What To Do In Miami On A Rainy Day

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Despite what many mainstream travel guides say, there are many things for visitors to do in Miami when it rains! From visiting a world-renowned museum to spending quality time with your partner or family in a giant indoor arena with tons of heart-pumping adventures, we’ve got it all.

Here are OutCoast’s top 8 choices for spending the day in rainy, rainy Miami!

1. Miami Seaquarium

Who says you can’t have access to the booming wildlife of Miami on a rainy day? The Miami Seaquarium is one of the most popular attractions on the map because of its various sea animal exhibitions plus its reputation for rehabilitating critters in need. But first-time travelers, be warned: things can get pretty wet and slippery here, so bring your bathing suits!

The Seaquarium has a little bit of everything, from swimming with sharks and stingrays to walking through a vast underground tunnel-slash-aquarium. Depending on the day, you might even be able to experience hanging out with some seals or watching magnificent sea creatures jump through aerial hoops!

If you’re less interested in animal showmanship, you can also check out one of the Seaquarium’s many conservation efforts at the Conservation Outpost or the Rescue a Reef. There, you’ll be able to learn about how humans can help conserve sea life – which makes it an outstanding pick if you’re looking for indoor activities for kids in Miami!

But be sure to check out the Seaquarium’s website before visiting because there’s actually so much to do that you might not even get it all done in one trip.

2. Pérez Art Museum Miami

You don’t have to go all the way to Coral Gables for a taste of South Florida history. In fact, the experience might be closer than you think.

Enter the Pérez Art Museum Miami or PAMM, if you’re down with the lingo. Located on scenic Biscayne Bay, this art-oriented destination offers visitors access to historical and contemporary art exhibits. So if you’re tired of the traditional museum experience available all over the United States, this eclectic little site might scratch the cultural itch. Curious what types of things you’ll find on your visit? Here are some of the current exhibitions on display:

Feb. 28, 2020 – Jan. 9, 2022 – Meleko Mokgosi: Your Trip to Africa
November 7, 2020—February 6, 2022 – Allied with Power: African and African Diaspora Art from the Jorge M. Pérez Collection

The museum also has several art galleries full of permanent pieces, alongside a sculpture garden that can be viewed even on a rainy day in Miami! The best part? Admission is relatively cheap compared to a museum of a similar size at $12.

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3. Tower Theater Miami

A few short minutes away from Miami Beach, the Tower Movie Theater in Little Havana is one of the most historic structures in the city – which earns it a spot on our list of things to do in Miami on a rainy day. Not unlike the art house cinemas in other cities, film connoisseurs won’t feel out of place as they browse through an eclectic list of foreign and local films.

The theater’s staff tend to curate a shortlist of stories that’ll pull at your heartstrings or move you in ways you never thought possible, making it a fun and unique activity for the whole family! It’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon hiding from the infamous Miami rain showers.

4. Brickell City Centre

We’ve established that there are literally so many things to do in Miami, but what if you’re just looking to spend a bit of money in the city without leaving your comfort zone? The answer: visit Brickell City Centre in the heart of Miami.

Florida has tons of malls stretching from Miami Beach to Kendall Dr’s Dadeland Mall and further north to Aventura Mall, but the Brickell City Centre stands out. The place is a hive of activity with its giant food court, colossal selection of stores, escape rooms, and other fun indoor activities in Miami.

But that’s not all! The City Centre has something called a “climate ribbon” which, no, isn’t an award, but it is still pretty cool. The ribbon is massive and imposing steel structure-slash-roof that harnesses the elements. It collects rainwater and dampens the sunlight’s glare, which results in a half-indoors, half-outdoors experience for all visitors. Functional and fabulous in a city known more for luxury than sustainability.

5. Wynwood

One of the best attractions in Miami isn’t actually a singular site but rather an area bursting with things to pass the time – despite the rain and inclement weather. Wynwood is an arts district that features graffiti, murals, and everything else a contemporary art enthusiast can dream of!

But that doesn’t mean this historical district is purely about art. Travelers can pick up a chilly beer from a local craft brewery just as quickly as they step in to see the Rubell Family Collection for a bit of boozy art appreciation.

But the best part about this little slice of art-oriented Miami is that you go at your own pace. Wynwood’s website has a pretty extensive list of attractions, but you can also just download the app for a self-guided tour.

