“I know it is wet and the sun is not sunny, but we can have lots of good fun that is funny.”

– Dr. Seuss’ the Cat in the Hat

Overcast days are a rarity in Jacksonville, but on the off chance the sun doesn’t feel like showing its face, I still can, since there’s plenty to do sans sun in the River City.

Dreariness puts me right in the mood for some retail therapy and what better way to achieve shopping nirvana than a little action at indoor experience, The Avenues.  The mall has everything including the only Jacksonville location of Charming Charlie (for funky belts and jewelry) and the largest Forever 21 I’ve ever seen!  It’s over 110,000 square feet and two stories of value-oriented basics and trends.  A bit overwhelming, but definitely worth the trek.

Pictured: Bowling Lanes at Latitude 30

Down the road from The Avenues is another favorite, albeit new favorite, rainy day spot.  If you haven’t been to Latitude 30 yet, you’re missing out!  This entertainment extravaganza has cushy, boutique bowling lanes (read: not your father’s bowling league’s hang out); restaurant; sports bar complete with Las Vegas-type television set up; huge gaming areas with arcades, pool tables and more.  This summer the luxury CineGrille will open with table service for first-run movies or Pay-Per-View events.

With plenty of museums around, Jacksonville’s always provide shelter from the rain and a way to learn something new.  My faves? Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens and MOCA Jacksonville for the exquisite artistry Ripley’s Believe it or Not! for life’s oddities and Beaches Museum & History Center and MOSH for Jacksonville’s illustrious past.  Also, at MOSH, make a date for a show or a cosmic concert in the brand new planetarium with its next-generation technology that is four times sharper than HDTV (read: the best of the best).

Pictured: Second Floor Stacks at Chamblin's Uptown   

Pictured: Collector's Edition of Doctor Zhivago at Chamblin's Uptown

Rainy days are great for curling up with a good book in one of the city’s fabulous bookstores.  I follow the GoLo tradition choosing Chamblin’s Uptown in Downtown or The Bookmark in Neptune Beach.  Rows upon rows of books!  Both have awesome collections and Chamblin’s has some 1^st editions of vintage treasures and a cozy café – try the egg and cheese croissant with ham…delish!

I know, I know…you came to Jacksonville for golf!  Stupid rain!  No worries since despite the weather you can stay close to the game with a tour of the history of the sport and its greats at World Golf Hall of Fame or the free Storytellers Tour at the Clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass.  I love hearing the stories about the goats reminiscent of those found at St. Andrews housed at the course to eat the grass until one day….  Want to know the rest? Guess you’ll have to take the tour!

Pictured: Hospitality Bar at Budweiser Brewery

Breweries are all the rage in Jacksonville right now and we’ve got several with cool tours on how the sudsy concoctions are made.  The massive Budweiser Brewery is one of five in the United States that offers tours and has free 30 minute tours, but to truly get into the “Beechwood aging,” take the longer Beermaster Tour.  The hour and half long tour gets visitors up close and personal to the process up to sampling the freshest beer you’ll ever have…straight out of the finishing tank!  For GoLo tour options, try Jacksonville Beach’s Engine 15 or Intuition Ale Works or Bold City Brewery in the Riverside Brewery District.

Got other ideas?  Post below in our Comments section.  I’m all ears!