The towels are packed, the kids are sunscreened, and you’re ready for a perfect day of sand castles and ocean waves on the shore.

There’s just one problem: You forgot to check the weather forecast, and it’s about to pour all day.

Now, what are you going to do?

Luckily, we have some great suggestions.

There’s nothing like some overly-buttered popcorn and cherry slushies to cure the rainy day blues. Sit back (if you’re lucky and the seats recline), relax and enjoy a lovely movie at your beach town’s local movie theater.

If you’re in Asbury Park, you can head over to The Showroom Cinema, an independent, three-screen cinema. The cinema is recently under new ownership, according to the website.

Or check out the Ventnor Square Theater, a Ventnor City favorite with alternative theater locations in Stone Harbor and Northfield.

Taking a trip to the bowling alley includes something for everyone. There are fun, fashionable shoes for everyone to wear and great snacks and drinks to accompany a day of knocking down pins (we won’t tell anyone you use the bumpers).

Playdrome Lanes in Toms River has black light glow bowling and arcade games for kids, and is a “B.Y.O.B establishment” for adults who wish to bring their own beer and wine.

Or make your way to King Pin Bowling, Egg Harbor’s local bowling alley with affordable game prices and late hours.

Rainy days can be enjoyed from wherever you’re staying. All you need are a few of your favorite games and a surface to play on. Whether you show off your card shuffling skills or take over the monopoly board, there are plenty of games to keep things interesting.

Test out your Scrabble skills and see who is the word wizard of the family.

Or, if you’re more interested in taking over family real estate perhaps Monopoly is the game for you.

But games with words and fake money can get tedious, so if you’re feeling board game fatigue don’t fret — there’s always Jenga. There’s something so satisfying about building the tower just to see it fall down in the end after one wrong move.

The Washington Street Mall in Cape May, Friday, July 23, 2021. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for

Need a new T-shirt to commemorate your beach trip? Or perhaps a shell necklace to accessorize your summer style? There’s sure to be a boatload of seaside shops on your beach town’s main street to visit. A bit of retail therapy can go a long way.

Equipped with kitchy shell necklaces and ocean accessories, boutique retail shops and the best fudge you’ll ever eat, Cape May’s Washington Street Mall is a great place to spend a rainy day.

Looking for cotton candy, pizza and food stands galore? Visit the Seaside Heights Boardwalk to take part in festive attractions, games and restaurants along the boardwalk.

The Quarter at Tropicana is an Old Havana-themed shopping mall in the Tropicana Casino Resort in Atlantic City. Known for its retro aesthetic and wide variety of entertainment, food and shopping opportunities, The Quarter is another must-see.

Cindy Claus, director of Jenkinson's Aquarium, carries Vesper, a juvenile Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle back to the ocean in this file photo.NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Your nearest aquarium is the best place to watch your favorite marine creatures swim like you wish you could do at the beach if it wasn’t raining. Or, a trip to the zoo never disappoints. Seeing cute animals is an easy way to bring a smile to your face, no matter your age, even if you have to bring the umbrella.

If you find yourself near Exit 0, pay a visit to Cape May County Park & Zoo. The facility is open year-round, and has a wide variety of animals to see — from alpacas, to elk, to snow leopards and more! Free summer concerts are also offered at the park for visitors to enjoy. Click here for the concert schedule.

Cohanzick Zoo in Bridgeton, open since 1934, was N.J.’s first zoo. According to the website, there are over 100 individual animals to see, consisting of 47 different species and spread across over 25 exhibits.

At Point Pleasant Beach, Jenkinson’s Aquarium is the place to see penguins, turtles, fish and more.

Adventure Aquarium in Camden is another location to see sharks, hippopotami, invertebrates and many other marine animals.

Or, if you really feel like embracing the damp weather, you can tour the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor to become an expert on wetlands ecology.

Claw machines, a vast array of games and prizes make way for endless fun. Playing arcade games is a great way for kids to meet new friends to play with and try out different types of games.

If you’re in Asbury Park and want to experience authentic pinball machines and video games from the early days of arcade gaming, head over to Silverball Retro Arcade.

Lucky Leo’s Amusement Arcade in Seaside Heights has deals, specials and events meant for hours of family fun.

Wow your friends and family by perfecting your hole-in-one on the mini golf course. Plus, everyone gets their own designated color golf ball and miniature score sheet to tally up your best (or maybe worst) swings.

Bradley Beach Shipwreck Island Mini Golf offers ocean views while playing 18 holes of miniature golf.

Castaway Cove is a golf course on Point Pleasant Beach’s beloved Jenkinson’s Boardwalk.

Why pay money to get trapped in a room for an hour…

Because it’s fun! Play real-life Clue by piecing together hints and solving the mystery of escaping the room. If you have to pretend you’re Sherlock Holmes to get into the right mindset, we promise we won’t make fun of you.

