8 Rainy Theme Day Activities in Pensacola
- LAZY READING DAY: Sit a spell at one of our many coffee houses like Fosko, Drowsy Poet, or Maker’s Cafe. We also love Bodacious Bookstore & Cafe, because of the wide variety of books, gifts, and children’s corner. Adults can enjoy a latte while children can cozy up in the lighthouse area, which is filled with age-appropriate books and toys.
- SHOPPING DAY: Go shopping and eat chocolate! Pensacola has tons of wonderful gift and clothing shops on Palafox alone. You can start at one end of Palafox, walk most of the way under awnings and pop in and out of places like the Rusted Arrow, Elebash’s, Bluetique, and Blue Morning Art Gallery. Further down Palafox, you’ll find The Market and Mainly Shoes and over on Garden is another favorite gift shop, Artesana. When you’re done shopping, indulge in some chocolate at Peterbrooke or ice cream at Kilwins.
- ART DAY: View an exhibit at the Pensacola Art Museum, then stop at Quayside Art Gallery right next door. Another must-visit art spot is First Center Art Center. Sign up for an ongoing art class or visit to watch artists making blown glass or pottery. Collect your own art supplies for a day of indoor crafting or painting.
- SPORTS DAY: If you are a member of the YMCA here or elsewhere, you can use the YMCA. The Y is an affordable option for access to a gym, swimming pool, and basketball courts. After a great workout, head over to Grizzly Axes for some fun activities like cornhole, axe throwing, and more. Cordova Lanes Bowling is another perfect option for indoor fun on a rainy day. Waterboyz and Cafe Single Fin is another awesome idea for beating rainy day boredom. Watch the skaters, take a lesson, or grab some food in their indoor cafe.
- HISTORY DAY: Explore Historic Pensacola, which is a series of homes and museums in downtown Pensacola. The Pensacola Museum of History is particularly engaging, but not the only place on your history day tour. For more on all the locations that are part of Historic Pensacola, click here.
- SCIENCE DAY: Take your kids or play like a kid at The Mess (Math, Engineering, Science & Stuff) Hall. The Mess Hall has mess kits and individual science activities with all of the materials needed to explore a concept. Listen to a STEM podcast listed on the Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition, or register to attend a lecture.
- FOOD DAY: Joe Patti’s Seafood is a Pensacola treasure. If you have never seen a fish market in action, this is your opportunity. Joe Patti’s also carries gelato, homemade desserts, and deli items for a quick lunch. Afterward, pop over to Renfroe Pecans for a taste of some of the area’s homegrown pecans. Don’t forget to scan Pensacola Foodies’ Facebook page and pick a new place to get lunch or dinner. Look for archived recommendations or simply say, “I’m looking for Indian food,” or “Where’s the best daily catch?” Pensacolians will do you right with the best food recommendations in town. If you don’t want to do all that (lol), we recommend Dog House Deli, The Fish House, Global Grill, Jaco’s, and Carmen’s Lunch Bar…to name a few.
- TOUR DAY: Check out GoRetro for a tour inside a 1930 Ford Transit bus. Take a seat and let yourself be taken to places where history was made. They offer tours for students, families, adults, couples, and groups. They do it all–beach tours, ghost tours, historic tours, and local points of interest.