A Perfect Rainy Day

A Perfect Rainy Day

Aruba has a reputation for guaranteed sunshine because of its location outside the hurricane belt. But weather patterns can be unpredictable. Here's what to do if you get caught in a storm.

Have breakfast at DeliFrance in the Certified Mega Mall on L. G. Smith Boulevard. The freshly baked bagels and the hot Dutch pancakes covered in powdered sugar will surely warm you up. By 10 AM or so, head to downtown Oranjestad to see the Archaeological Museum of Aruba, where you can get a taste of local history from the extensive collection of Arawak artifacts, farm and domestic utensils, and skeletons. Nearby, the Numismatic Museum houses a fascinating collection of rare coins from around the world. Because you'll be in the heart of town, this is a great time to catch the mesmerizing Experience Aruba Panorama, a 22-minute film complete with 3-D effects and surround sound, at the Renaissance Aruba Beach Resort's Crystal Theater. Shows start every hour.

Why wait until dinner to have an elegant meal when you can have one for lunch? Make a reservation at Le Dôme, an upscale Belgian establishment that is one of the best restaurants on the island. There are four dining rooms to choose from, but head straight to Le Gallerie to enjoy a rainy view of Eagle Beach. Whatever you choose to eat is guaranteed to be great, so devote your time to the wine list, which is so comprehensive it could take up a rainy afternoon all by itself.

After lunch, it's time to indulge yourself. Try the Mandara Spa at the Marriott Aruba Ocean Club, which offers Swedish, sports-reflexology, and aromatherapy massages, as well as other exotic treatments, such as the exfoliating Bali Coffee Scrub. Your body will thank you. Your soul will, too. Stick around to luxuriate in the spa's mint-oil-scented steam room and pick up a pot of foot balm to carry the experience into your postvacation days. Another option is to head to the Eagle Bowling Palace, which has 16 lanes, a snack bar, and even a cocktail lounge. As you celebrate picking up that spare, you'll never know how frightful the weather is outside. Wrap up your rainy day with an early evening movie at the Seaport Cinema in the Seaport Village Market Place. Its six theaters show the latest blockbusters from Hollywood.