Our OutCoast tip: Give yourself time to wander; you’re likely to come back with some exciting stories about a local hole-in-the-wall that way!

6. Xtreme Action Park

Where’s a place a little north of Miami that lets clients hide from the rain by choosing from a variety of indoor activities like bowling, laser tag, or even a driving range for go-karts? The answer: Xtreme Action Park! This giant party venue has almost everything you’d need to spend a day of terrible weather indoors, which softens the blow of missing that iconic Miami sunset.

With over 200,000 square feet of pure indoor fun, adults and children alike have lots of things to choose from. Video game enthusiasts can check out the indoor arcade full of games with high scores to beat, while would-be warriors can tumble, shoot, and take cover in the expansive laser tag arena. There are also other family-friendly options like rollerblading, go-karting, bowling alleys, and escape room experiences.

But Xtreme Action Park has more than just the run-of-the-mill entertainment roster; they also have a few futuristic interactive exhibits! With their virtual reality zone and immersive darkroom rides, your family will feel like they’re leaving Miami behind and living out exciting stories and adventures.

OutCoast tip: The Xtreme Action Park is missing one thing, though: rock climbing. We recommend checking out Wyrmwood to scale some rocks if that’s the experience you’re after.

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7. BASEMENT Miami Micro Club

Step aside, museum walks and historical visits to Coral Gables; it’s party time in Miami.

When the sun goes down, the city comes alive. The BASEMENT Micro Club is the perfect way to experience that world-renowned South Beach hospitality. Literally located under The Miami Beach EDITION, BASEMENT seeks to deliver a unique multi-dimensional entertainment adventure. But what does that mean?

As it turns out, BASEMENT isn’t just a nightclub. Instead, it’s 1/3 club, 1/3 ice skating rink, and 1/3 bowling alley. You literally won’t find anything like it in South Beach or the rest of Miami. But what’s more, the entire club is outfitted with cutting-edge audio technology plus a lighting system so good it should be in a museum. That’s because the strobes and lasers were designed by one Patrick Woodroffe, who has also lent his talents to megastars Lady Gaga and Beyonce.

The club is split into three “environments”, out of which the ice skating zone is the most unique! Skaters can shred the ice to a perfectly mixed club beat or spin to an ever-changing light show. The combination of the two makes everything feel otherworldly, making it a must-see for able-bodied OutCoast readers.

8. TopGolf

We’ve all been there: you’re out on vacation and kind of tired, but you also don’t want to waste all those precious days off! Luckily, we’ve found the Goldilocks of indoor adventures in Miami. So if you’re looking for something to pass the time that’s not as hectic as shopping on Lincoln Road or as expensive as dining along South Beach, TopGolf is the ultimate choice!

All year round, TopGolf maintains its standards of being one of the cleanest, well-spaced, and most socially distanced indoor golfing options in Miami. Each bay is sanitized between groups, and there’s lots of space to kick back and relax with your friends and family. What’s more, TopGolf has a full-service bar and restaurant that can wheel your food straight into the play zone.

In short, if you’re looking for a little bit of physical activity and a lot of relaxation, TopGolf should be your first choice.

Final Thoughts: Fun Indoor Activities In Miami

Rainy weather on a weekend in Miami can sometimes feel like a death sentence for fun, but the opposite is actually true! From family-friendly adventures like go-karting, golf, or even seeing an arthouse film, to more adult pastimes like hitting clubs – Miami has it all.

So if you need a way to spend your day in rainy Miami, any (or all) of our picks should be more than enough to keep the good times rolling, and that’s the OutCoast guarantee!

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**Disclaimer: There is a good chance that this post contains affiliate or sponsor links. If you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you (for which we are extremely grateful).

Also, while we do our best to highlight LGBTQ-friendly destinations and businesses, info provided is based solely on personal experience and recommendations by community partners. We hope that nobody experiences discrimination or homophobia while visiting Florida, but we make no guarantees. Please inform us if you experience discrimination or homophobia while visiting any destination so we can make updates to our recommendations.

Rachel Covello

Rachel Covello is an award-winning speaker, writer, diversity consultant, and LGBT advocate. She was the Founder of LGBT Equality Alliance, a Chester County, PA nonprofit organization. She is currently the Publisher of OutCoast.com and Producer of the OutCoast TV YouTube Channel, both of which highlight LGBTQ welcoming destinations in Florida.

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