Things to do on rainy days in florida

Things to do on rainy days in florida
Photograph: World Red Eye

The best things to do in Miami when it rains promise weather-proof fun

Ditch the umbrella! Miami’s best rainy day activities ensure your plans don’t have to be a washout.

Things to do on rainy days in florida

Surprise! It rains a ton in Miami—especially in the summer, or when your plans explicitly call for those famously sunny skies. But you don’t have to let a little water get in the way of your good time. Whether you’re dealing with a fleeting sprinkle or a borderline tropical storm, there are still plenty of fun things to do in Miami when it rains. Of course, shopping in Miami is an excellent option no matter the weather. And the city’s growing roster of museums makes injecting some culture into a rainy day basically mandatory. Plus, cloudy skies grant a sweet reprieve from the unforgiving Miami sun and provide a great excuse to cozy up at one of Miami’s most romantic restaurants. Below, we outline all the best things to do in Miami when it rains, so your day doesn’t have to be a total washout.

The best of the city under one roof

Take cover at Time Out Market Miami

Time Out Market Miami is where you want to find yourself the next time a storm hits. Take cover in the 18,000-square-foot dining destination filled with delicious things to eat, tasty drinks to sip and good tunes to keep you company while you wait out the rain. On weekends, it pays to hang out long, too now that happy hour is offered twice on Fridays and Saturdays: first from 4 to 7pm and then again from 9 to 11pm. There’s covered parking attached to the Market, which means zero chances of getting wet door to door.

1. Browse the selection at Books & Books

Like heaven for book-lovers, Books & Books is a superb independent, well-stocked store with bestsellers, small publishers, gorgeous coffee table gifts and reliably excellent staff recommendations. The Gables location is the one to pick for a rainy day reading session (but the Coconut Grove outpost is a fine option, too). Its cozy areas include a room for antiquarian rarities and another for kids’ books. There’s also a tasty café and regular author readings and signings.

2. Immerse yourself in art at Superblue Miami

This massive 50,000-square-foot space in Allapattah is dedicated to the production of experiential mediums—and it’s pretty incredible. Its inaugural program, titled "Every Wall Is a Door," features a new immersive environment by stage designer Es Devlin, a transcendent digital experience by Japanese art collective teamLab and an extrasensory light-based work by American artist James Turrell. Plus, Blue Rider café at Superblue Miami has been permanently transformed with a commissioned work by London-based multidisciplinary artist Yinka Ilori.

3. Explore Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science

Miami’s popular waterfront science museum appeals to just about every curious member of the family, boasting an aquarium, live animals and cool interactive exhibits. The shining Frost facility will give you your money’s worth (or score free admission with your Miami-Dade library card if you’re lucky). It’s entertaining and informative from the ground floor all the way to the rooftop. Get your mind blown in the planetarium and don’t forget to pet a stingray before you leave.

4. Fall down at Kendall Ice Arena

Kendall Ice Arena is Miami’s largest indoor ice-skating rink where you can pretend, for a brief time, that winter exists! If it’s an awful day outside, why not hit the ice for a change of atmosphere? Seriously, when’s the last time you skated? Pop in, rent a pair and swish around to music from a live DJ. Alternatively, skip the chilly vibes and head to Super Wheels where you can don your quad skates for a more old-school vibe. In South Beach, Basement Miami is a nightclub under the Edition hotel with its own mini ice rink and bowling lanes.

5. Sample natural wine and baked goods at Paradis Books & Bread

Order a cold brew or natural wine on top, pick up a funky periodical from the library and settle into a spot by the window at this hip North Miami wine and book shop with the coziest indoor cafe space. If you get hungry, snacks like marinated olives, tinned mussels and fresh baked bread and butter will make the whole rainy moment feel perfectly Parisian. Outside, a covered area with a pool table occasionally hosts movie nights and artisan markets.

6. Hit some balls at Topgolf

What is it? A driving range for the 21st century. This golf range features private bays for you and up to eight of your buds, as well as full service from the bar and kitchen.

Why go? Rain usually dampens sports, but at Topgolf, the weather isn’t a factor. The covered range allows you to hit no matter the moisture. Plus, you can order a bucket of spiked Arnold Palmer. The more you drink, the less you care about sucking.

