If you are staying in a self-catering cottage on the north coast of Devon, you may not even notice a rainy day. If you are a keen surfer you will definitely be dressed for the wet, so book your surfing lesson and carry on regardless! Other less hardy types may want to try an indoor surfing activity such as visiting the Museum of British Surfing in Braunton. View the ever-expanding collection of objects on display and indulge in your passion of surfing with a look at Britain's surfing heritage and history.
The Aquarium at Ilfracombe is an award-winning attraction located in the Old Lifeboat House on the pretty harbour. Enjoy the exhibits that follow the course of an Exmoor stream downriver to the marine reserve around Lundy Island and see the 75 species of fish that live in these local waters. The Pier Café and Funky Fish Gift Shop are open for browsing at any time while you wait for a short afternoon shower to pass.
If a rainy spell is forecast, check out the programme of summer workshops and events that are ongoing at the Queen's Theatre in Barnstaple and the Landmark Theatre in Ilfracombe. From Stumble Dance Circus Workshops to Street Dancing and singing as part of the Lee Club, there is something for all budding talents to enjoy.
On a more outdoor/indoor theme, the Big Sheep Adventure Theme Park at Bideford has a huge soft play area called Ewetopia. Slides, a nursery and pet's corner are all under cover. Similarly, the Milky Way Adventure Park at Clovelly has undercover rides, glass sculpting, ceramic painting and 6,573 square feet of fun in the Fantasy Farm and Toddler Town, so you will hardly notice the showers.
Bee World at the Quince Honey Farm has 1500 hives and a colony of leafcutter ants as well as a play area for children to run off their energy. The café does excellent cream teas and local honey makes the perfect souvenir gift for friends back home.
On the south coast, Exeter makes a great day out when the sky looks grey. It offers excellent shopping in the Princesshay Shopping Centre or you can take a tour of the cathedral as part of one of the free guided tours with the local red coats. The Royal Albert Memorial Museum with its 1,000,000 international exhibits has just been awarded the National Museum of the Year 2012 and promises to occupy visitors of all ages. For more active pursuits, head over to the Old Electricity Works in Exeter where the Quay Climbing Wall offers plenty of undercover activity beneath the atrium.
Bovey Tracey's House of Marbles offers an interesting museum and history of glass marbles and there are many fun attractions and marble runs for visitors to try their hand at. Entry is free and there is a café and shop.
With so much going on in Devon, you will no doubt be hoping for a rainy day just for the excuse to explore these great undercover days out!
Born in Cheshire, Gillian Birch moved to Cornwall at her earliest opportunity and never looked back. After 20 years, her ongoing discovery of popular attractions, quiet footpaths and local eateries has made her a fount of knowledge as she entertains readers with her informative articles on the hidden gems of Devon & Cornwall from a local point-of-view.