Here are three escape the room locations on the shore:

Inside the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum at the Cape May Airport in Lower Township.Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for

Many towns along the shore have fascinating historical sites, and museums open to the public so that you can learn all about your favorite vacation spot’s history.

At Beach Haven Maritime Museum, visitors can learn all about the state’s maritime history and get to look at cool artifacts.

If you’re in Cape May’s Lower Township, you can visit the Wildwood Aviation Museum. The museum is located in a hangar from World War II, and visitors can tour the different exhibits to learn about the history of aviation and the military.

Cape May is also home to the Harriet Tubman Museum, as she and other anti-slavery activists spent time there in the 1850s. The museum is typically open Friday-Sunday, but has extended hours on Wednesday and Thursday in the summer. The museum had its grand opening last year on Juneteenth.

Millville Army Air Field Museum also has a variety of exhibits showcasing military and aircraft history for visitors to tour. Another Millville location to visit is Wheaton Arts, which is home to the Museum of American Glass (and the world’s largest hand-blown glass bottle), Glass, Pottery and Flameworking Studios where visitors can watch artist demonstrations, a Folklife Center where visitors can explore different cultures, Museum Stores for shopping and more.

Want to learn more about glass? South Jersey’s Heritage Glass Museum in Glassboro “collects, preserves, and curates historic southern New Jersey glass (historic and fine art), artifacts, photographs, and documents in order to inspire diverse audiences to explore the rich cultural history of New Jersey’s glass making heritage,” according to the website.

The Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University in Atlantic City is another way to experience artist studios, galleries, shops, a café, a “flexible workshop/classroom,” and it offers special events throughout the year for visitors to enjoy.

Battleship New Jersey in Camden offers a floating museum experience in which visitors can learn about the history of the USS New Jersey (BB-62), one of the country’s largest battleships ever built. The museum is highly interactive and offers fun ways to learn about U.S. military history.

If the weather is bugging you, Insectropolis in Toms River might just be the best solution. What could be more fun than seeing over a thousand exotic insects from around the world?

Valery Huamani of Union City hits the rink in style at the Branch Brook Park Roller Skating Center on Tuesday evening in Newark. 2/16/2021Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media

Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to be decked out in a vibrant 80s outfit to visit a roller skating rink. However, we know it would make for some great pictures — maybe even this year’s holiday card.

At Branch Brook Park there are family skating sessions, late night Friday sessions and lessons for all to enjoy.

South Amboy Arena Roller Magic offers traditional skate rentals, a full service skateshop, rollerblade rentals, lessons and more. For event booking, their website reads, “If you are a skating enthusiast, feel free to get in touch with us.”

The Cape May Lighthouse located in Cape May Point State Park, Friday, July 23, 2021. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for

If you’re near the ocean, chances are there is a beautiful lighthouse for you to visit and tour nearby. If you’re lucky maybe you will get the chance to climb to the top. If not, you can still take a cool picture of it that will rival the local postcards.

Put on your walking shoes and get ready to explore Cape May Lighthouse and the 199 steps to the top! The historic 1859 lighthouse was restored by Cape May MAC (Museum, Arts, Culture), opening to the public in 1988. Since then, over 2.5 million visitors have climbed to the top, according to the website.

North Wildwood’s Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is an active navigational aid maintained by the United States Coast Guard and is open to the public, according to the website. The historic lighthouse was first lit in 1874 and restoration projects have taken place throughout the years to keep it open. Visitors can come to the lighthouse free of charge from early May to mid October.

Want to climb N.J.’s tallest lighthouse? Visit Absecon Lighthouse in Atlantic City to go up all 228 steps and admire the view from 171 feet in the air.

If the tallest lighthouse doesn’t peak your interest, perhaps the oldest one will. Sandy Hook Lighthouse in Highlands is the oldest operating lighthouse in the nation, according to the website. It has been in service since 1764, and is open to the public for tours led by park rangers.

Also in Highlands, the Navesink Twin Lights is a non-operational historic lighthouse and museum to visit.

Kane Brewing Company in Ocean Township.Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

If you’re of legal age, why not enjoy a locally brewed beer in your beach town? Fun for a rainy day date, or a family outing for the parents and kids to enjoy if the place is family-friendly.

In Neptune City, you can sit back and relax — or take a tour — of Little Dog Brewing Co., a neighborhood brewery “specializing in handcrafted small-batch German and English influenced ales, lagers and special seasonal beers created by veteran Brewmaster Gretchen Schmidhausler,” the website reads.

Or, if you’re in Ocean City, you can enjoy the indoor tasting room or outdoor beer garden at Kane Brewing Company if the weather clears up. Kids are allowed under supervision, but if you don’t feel like going out, Kane Brewing Company offers daily home deliveries to Monmouth and Middlesex Counties (and other counties “on a rotating basis”).

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Sarah Dolgin may be reached at sdolgin@njadvancemedia.com.

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