If you’re vacationing in Florida, you’re hoping for great weather. However, thanks to the famous Florida rainstorms, you might be looking for things to do in Bonita Springs when it rains. Bonita Springs lies in the tropical climate zone, so temperatures tend to be warm, with a mean January temperature of 65℉ (18℃). Like the rest of Florida, those warm, humid temperatures can lead to some serious rainfall.
Florida’s rainy season is officially between May 15th and October 15th. Usually, the state gets around 70% of its annual rainfall between these dates. For low rainfall and cooler temperatures, it’s best to visit Florida in April or November. For warmer temperatures, and low rain, try May and October. June tends to get the most rain, with July to September a close second. But what can you do in Bonita Springs when it’s raining?
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There are actually two arts centers in Bonita Springs if you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy some culture. You can visit the Center for Visual Arts, or the Center for Performing Arts, depending on what you’d like to do. The two centers work closely together to deliver a program of exhibitions, performances, films, and festivals.
An exhibition is a great way to get out of the rain. Both Centers for the Arts in Bonita Springs have a wide range of exhibitions throughout the year. Some of these showcase the work of members, faculty or student artists from the local community, whereas others are traveling exhibitions from national institutions, or include artwork from around the world.
There are also lots of live performances to see, with something for all ages. Catch musical theatre, drama, dance, and comedy throughout the year. On Monday nights, you can see the best of foreign and independent cinema in the Center for Performing Arts Moe Auditorium & Film Center. Both centers also have a rich calendar of events to get you indoors, such as poetry slams, film festivals, fundraisers, and community outreach events. Check out the events calendar during your visit to get some ideas for some of the great things you could see during your trip to Bonita Springs.
If shopping is more your idea of rainy day activity, then Bonita Springs has you covered. The Promenade at Bonita Bay is a great place for a day at the shops. There are many specialties, jewelry, and clothing stores, including the much-loved Well Read Boutique, who stock designs inspired by literature. There are also plenty of restaurants if you need to stop to refuel while you shop until you drop.
You can also head to nearby Estero for more shops. The Coconut Point Mall is all indoors and has shops from all the big brands you love, including Apple and Victoria’s Secret. There’s also a Lilly Pullitzer shop, which is home to the famous prints that are so closely associated with Florida.
If you’re looking for something a little unique, you can try:
Whether you’re shopping for a little luxury or looking for a secondhand bargain, Bonita Springs has something to offer for all kinds of shoppers. If the rain sets in, you can hit the shops to buy your souvenirs or gifts for your loved ones back home. Make a day of it with lunch out to refuel between shopping sessions.
The Everglades Wonder Gardens is a trip back to old Florida. The gardens have been open since 1936. To get you out of the rain, head inside to the natural history museum where you can see all kinds of interesting artifacts. If the rain lets up, brave the outdoors again for the 3.5-acre botanical jungle, which is filled with native trees and plants, and specimens from all over the world.
The natural history museum is a great place to learn about the natural world. New wildlife exhibits are being added all the time, and the existing exhibits are often updated to make them more interactive and immersive, which is great for children. Get up close to some amazing wildlife, including rescued exotic birds and reptiles, who live all over the site. In the museum, you’ll find Big Joe. Big Joe was with the biggest American Crocidile in captivity in Florida, weighing in at a whopping 1,200 pounds and measuring 15 feet long. After his death in 2003, Big Joe was stuffed and put on display at the Wonder Gardens.
The Wonder Gardens transitioned to a non-profit status a few years ago, and the support of the local community is allowing them to make all kinds of on-going improvements. The Gardens are currently home to flamingo, alligators, tortoises, peafowl and guinea fowl. See plants including palms, orchids, and bromeliads. The Wonder Gardens intended to add a new butterfly and orchid pavilion soon, which will give visitors somewhere else to hide from the rain. The site is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.
Bonita Springs has a great reputation for food. If you love to cook, don’t settle for just eating the local cuisine and learn to cook it as well. There are lots of cooking classes available all over the area, with a huge variety of styles to try out. Whatever your skill level or taste, you’re sure to find a class that you will enjoy and find interesting.
Local cooking classes include:
A cooking class is a unique thing to do on vacation but could be a great way to learn more about the local cuisine and get a unique glimpse into some of the popular foodie spots in the area. Whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced chef, there’ll be somewhere to improve your skills and try out new flavors.
If the rain has ruined your plans for the evening, you could visit one of Bonita Spring’s movie theaters and catch a movie. There are a few options around the area, whether you want to see the latest blockbuster or catch an independent movie.
Visit Prado Stadium 12, which is a state of the art movie theater with Sony 4k protections and a Dolby Surround Audio System. The movie theater complex features reserved seating, luxury electronic recliners, a full liquor bar, and a great restaurant. Try the Regal at Coconut Point, which is part of the chain of Regal cinemas. Here you can catch all the latest releases as well as live screenings from the Met Opera and the Bolshoi Ballet, and anniversary screenings of classic movies.
