The best rainy day plan in Sarasota is a big indoor attraction: the new Mote SEA aquarium, The Ringling museums, or the Bishop Museum in Bradenton. Each can fill a whole afternoon with kids. Florida rain usually comes as a short afternoon storm, so a backup plan for two or three hours often saves the day.
1. Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA)
Mote opened its new aquarium, Mote SEA, in October 2025 at Nathan Benderson Park, near University Town Center (225 University Town Center Drive). The 146,000-square-foot building is almost entirely indoors and built around marine science. Kids can see sharks, sea turtles, manatees and otters, and the interactive exhibits make it easy to spend three hours or more. Check Mote’s visitor page for tickets and hours, and book ahead on rainy days, when it gets busy.
2. The Ringling
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is the state art museum of Florida, and the estate has plenty under a roof. For kids, the highlight is the Circus Museum and Tibbals Learning Center, home to the Howard Bros. Circus Model, an enormous miniature circus. There are also hands-on circus exhibits. Admission to the art museum includes the Circus Museum, and the Ca’ d’Zan mansion can be added on. Read more about the Ringlings in our history of Sarasota.
3. Bishop Museum of Science and Nature (Bradenton)
About a 30-minute drive north in downtown Bradenton, the Bishop Museum combines natural history exhibits, a planetarium and a manatee rehabilitation habitat where you can watch rescued manatees up close. It is an easy half-day trip when the beach is rained out.
4. Sarasota Classic Car Museum
Car-loving kids (and parents) can browse more than 75 antique, classic and exotic cars, including celebrity vehicles. It is a good one-to-two-hour stop that pairs well with The Ringling, which is nearby.
5. A show or a movie
- Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall hosts touring shows, music and family performances, some with matinees.
- Asolo Repertory Theatre on the Ringling campus stages plays with afternoon matinees.
- Burns Court Cinema downtown shows independent and foreign films, better for teens and adults.
6. Burn off energy indoors
When kids just need to move, Sarasota has the usual indoor options: trampoline parks, bowling alleys, arcades and escape rooms. These are easy to find near University Town Center and along US 41, and they make a good one-hour fix while you wait out a storm.
Make the most of a stormy day
- Wait it out. Summer storms often roll through in an hour or two. Plan an indoor stop for the afternoon and you may still catch the sunset.
- Watch the radar, not the forecast. A “60% chance of rain” in Florida often means one short storm somewhere nearby.
- Lightning means off the beach and out of the water. Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before heading back out.
- Rain-check your boat trip. Most tour operators will reschedule if weather cancels a cruise. Ask when you book.
Once the sky clears, Siesta Key Beach is often nearly empty, and sunsets after a storm can be spectacular. See our beaches and sunset guide for the best places to watch.
Frequently asked questions
Mote SEA, Mote’s new aquarium at Nathan Benderson Park, is the top pick for families. The Ringling’s Circus Museum and the Bishop Museum in Bradenton are close seconds.
Mote SEA opened in October 2025 at 225 University Town Center Drive, Sarasota, at Nathan Benderson Park near University Town Center.
Summer storms usually pass in an hour or two, most often in the afternoon. All-day rain is less common, so a short indoor stop often saves the day.
Yes. The Circus Museum and Tibbals Learning Center, with the giant Howard Bros. Circus Model and hands-on exhibits, is a favorite with children.