Rainy Day Activities in St. Augustine
With brick-lined streets and history galore, there are so many adventures to be had in St. Augustine, Florida. The oldest continuously occupied European city in the United States, this charming city by the sea was settled in 1565 by the Spanish and later became a Gilded Age resort town created by Henry Flagler, an oil and railroad magnate. Today, visitors flock to the city, and even in cases of Florida afternoon showers, there are plenty of rainy day activities in St. Augustine.
15 Fun Things to Do in St. Augustine
Visit
Lightner Museum
The Lightner Museum is home to one of the finest collections of 19th-century art in the country. With many indoor activities in St. Augustine to choose from, the Lightner is consistently on everyone’s list as a must-visit locale in the oldest city. Housed in the former Hotel Alcazar, and a stop on the Old Town Trolley, the museum features antique musical instruments, Native American artifacts, stained glasswork and more!
St. Augustine
Distillery
With so many things to do on a rainy day in Florida, why not add “tour a former ice plant turned modern-day craft distillery” to your list? This locally owned and community-founded business produces vodka, gin, rum and bourbon among other specialty spirits and offers free tours and samples on their daily self-guided tours. It’s also a stop on the Old Town Trolley, so an easy on-and-off for visitors to the oldest city.
High Tide
Gallery
When it comes to rainy day activities, visiting the many art galleries that the city has to offer is a must-do in St. Augustine. High up on that list is High Tide, which features work from local artists, such as Brenda Philips, Daryl Pfaff, Aimee Wiles-Banion and Peggy Clark. Stop into this shop and browse everything from home decor and jewelry to sculptures, stained glass, pottery and paintings.
The Ximenez-Fatio House
One of the best-preserved Second Spanish Period residential buildings in the oldest city, add the Ximenez-Fatio House to your “must-do in St. Augustine” list. Now a museum, this National Register of Historic Places listing and Florida Heritage Landmark is located on Aviles Street and is near one of the stops on the Old Town Trolley. Take a self-guided tour through the museum as you discover yet another fun thing to do on a rainy day in Florida.
St. Augustine
Pirate & Treasure Museum
Transporting you back in time over 300 years to the height of the Golden Age of Piracy, which at that time was located in Port Royal, Jamaica, the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum is the perfect family-fun indoor activity when you’re looking for things to do in the rain. With over 800 authentic artifacts celebrating the history of piracy, both factual and fictional, the museum is located across from the Castillo de San Marcos.
St. Augustine
Amphitheatre
An outdoor venue with covered seating, add the St. Augustine Amphitheatre to your list of St. Augustine indoor activities. With a capacity of more than 4,000, the St. Augustine Amphitheatre regularly welcomes top talent in the music industry, such as the Beach Boys, Sublime, Bob Dylan, My Morning Jacket, Wilco and more. It’s also a community hub with a weekly farmers’ market and other community-minded events such as a vinyl record fair and family movie nights.
World Golf
Hall of Fame
When you’re making a plan for St. Augustine indoor activities, make sure to add “visit World Golf Hall of Fame” to the list. Located in World Golf Village, this attraction boasts interactive storytelling and exhibitions featuring artifacts, works of art, audio, video and photography of and from its members. Make sure to check out the Member Locker Room with items from Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and many other Hall of Fame inductees.
Ripley’s
Believe It or Not!
With 14 themed galleries featuring artifacts, art, animal oddities, pop culture memorabilia and more, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is a must-do in St. Augustine on a rainy day. From a genuine shrunken head to a space shuttle made from thousands of matchsticks, many of the hundreds of unusual artifacts are from the personal collection of founder Robert Ripley. The museum is also a convenient stop on the Old Town Trolley.
Flagler
College
Founded in 1968, Flagler College is a private liberal arts college located in downtown St. Augustine. Situated on 19 acres, the centerpiece of the campus was once the opulent Ponce de Leon Hotel. When you’re looking for things to do on a rainy day in Florida, take a tour of this magnificent building. You’ll learn about the hotel’s Spanish Renaissance architecture and see everything from Louis Comfort Tiffany stained glass windows to handcrafted Austrian crystal chandeliers.
Old Town
Trolley Tours
With unlimited reboarding, the convenience of an Old Town Trolley Tour means that even your rainy day activities in St. Augustine are a blast. Choose from a one-day or two-day ticket, and enjoy open-air sightseeing perfect for taking pictures, a free shuttle to the Alligator Farm and the beach, complimentary hotel shuttle service and free admission to St. Augustine History Museum. It’s the best in transportainment, a delightful combination of transportation and entertainment.
Whetstone
Chocolates
With so many indoor activities in St. Augustine, you won’t even mind a rainy day or two on your trip to the oldest city. When the clouds are out, head to Whetstone Chocolates for a tasting tour of their dark, milk and white chocolates. Guests will get to walk through the factory and learn all about this family-owned enterprise, and take home a few tasty treats from the factory’s well-stocked gift shop.
San Sebastian
Winery
Located on King Street in the heart of downtown St. Augustine, the San Sebastian Winery is another excellent option for things to do on a rainy day in Florida. Founded in 1996, this local winery offers complimentary tastings and facility tours, plus a gift shop so guests can stock up on their favorite Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as sparkling and dessert wines. Check out their special St. Augustine Lighthouse bottle!
Florida
Agricultural Museum
Founded in 1983 to preserve Florida’s agricultural past, the Florida Agricultural Museum is located just south of St. Augustine in Palm Coast. It’s a great option for things to do on a rainy day in Florida, with permanent exhibitions exploring the story of Africans and their American descendants in the history of Florida’s cattle industry, as well as 11 historical buildings brought from areas across the state and dating from the 1880s to 1920.