7. Catch a movie at CMX Cinemas

CMX is the super luxurious movie theater inside the equally luxurious Brickell City Centre. It ain’t easy to beat Netflix and chill these days. But CMX gives you plenty of reason to leave the house with its full bar and tasty food, plus super comfortable plush recliners. If you’d rather support a local business, catch a limited-run flick at the indie theater O Cinema Miami Beach, or pop over to Coral Gables Art Cinema for the latest Almodóvar release.

8. Explore the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami

The ICA is a sleek museum showcasing three floors of spectacular contemporary art plus a lush sculpture garden in the heart of the Design District. Exhibits have shown work from big names like Judy Chicago as well as important local artists. Museums and rainy days are a natural fit. Plus, the insane Museum Garage (itself a piece of art) is right across the street, so you won’t have to walk in the rain. Oh, and admission to this museum is free.

9. Do more than window shop at Aventura Mall

The largest mall in Miami, with both indoor and covered outdoor areas, is a killer place to spend a rainy afternoon. Shop around at the two-level Zara or browse fancy watches and designer handbags (the mall boasts more than 300 luxury stores and shopper favorites). Then, eat at Shake Shack and tons more choices in Aventura’s massive food court to end all food courts. In the mood for a seated affair? Options like Pubbelly, Tap 42 and Motek are great for steering clear of chains like the Cheesecake Factory (though they have that, too).

10. Go crate diving at Sweat Records

Miami’s favorite record store, Sweat is a local treasure where music lovers of all types gather to dig through the racks of new and used vinyls and nerd-out over a cold brew. Aside from the intrinsic awesomeness of supporting your local record store, Sweat has a fantastic selection and great atmosphere. Other local record shops to check out include Technique, Found Sound and Lucky Records.

11. Work off some energy at Sky Zone

One builds up a decent amount of energy being trapped inside during a storm. An indoor trampoline park that is as fun as it sounds, Sky Zone has a location in Doral and offers fitness classes, dodgeball, SkySlam basketball and a free-for-all open jump. Is there any better way to release such energy than going absolutely mad in a room full of trampolines? We think not.

12. Get cozy at Vicky’s House

There’s something comforting about being curled up in your mom’s kitchen during a thunderstorm, pigging out on ice cream. Vicky’s is modeled after the owner’s old ’80s kitchen and—no offense—serves sweets better than your mom ever could. A small milkshake counter located within the delicious burger joint LoKal, the kitchen’s concoctions are monuments to sugar-fueled indulgence.

13. Book a bowling lane at Kings Dining & Entertainment

Bowling is a heck of a rainy day activity, and Kings—a big, funky bowling alley in Doral—is probably the most impressive facility Miami has. Bowling not your thing? Book one of the private karaoke rooms, order a couple of cocktails and sing your heart out. Plus, you can snack on wings and burgers as well as some drinks from the rum lounge.

14. Stroll through Brickell City Centre

An architecturally impressive open-air mall that invites nature in while protecting you from the elements, Brickell City Centre offers a wide selection of brand name and boutique stores and lots of great dining options. Its innovative “climate ribbon” roof structure was engineered to keep shoppers cool by trapping natural breeze and funneling it through the Centre’s multi-tiered walkways. When it rains, the ribbon creates a truly unique atmosphere, capturing the air’s cool, damp feeling while somehow keeping you dry.

15. Check out street art at Museum of Graffiti

You made the trip to Wynwood to see the street art and a little rain shouldn’t stand in the way of that. So head indoors to the Museum of Graffiti, a small but soulful institution with a permanent collection that tracks the history of tagging, from its genesis in 1970s New York to its ascendance as a respected global art form. They even offer graffiti workshops where ponchos and gloves are provided and guests are encouraged to get dirty.

16. Get schooled at HistoryMiami

It’s young, but South Florida does have a past, and a lively one at that. Tracing the history of the region, from early Indians to rafting Cubans, HistoryMiami succeeds in educating while entertaining. Brush up on your Miami history by learning about the Whitman family, who founded hotels as well as the Bal Harbour Shops, the African diaspora and South Florida’s folkloric traditions and so much more.

17. Wander the Rubell Museum

Don and Mera Rubell’s prized private art collection is housed in this former warehouse in Allapattah, where hundreds of their nearly 7,200 contemporary works are on display. From Basquiat and Warhol to Koons and Sherman, the 20th century’s seminal artists all have a home here. Once you’re tired of browsing (though we can’t imagine feeling that way ourselves), head to the museum’s splashy Basque restaurant, Leku for an equally arty spread.

