Top 8 Ways to Spend a Rainy Day in Panama City Beach, FL

1. Explore WonderWorks Panama City Beach.

Ready for a day of learning and fun?  Visit WonderWorks, an edutainment indoor amusement park with more than 100 hands-on science exhibits, ropes courses, and more. Combining educational experiences with entertainment, WonderWorks sparks the imagination of children and grownups with its interesting displays and Wonder Zones. Head to the Space Zone and experience the two-person gyroscope to see what it’s like to be in outer space. In the Light and Sound Zone, you can watch your shadow multiply into different vibrant colors and patterns. Want to experience what it’s like to lie on a bed of 3,500 nails? Not a problem! Just walk over to the Physical Challenge Zone! Afterwards, continue your playtime with the three-story glow-in-the-dark ropes course, a game of laser tag, or the Space Fury 360°.

2. Shop, dine, and play at Pier Park.

If it’s not raining too hard, you can spend an entire Panama City Beach rainy day at Pier Park. It’s a popular outdoor lifestyle entertainment center that features restaurants, amusements, retail outlets and specialty stores you can find amazing deals for your favorite brands. If it’s raining a lot, consider catching the latest movie at the Grand Theater 16. Want a more active pursuit on a rainy day instead? No problem! Kids love the Emerald Coast Mirror Maze & Laser Craze where you can use your wits to figure your way out of a 2,300-square-foot glow-in-the-dark maze of mirrors, get your adrenaline pumping with paintball or laser tag games, or test your your agility in breaking into a bank vault!

3. Meet dolphins and other sea creatures at the Gulf World Marine Park.

Rain or shine, Gulf World Marine Park is a great place to enjoy a fun day learning about wildlife conservation and watching animal performance shows, featuring sea lions, dolphins, reptiles, tropical birds, and even four-legged furry friends. First and foremost, Gulf World Marine Park’s mission is to help rescue, release, and rehabilitate marine mammals and sea turtles. During your visit, be sure to check out some of the up-close-and-personal animal encounters made possible by the Gulf World Marine Institute. 

4. Witness the world’s weirdest novelties at Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

If you want to spend a Panama City Beach rainy day on the atypical and weird side, take a tour of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, home of some of the world’s most bizarre things. At Ripley’s, you’ll feast your eyes on fantastical exhibits, like an oil platform matchstick replica that took 15 years to make with over 4,000,000 matchsticks, or their creepy exhibit of shrunken heads that symbolizes the bravery and accomplishment of tribal warriors. And don’t forget to get onboard the 2,000-square-foot Odditorium, which houses Titanic artifacts and interactive exhibits. For a more immersive experience, check out a show at the 7D Moving Theater, where a motion simulator will make you feel like you’re a part of the show. Lastly, you will also get awestruck by their unique portraits of pop icons, from Nicki Minaj to Mona Lisa, made from unconventional media, such as computer keys and lipsticks!

5. Go wine tasting at Panama City Beach Winery.

There’s nothing better than enjoying a glass of wine, all cozy and warm at the Panama City Beach Winery, especially when it pitter patters outside. And the best part? You can take advantage of a complimentary tasting before you purchase a bottle or two of their finest with notes of kiwi, guava, orange, blackberry, and other fresh fruits. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or just someone who feels like sipping a simple glass of vino on a rainy day, the richness and authenticity of Panama City Beach Winery’s varietals will surely please your palate. 

6. Bowl, play, and skate at Rock’it Lanes.

What is one of everyone’s go-to rainy day activities? Bowling, of course!! If you find yourself facing a rainy day on your Panama City Beach vacation, take your family and kids over to Rock’it Lanes, a 50,000-square-foot family fun center that’s packed with entertainment, including its signature 24 glow-in-the-dark bowling lanes. Not into bowling? No problem because Rock’it also houses the biggest arcade of its kind in the Florida Panhandle, stocked with the hottest video games, like Mega Stacker, Space Invader, and the World’s Biggest Pac-Man. And don’t forget to check out their 8,000-square-foot roller skating arena, which is Panama City Beach’s only roller skating rink where guests of all ages and skill level can easily skate the day away!

7. Bond with your team at the Royal Escape Rooms.

Looking for a brain-stimulating activity that highlights team building and problem solving? Then look no further than the Royal Escape Rooms in Panama City Beach. In this 60-minute, heart-racing indoor adventure, you and your team will work together in hunting down clues and cracking codes to solve the mystery and successfully escape the room of your choice. There are different escape room adventures to choose from:

• Find your way home to Earth from the darkness of the universe and deep outer space.
• Solve a crime before you suffer the same fate. 
• Save the people of New York City by stopping a train from derailing.

8. Stay dry and warm at your rental home.

Not really in the mood to go out on a  Panama City Beach rainy day? That’s okay, too! You can always choose to stay cozy in your vacation rental because there’s so much you can do at home! You can snuggle up in bed or get cozy on the sofa watching your favorite movie in the living room. Enjoy playing some classic board games together or go swimming in a heated saltwater pool. Savor a warm cup of coffee while watching the rain patter against the window outside, or play some pool with good company in the game room. When you stay in one of Mighty Vacay’s luxury beach homes, you won’t lack for things to do on a rainy day during your visit to Panama City Beach!