19 Indoor Activities In Destin To Try Next Time It Rains (2024)
- Date: July 8, 2024
- Topic: Events
- Contributors: Written by Peerspace Staff
Source: Peerspace
As much as we love the ample sunshine of the Emerald Coast, sometimes it gives way to rain. If you have an outdoor event planned, it pays to have backup arrangements. So why not let us help? Peerspace is all about helping people make lasting memories together. We do that by collecting event spaces and activity ideas, including indoor activities in Destin the next time it rains. So do take a moment to browse some of our ideas and see if any are a good fit for your upcoming event!
1. Catch a show at Suds n Cinema
Suds n Cinema is the best place in Destin to enjoy a film alongside a good meal and/or drink! The theater was built in 1940 and has seen several incarnations as a hotspot for local performances. Suds n Cinema provides not just the usual popcorn but also beer, pizza, paninis, and other menu options to go with your movie.
2. Host a dinner party
A dinner party is the perfect escape from the frequent rains along the Gulf Coast. They can be part of a celebration, such as an anniversary dinner party. Or you can simply bring people together to catch up over a meal! All you need is a space with enough seating and the right amenities for your dinner party.
Don’t worry; Peerspace is here to help, with some of our amazing dinner venues in the area! How about this rustic home in Destin? The house is designed with a coastal theme in mind, with blue and wood accents, plus a full kitchen to prepare and serve dinner to your guests.
3. Visit the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
Looking for an indoor activity in Destin that lets you explore the wonders of the deep without getting a drop of water on you? Then check out the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in nearby Fort Walton Beach! Visitors can enjoy dolphin feedings, snorkel with stingrays, and learn more about the wildlife that inhabits the Gulf of Mexico. If your backyard birthday party or other outdoor event was ruined by the rain, you can even host an aquarium-themed party here!
4. Play video games at Fat Daddy’s Arcade
Since more video games are released each year, arcades only get better as time goes on. Explore the classics of your youth at Fat Daddy’s Arcade, where you can play The Walking Dead, Jurassic Park, and other iconic games. The Destin location has over 120 games to choose from and is right next to Fudpucker’s, a great place to stop for a meal after gaming with friends.
Check out our favorite video game party ideas to complement this suggestion!
5. Grab a drink at Destin Brewery
A rainy day is the perfect chance to head indoors for a fine drink with good company. Experience beers that reflect the unique culture of the Emerald Coast at Destin Brewery! You can enjoy what’s on tap and sample the latest creations inside the tasting room. Destin Brewery is also the place to be if you like events like trivia nights, beer yoga, tastings, and other activities!
6. Learn at the Emerald Coast Science Center
The Emerald Coast Science Center is a museum fit for all ages, with exhibits exploring every scientific avenue! You’ll find 45 exhibits to explore in the 8,000-square-foot indoor space (plus 2 acres of extra space for live animals). Learn about the latest advancements in robotics, the basics of biology, how local scientists are solving plastic pollution, and other topics of interest.
7. Break free of an escape room
If you want an indoor activity in Destin that challenges your wits, visit one of the many escape rooms on the Emerald Coast. Have you been to Escapology yet? They have six different game themes to explore with different skill levels required. For example, the Lost Temple game gives you 60 minutes to solve puzzles presented in a lost journal, find treasure, and seek the way out as a team!
8. Take a paint & sip class
Paint-and-sip parties are a unique way to spend a rainy day with good company! You can make them standalone events where you rent a venue for your guests to paint their own portrait, a flower arrangement, or other subjects while you all sip good wine. Or you can include a paint & sip event as part of a bridal shower or other special occasion.
Think about booking an open-concept event space for your paint-and-sip party, like this Fort Walton venue! You’ll have 2,400 sq. ft. of room that can be easily set up to seat dozens of guests with additional space for a model or painting instructor!
9. Visit the Destin History & Fishing Museum
Fishing has been a central part of Destin’s history. Learn more about how the story of the Emerald Coast intertwines with one of its most popular sports at the Destin History & Fishing Museum! You’ll see exhibits on how the local fishing Rodeo got started, see fish mounts of some of the greatest catches made in the area and learn all about diving in Destin.