If you want something a bit different, visit the Bonita Springs Center for Performing Arts, which has a film center where they show foreign and independent films. The center has a large screen and comfortable seats for the great viewing experience you’d expect at a larger movie theater, as well as the option to buy popcorn, snacks, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy with your film.
Escape rooms are taking the tourism market by storm, with games popping up all over the country. An escape room is a real-life adventure game. Most games have a theme, such as a particular time period, or acting as spies. At the start of the game, you are locked into a room, usually for 60 minutes, and must work as a team to complete and solve a series of puzzles in order to escape the room. Games come in a variety of difficulty levels, so you can enjoy a game as a puzzle expert or beginner, or as a group of adults or with children in the group. An escape room is an ideal way to get out of the rain and give your brain a workout at the same time. Escape rooms are popular with players of all ages, so it can be a good pick for something to do if you have a range of ages on your vacation, such as kids, parents, and grandparents, who will all need entertaining while the rain spoils your outdoor plans.
Bonita Springs has also joined the escape room trend and there are plenty of puzzles all over town for you to try out. Tropic Escape Room has rooms themed on a museum heist, being a castaway, and the music industry. At BRAINIAXE, you can try games themed on the rivalry between Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla, escaping an abandoned house, searching an estate for an inheritance, and working as an investigative reporter studying secret societies. If it’s still raining when you escape, they have an ax-throwing range too for something a bit different. Ax throwing involves throwing special throwing axes at a target, a little like darts. Don’t worry; a trainer is on hand to show you how to throw safely, so you can try this exciting sport without worrying about whether you’ll be needing to make use of your travel insurance! Try this unique day out for the whole family and challenge yourself to exercise your minds as well as your bodies.
If you don’t think the rain is going to last too long and you just need somewhere to hide from the rain for a little while, visit one of Bonita Spring’s many coffee shops or ice cream parlors. Like any trendy area, Bonita Springs takes its coffee seriously, so there are many places to choose from to get your caffeine fix. There are plenty of places to buy great ice cream too, which the kids are sure to love. If the temperatures are still high despite the rain then ice cream might be the way to go.
Coffee and ice cream is a great way to while away a little time and spend time with your loved ones while you wait for the rain to let up. Instead of being stuck in your hotel or vacation rental, head out and support independent business, and don’t let the rain stop your fun.
Bonita Springs has a public library located in downtown Bonita Springs. Opened in 2019, the library is a modern space where you can easily while away a rainy afternoon. The library has a large collection of adult fiction and non-fiction, children’s materials for all reading levels, DVDs, music, CDs and more. You can spend some time browsing the stacks or borrow some books and DVDs to enjoy back at wherever you’re staying if the rain has forced you to consider some indoor options for entertainment. If you’re looking for something else to do, the library also has a full program of free events for adults, teenagers, and children.
The library has fifty-two computers and free WiFi, so you can get online if you’re feeling disconnected from the world. Check your emails, do some online shopping, or find some online activities to keep the children busy. There are printers available too, so why not find and print off some paper games like coloring sheets, word jumbles, and other paper puzzles to keep young children occupied in the hotel while they can’t play outside.
The library is supported by an organization of volunteers who raise awareness of the library’s educational and cultural assets in the community. Visiting the Bonita Springs Public Library could be a relaxing, quiet afternoon, where you can find something to read, something to occupy your children and learn about the local area thanks to the excellent educational resources on offer.
If you’re staying in Bonita Springs, then why not stay with Royal Shell? Royal Shell Vacations has been family owned since 1994 and has always operated locally. We are committed to offering our guests an excellent level of service, thanks to our personal approach and boutique style of operations. Royal Shell has state of the art laundry facilities, and our own departments for housekeeping, maintenance and vacation planning. This means you can be sure you vacation home will be spotlessly clean and well-maintained, and you can use our team to help you plan the best vacation for you and your family. There’s even a 24-hour guest service available, so we’re on hand to help in the event of an emergency while you are staying in one of our properties. We manage everything from upscale studio apartments, to larger homes with room for the whole family, so we can help with any kind of vacation.
Our team is passionate about helping you to have the perfect vacation. Our rentals have unique amenities and services available, so you get the vacation you deserve. Our team all live and work in the area, so they have plenty of local knowledge. Thanks to this local knowledge, our team are on hand to help you with suggestions for your trip, whether you need ideas for things to do in Bonita Springs when it rains, or ideas for the best beaches to visit, the best coffee shops to stop in to refuel, or the best shops to buy your vacation souvenirs.
Note: Bonita Springs has a 7-day to 30-day minimum stay requirement which varies by property.
