’t have at least one meal of outstanding seafood. So why not take this opportunity to escape the rain and enjoy some live music at The Red Bar? The Red Bar, at 70 Hotz Avenue in Grayton Beach, offers live music and the occasional DJ along with some of the area’s best seafood. Open daily from 11 am to 10 pm, the Red Bar is the area’s most popular, if not most eclectic, indoor destination. This bar and grill offers several types of seafood, from shrimp and crawfish to crab cakes and blackened grouper, at reasonable prices, but if you’re not into seafood, you can also find manicotti, panne chicken, and other delectable dishes. The full bar offers lots of fun, specialty cocktails, including the local favorite Bloody Mary. Enjoy the Red Bar Jazz Band on Tuesday through Saturday from 6 to 11 pm or Dread Clampitt on Sundays from noon to 3 pm and 7 to 11 pm. DJ Vladi also spins tunes at The Red Bar. Call ahead or visit the website to find out about additional musical acts and times.