10. Throw a pole party
If your outdoor bachelorette party plans have been upended by the weather, don’t give up! Think about hosting a party indoors instead at Destin Pole Parties! This private pole dance studio has multiple party packages where you can dance with an instructor and pop a bottle or two of champagne! You and your besties will also be a short stroll away from Destin Harbor and Boardwalk, where you can keep the party going even longer!
Planning a bachelorette party for a bestie? Then you need to see these fun bachelorette party decoration ideas to ensure your venue is packed with style!
11. Enjoy a frothy shake at The Yard
There are milkshakes and then there are milkshakes at The Yard, one of Destin’s best places to beat the rain and heat! Each milkshake is served in a pint jar and is absolutely loaded with toppings! You can also choose from any of their 31 ice cream flavors for a classic cone or edible cookie dough instead.
12. Experience Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone
Indoor activity centers are the best place to bring a family or large group of friends who may not want to do the same thing. Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone is one of our favorites in Destin; they have 4D movies, virtual reality games, go-karts, and more under a single roof! Their Redemption Arcade has over 65 games in a 16,000-square-foot space. And once the weather improves you can head outdoors to explore the rope gym and bungee trampoline!
13. Shop at the Destin Commons
The Destin Commons is one of the best shopping experiences the city has to offer. National name brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, Bath & Body Works, and Kay Jewelers provide endless opportunities to bargain hunt, find gifts, and add to your personal wardrobe. Afterwards, you can enjoy a meal at one of the many restaurants here or catch a movie at AMC 14.
14. Play indoor miniature golf
Rainy days don’t have to mean the end of a planned day of golfing. Not when there are several indoor miniature golf courses you could try! Our favorite is Rainforest Black Light Mini Golf & Arcade due to the awesome interior decor. All 18 holes are lit with blacklights for a unique laser tag-like vibe that adds excitement to the game. Games are reasonably priced and include discounts if you want to play another round that same day. The Destin location also has skeeball, a video game arcade, and other indoor activities to enjoy!
15. Take a cooking class
Impress your friends and family with newfound culinary skills! Take a cooking class at Ocean Reef Resort the next time it rains in Destin. You can learn how to make roux in a Cajun cooking class, prepare lump crab cakes, homemade pasta, and other dishes we all love but have never tried whipping up ourselves. Each class is a two-hour-long experience that includes time to both prepare and eat what you’ve created!
16. Shop local art at the Zoo Gallery
If you enjoy jewelry, furniture, wall art, and other decor, take a rainy afternoon off to visit the Zoo Gallery, one of nearby Miramar Beach’s premiere art stores! Founded in 1979, the Zoo Gallery has been an Emerald Coast fixture for decades, offering handcrafted goods for all budgets and occasions. It’s a great place to find a gift for an upcoming birthday, anniversary, or other special event!
17. Go bowling at Uncle Buck’s
Bowling alleys are a fun place to escape the rain but you don’t have to settle for a classic alley. Not when you can visit Uncle Buck’s, an underwater-themed venue with “dock” wooden lanes and custom bowling balls that look like sea creatures! Uncle Buck’s also has a restaurant serving tacos, entrees, pizza, and dessert after your bowling game.
18. Skate indoors at Fort Sk8
Roller skating is one indoor activity in Destin that everyone will enjoy, no matter their age. You can rent skates here or bring your own. After you free skate, check out the video game arcade, or enjoy some ice cream at Ma’s. Fort SK8 Family Fun Center has been a part of the Destin landscape for over 45 years and is a wonderful place to throw a children’s birthday party out of the rain!
19. Check out Emerald Coast Indoor Shooting and Sport
If you like firearms check out Emerald Coast Indoor Shooting and Sport for some rain-free fun! You can purchase Class III and NFA items, take courses on firearm safety or gunsmithing, and rent as much time as you like at one of their indoor ranges. The longest range is 25 yards long and you can use ammo with a velocity of up to 3,100 feet per second.
Indoor activities in Destin: conclusion
Destin, FL, is known for sugar white sands and sunshine but that doesn’t mean the fun comes to an end when it rains. You still have museums, restaurants, shopping, and bowling alleys to explore, to name a few ideas. And if you have something more custom in mind, let us at Peerspace give you a hand! Our party venues in Destin are filled with amenities and include flexible booking terms so you can host an indoor event on your terms!
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