18. Let loose at Mac’s Club Deuce

You’re on the beach and it’s raining—why the hell not stop at the Deuce? An infamous dive that’s charmingly out of character for the area, “eclectic” doesn’t begin to describe the mix of South Beach denizens who gather here nightly. Mac’s Club Deuce attracts the motliest, coolest, scariest crowd of any bar in Miami. (Late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain often touted his love of the place.) For anyone who ever fancied a bit part in a Charles Bukowski story, this dive bar would be the right place to audition.

19. Skydive inside at iFLY

iFly is an indoor flight chamber that blasts you into the air and simulates the feeling of free-falling. You’ll have an instructor by your side and the whole experience, including the pre-flight training, will last just under two hours. It’s a really cool—and totally out of the ordinary—way to turn a crappy day into an amazing, adrenaline-packed one.

20. Interact with the digital works at Artechouse

This digital art gallery is a decidedly 21st-century experience: All the art here is projected and most of it is interactive, so not only will you get to see it but you’ll also become part of it. “Renewal 2121,” the current exhibition, is an original production that transports visitors into an imagined future 100 years from now, where nature's resilience takes center stage in an overdeveloped metropolis. You may find yourself doing a TikTok dance in front of one of the interactive screens.

21. Treat yourself to a day of pampering at Lapis Spa

Relaxation and the gentle sounds of rolling rain and thunder go hand in hand. From the moment you drop off your car at the valet to your walk down into the cavernous spa and every second in between, you’ll be safe from the elements here. The massive upscale spa inside the luxurious Fontainebleau Miami Beach boasts co-ed plunge pools, rain showers, saunas and 30 private treatment rooms across 40,000 square feet. And should the day clear up you’ll have the opportunity to lounge by the hotel pool as spa guests receive access to the hotel’s public amenities.

22. Hit the track at Xtreme Action Park

Who doesn’t want to let it rip on a go-kart, no stop signs or traffic jams in sight? Xtreme Action Park is a sweet indoor arcade and race track with go-karts that can reach 45mph. Race sessions are eight minutes long and all you need to bring are closed-toe shoes, a driver’s license or another form of ID. If you just want to watch your buddies crash, don’t worry. There’s a full bar and dining options here, too.

23. Sample local craft beer at The Tank Brewing Co.

This popular local brewery is located near the airport in Doral. The Tank’s sprawling taproom is all indoors and filled with plenty of games, making it a great space to pass the time during a storm. With long rows of communal seating and couches on which to kick back, the vibe is at once industrial and homey, an accurate reflection of the Doral neighborhood it calls home. Other fun local breweries with large indoor taprooms include Unbranded in the Leah Arts District and Funky Buddha in Oakland Park.

An email you’ll actually love

Get into a relationship with our newsletter. Discover the best of the city, first.

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

What is there to do in Florida when its raining?

Top 13 Things To Do on a Rainy Day in Florida.
Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg. ... .
Xtreme Action Park, Fort Lauderdale. ... .
iFLY Indoor Skydiving, Orlando. ... .
Florida Aquarium, Tampa. ... .
Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, St. ... .
The Ringling, Sarasota. ... .
Kennedy Space Center, Titusville. ... .
Splitsville, Disney Springs..

What are 3 good inside activities to do on a rainy day?

Top 20 Rainy Day Activities.
Make a pillow fort. The classic living room fort that sparks the creative engineer inside us all. ... .
Bake something delicious. Baking doesn't have to be unhealthy. ... .
Games. Board games. ... .
Venture out of the house..
Play dates. ... .
Puzzles. ... .
Movie marathon. ... .
Arts and crafts..

What can you do in Orlando in bad weather?

Mix Up Your Rainy-Day Activities Shopping at Mall of Millenia or outlets, SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium or Madame Tussauds at ICON Park, Disney Springs, Ice Bar on I-Drive, I-Drive Nascar Indoor Kart Racing, Escape Rooms, Chocolate Kingdom and Ripley's Believe It or Not! ...

What is there to do in Florida on a cold day?

Top Ten Winter Activities in Florida.
See Florida's best ocean view. Grab a friend with a car and take a road trip you won't soon forget. ... .
Chill out at a hockey game. ... .
Attend the Florida Strawberry Festival. ... .
Lowe Art Museum. ... .
Everglades Alligator Farm. ... .
Catch a basketball game. ... .
Key West Aquarium. ... .
Go on an outdoor adventure..