Rainy-Day Activities
in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
A beautiful, sunny day with your toes in the sand is just what you dreamed of when planning your vacation to Alabama's Beaches. And then it happens. You get to the beach just in time to welcome rain. No need to worry! There are plenty of exciting indoor activities and attractions in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach to keep you entertained.
Want even more suggestions? Stop by our welcome center for more ideas on what to do when it rains on Alabama's Beaches!
Indoor Activities for Families
1. Bounce the day away at The Factory, an indoor trampoline park for kids of all ages. This Gulf Shores attraction also has an arcade, batting cages, and climbing walls.
2. Build your sense of teamwork at Breakout Games. With multiple experiences to choose from, you can escape again and again at this indoor attraction at The Wharf.
3. Relive your youth at Fat Daddy’s Arcade. Enjoy traditional games like pinball machines and Pac-Man, and new interactive games. Earn tickets from playing and trade them in for prizes.
4. Enjoy some retro fun at Gulf Bowl in nearby Foley. Bowling isn’t the only reason to visit. You can also play a game of laser tag or check out the indoor ropes course for even more fun.
5. Visit Waterville’s arcade and check out all the cool games, play a round at the Top Golf Swing Suites, knock down pins at the Splash and Strike bowling lanes, or break out of the escape house.
6. Go to the library! The Orange Beach Public Library has fun, creative, and relevant weekly kids and teen programming. You can even get a library card and check out books to read during your visit, as local residency is not required!
7. Test your putt-putt skills at Jurassic Golf, a blacklight, indoor mini golf course filled with 18 holes of prehistoric fun. It's a great spot for indoor fun in Gulf Shores.
8. Head to Arena the Next Level at The Wharf to play an exciting round of laser tag and bazooka ball. After you've dodged lasers and bazooka balls, check out the arcade with dozens of fun games to keep you entertained.
9. Take a day to explore all of the shops and stores in the area and pick up a few souvenirs to take home with you. Shopping is a fabulous rainy day beach activity!
10. Grab a bucket of popcorn and see a movie at the AMC Classic Wharf 15 in Orange Beach or CMX Pinnacle 14 Theatre in Gulf Shores. Catch a matinee to save money with an early showing.
11. Put on your bathing suits and get ready for wet and wild fun at Tropic Falls Waterpark. This exciting indoor waterpark is covered by a glass roof, so the rain won’t put a damper on your day.
12. Try out the sensational VR games at Outer Limits Game Room and experience a new kind of gaming. This spot is a fun indoor activity for older kids and teens.
Indoor Fun for Adults
13. Take an art class at the Foley Art Center. With classes offered year-round, discover your inner creative self by taking a class and creating a masterpiece.
14. Let your senses drive your scents at High Cotton Bath Company. Combine unique aromas and essential oils to create custom bath products.
15. Throw pottery or make a blown-glass masterpiece at the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach or browse the magnificent collection of local art inside the gallery.
16. Swing, throw, kick, and sip away at Tee Off, a dining and entertainment venue at The Wharf featuring TopGolf Swing Suite simulators, a restaurant, and a bar.
17. Take a quick trip to Pensacola and marvel at the daring planes inside the National Naval Aviation Museum. This incredible museum is a great indoor activity for families and adults.
18. The Gulf Coast Arts Alliance is home to incredible pieces from over 50 local and regional artists. You’ll discover amazing work as you browse this free Gulf Shores art gallery.
19. Learn a new art technique at Hawaii Fluid Art and create resin and glass paintings, charcuterie boards, or wine glasses!
20. Order a flight of craft beer at Big Beach Brewing, the only brewery on the island. This local spot offers a rotating selection of ales, stouts, sours, lagers, and wheat beers.
21. If you're staying in an accommodation with a kitchen, try making a new recipe and impress your family with a coastal meal.
22. Treat yourself at one of the local spas and enjoy a relaxing massage, facial, or manicure.
Indoor Activities for History Buffs & Nature Enthusiasts
23. Tour the Swift-Coles Historic Home in nearby Bon Secour. Built in 1882, this stunning Southern home includes more than 3,000 square feet of porches (to watch the rain). It is open to the public on Tuesdays and Fridays.
24. Visiting a local museum is an excellent rainy-day activity. Head to the Orange Beach History Museum to discover coastal Alabama’s Native American and fishing heritage, then learn about local history at the Gulf Shores Museum and check out the captivating Hurricane Hunters exhibit.
25. Head to the City of Foley Depot Museum and Model Train Exhibit and learn about the history of Foley and the importance of its railroad.
26. Step back in time at the Holmes Medical Museum. You’ll see antique medical equipment, learn about this small-town hospital above the general store and even get to see some strange medical “oddities” believed to help patients.
27. Gulf State Park Nature Center is a living museum of native wildlife and plants and is free to visit. You’ll have the chance to get up close to some of the animals who call the park home.
Here are rainy-day things to do to keep the fun going while you’re in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
Explore Rentals on Alabama's Beaches
Whatever your vacation style, Alabama’s Beaches have the perfect spot for you. Start planning by choosing your dates and group size, and explore the best vacation rentals in Gulf Shores, comfortable places to stay in Orange Beach, or the charming rentals of Fort Morgan. With verified listings, secure payments, and real support, there are plenty of reasons why you should book with us.
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Sydnie Lee
A Gulf Coast native and Travel Marketing Professional, Sydnie is Alabama's Beaches Content Specialist (AKA taste tester and destination researcher.) She spends time visiting restaurants, attractions, activities, and events in the area to get the inside scoop on all things happening in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan.
