How to Enjoy a Rainy Day at the Beach
You dream all year about this vacation! Your days will be packed full of sun, sand, and surf. Nothing will stop you from hitting the beach—except that pesky storm hanging around, threatening to wash out your perfectly planned beach day. Don't let a little rain spoil your vacation; there are plenty of things to do when the skies turn gray and the clouds open up. These indoor, family-friendly, and kid-approved activities will help restore your vacation plans and get you and the kiddos back to enjoying your OBX vacation.
Spend the Day Exploring New Outer Banks Activities
NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island is a must-do! Let your imagination run free as you explore the Wild Wetlands exhibit, where you can marvel at the playful otters and admire the local fishes swimming by. But watch for Bleu—the rare and awe-inspiring white alligator. Many of the aquarium's exhibits are exhilarating and a one-of-a-kind experience, but nothing is quite like the STAR Center. This conservation center helps nurse sick and injured sea turtles back to health. Rain or shine, this indoor activity is popular and is enjoyed by many. Reservations and advanced ticket purchases are required. Visit their website to learn more.
Looking for a little more adventure? Stop by Jumpmaster Trampoline Park & OBX Axe Throwing. This fun 1400-square-foot indoor park promises fun for all ages. There's something for everyone in your group to partake in. Enjoy dodgeball, a ninja warrior course, foam pits, battle beam, climbing walls, ax throwing, and even a designated open jump time precisely for toddlers and their parents. Check them out on your next rainy beach day.
OBX Bowling Center is another fun family activity. It's not how you bowl; it's how you roll! Enjoy their new state-of-the-art interactive scoring system and updated arcade. Don't worry; there is a fully stocked concession! Stay dry and stop by.
Rain or shine, Turf's Up OBX is your premier indoor sports club. Using custom-designed simulation technology, you can enjoy over 91 interactive golf courses! Players enjoy baseball, football, soccer, hockey, and much more. Plan your visit and book your turf time today.
Put your solving skills to good use as you plan your escape! OB-Xscape Rooms is a great team-building experience for the whole family. This interactive and thrilling experience offers seven different themed rooms to pick from. We recommend joining Dr. Tremain in the Raptor Revenge. Work together to search for classified data codes to shut down a top-secret mission that went wrong.
Find Your Next OBX Beach Read or Take In A Movie
Rain, rain, go away… never mind, it's movie day! For a one-of-a-kind movie experience, head to Manteo and check out Ye Olde Pioneer Theater. For generations, locals and visitors have looked to this historical gem for entertainment and fun. It opened its doors in 1918 by George W. Creef Jr. This family-run theater moved to its permanent home on Budleigh St in 1934. At the Pioneer Theater, you can enjoy local favorites and blockbuster hits at a minimal admissions fee ($7!) and even smaller concessions fees. Showing one movie a night, call for the current showing schedule.
A rainy day is also perfect for finding your next beach read. For over 25 years, Island Book Store has provided our community with the best selection! With 3 locations, one in Kitty Hawk, Duck, and Corolla, you may find they carry similar titles among their stores. Still, each site has its particular niche to help make your experience more unique. Take their historic Corolla Location—a beautiful two-story replica of the old general store that once called that location home. It's what bookstore dreams are made of!
Another local favorite is Duck's Cottage & Downtown Books. They aim to 'put the right books in the right hands at the right time,' and they've been doing just that for over 20 years. You can find a wide selection of fiction, travel, cooking, history, crafts, and more. We recommend browsing for a few of our local authors, like Hannah Bunn West and her new book Remarkable Women of the Outer Banks or Lola the Loggerhead by Adrienne Palma—a new children's author here on the OBX.
Get Your OBX Grub On!
Pizza and ice cream make even the rainiest of days a bit brighter. Our large selection of delicious local pizza eateries makes it easy to turn those beach frowns upside down.
Garden Deli is a wholesome, family-operated pizzeria in Manteo. A local favorite serving delicious, made-to-order pizza and a unique selection of specialty pies like pulled pork bbq pizza, pickle pizza, or spaghetti pizza. Another favorite is Nags Head Pizza Company. This is different from your typical pizzeria. They proudly serve a different style of pizza! They crafted a crunchy thin crust and light sauce combo from fresh, high-quality ingredients. Bonus that they're one of the more inclusive eateries regarding special diet restrictions. Head to Kill Devil Hills and find American Pie Pizza & Ice Cream. This New York-style pizzeria specializes in hand-tossed, made-to-order pizzas for small and large groups. Are you looking for a no-frills pizzeria? Check out Cosmo's Pizza. Located in The Corolla Light Shopping Center, this delicious pizzeria has long been a family favorite for its made-from-scratch pizza dough, with various toppings to pick from, including specialty pizzas.
Have a picky eater in the group? Or just not in the mood for pizza? No worries! The suggested restaurants above also feature other delicious options—now everyone in the group will be pleased! Be sure to save room for dessert! Each location also offers a selection of desserts that are worth trying.
While we hope every guest arrives only to find the perfect weather waiting for them, it's only sometimes the case. But we hope the above suggestions can help restore your beach vacation.
