Rainy Day Activities in South Walton

The beach is a wash and the sun is taking a vacation - what to do on a rainy day in South Walton, Florida when the kids are restless and you're looking for indoor activities?

Hopefully it won't be cloudy and rainy for your entire trip. It's "sunny Florida" after all! But we do have plenty of rain, especially those afternoon thunderstorms in the Summer. Here's our latest SoWal List for things to do indoors on a rainy day in SoWal. Also be sure to check the SoWal Events Calendar for things to do where you can stay dry.

Alys Shoppe is a resort lifestyle boutique featuring a carefully curated collection of unique apparel, accessories, and home decor. In the heart of Alys Beach, the town's inaugural retail building – the Alys Shoppe - features chic apparel and accessories for men and women from designers around the world. The luxury boutique also carries classic Alys Beach logo designs on tees, hats, pullovers and more.

Slick Lips Seafood & Oyster House is both delicious and darn fun! Located in The Village of Baytowne Wharf inside Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort (where there are plenty more indoor activities), Slick Lips offers a casual family-friendly dining experience. Open daily for lunch and dinner, Slick Lips Seafood & Oyster House is a family owned and operated restaurant serving the finest in locally sourced ingredients including fresh produce and sustainable seafood. Right across the way are Blast Arcade & Laser Maze, and the fully covered Baytowne Carousel with racecars, dragons, zebra and reindeer to ride. To get there just got to the north gate at Sandestin and ask for directions and a pass.

Beau Interiors is located in the heart of Grayton Beach. The beautifully crafted store features over 9,000 square feet of showroom space, an upstairs loft with designer’s offices, a resource room, retail space, and covered patio with outdoor furniture and art. Every day brings a new selection to the store with an assortment of furniture, original art, linens, lighting, rugs, accessories and gifts. Gift items include accessories and faith based books, as well as home fragrance, and soft throws for cuddling. Much of Beau’s inventory reflects the chic coastal lifestyle that we enjoy in South Walton, however the design team can customize anything to your liking.

Justin Gaffrey Gallery - Justin is a self-taught, locally and nationally known artist who challenges himself and the norms of art on a regular basis while also pushing the boundary at any chance he gets. Justin’s home in Blue Mountain Beach includes the Justin Gaffrey Gallery where he displays his contemporary works, as well as acrylic pieces for loyal fans. The former chef and restaurateur built the home himself, proving his creativity knows no bounds.

Right next door to the ultra-popular Stinky’s Fish Camp, Stinky’s Bait Shack is also a super-casual place to shop, enjoy some snacks while you wait for your dinner table next door. One of South Walton’s most favorite local bars, the Bait Shack offers a full liquor bar paired with a wide variety of beer & wine. Pull up a chair, sip on a cold one, and listen to some reel true fish stories. Throughout the year you'll find local and visiting musicians rocking the Bait Shack stage, making it the perfect beach bar for everyone to enjoy on a sunny or rainy day. 

From the founders of SoWal.com, Moon Creek Gallery offers exquisite photos from decades spent capturing the best the beach has to offer. Photos are offered in many ways - canvas, metal, acrylic, traditional matted and framed museum-quality prints. Photographer Kurt Lischka founded SoWal.com to share his beautiful images with the world and now you can shop online and have paradise shipped to your door - MoonCreekGallery.com. Because online shopping is OK on a rainy day!

Located in WaterColor Town Center on the Gulf side just steps from the Gulf of Mexico, WaterColor Store has everything you need for a week at the beach. Shop merchandise with the WaterColor logo, such as tees, Turkish towels, Yeti water bottles, beach bags, hats, kids swim, and more. Fabulous finds such as comfy dresses and beach ready swimwear, tunics and covers encompass chic resort style. The welcoming store also carries jewelry, accessories,and home décor.

RUN/SUP Retail Store in Seagrove provides outdoor enthusiasts with the best in running, walking, and paddling. If it's raining in SOuth Walton today, it will likely be sunny tomorrow and you'll want to be prepared for the beach and trails.  Located in the old cottages about 1/4 mile east of the Seagrove intersection at Hwy 395, you’ll find boards and equipment, as well as fitness apparel and gear featuring some of the most coveted brands for athletes, including Garmin, Altra Running Shoes, On Running, Lululemon, Hammer Nutrition products, Goodr Sunglasses, and much more. Owners and husband and wife team, Darla Ogle and Tom Losee opened the store with great purpose. Their desire is to help anyone - at any fitness level – to get moving!

Is there anything more quintessentially comforting on a drizzly day than curling up with a good book (or album)? I like to read for awhile then drift into a little impromptu nap myself. Sundog Books and Central Square Records upstairs, are virtual Seaside institutions. The classic independent bookstore recently turned 30! They are simply the go-to SoWal source for finding regional titles and browsing for bestsellers. Once you find the perfect read, head home and snuggle in with words and music. Located at 89 Central Square in Seaside and open every day from 9 am to 9 pm.

AMC Classic Boulevard 10 is a state of the art theater at Grand Boulevard in Sandestin, offering 10 screens including the "Big D" with intense sound and 3D capability. The fabulous Ovation Dining Club serving up a full menu and featuring luxury stadium seating. Located in the heart of Grand Boulevard, you'll also have super easy access to shopping and dining when you take in a flick here. On Tuesdays they offer $5 tickets for select showings as well as drink and popcorn discounts. Let's go to the movies! Located at 465 Grand Boulevard, Miramar Beach, FL 32550.

Emerald Coast Wine and Spirits is your one stop shop for libations at the beach - and if you're stuck indoors for awhile what better way to pass the time than a good board game or card game with cocktails!. The full-service liquor store carries everything you need to unwind with friends and family, including fine wines, spirits, specialty beers, mixers - and don't forget your corkscrew!

We hope you'll enjoy these rainy day options on our SoWal List on your next overcast day, but remember a walk on one of SoWal's many trails or along our world class beaches are also refreshing and freeing. Sure you might get a little wet, but that's why you have a clothes dryer at home! Listen to the frogs, breathe in the salty ocean breeze, and just enjoy the panhandle's natural beauty.

SoWal Insider Tip - if it's raining too hard or you're just feeling lazy, join us on the SoWal Forum - you can find out anything you want to know about South Walton, Florida - including plenty more ideas on what to do on a rainy day on Scenic 30A!