AUSTIN, Texas — As much as we sing hallelujahs in Central Texas when anything wet comes out of the sky, nothing turns a smile upside down faster than rain at a beach.
You're there on the sand with your towel, your body board, your umbrella and your cooler — ready to do some frolicking when ... wait. Was that thunder? Suddenly, you're running for cover as the rain pours down.
My husband and I have found ourselves apologizing to guests at our coastal condo when it rains on their vacations — as though we were the ones who told the sun to hide.
Mother Nature has a mind of her own, and September typically brings more showers to coastal Texas. When your beach time gets rained out, look for alternate ways to make merry at these major Texas beaches.
Galveston
Go in the house. Somebody else's, that is. Check out the Moody Mansion (2618 Broadway St., www.moodymansion.org) or Bishop's Palace (1402 Broadway St., www.galveston.com/bishopspalace/), both open for daily tours. And Ashton Villa (2328 Broadway St., www.galvestonhistory.com) has a "restoration in progress" tour that illustrates what Hurricane Ike did to that historic property.
Try the Awl Bidness. Ocean Star Drilling and Oil Rig Museum (2002 Wharf Road, www.oceanstaroec.com) is indoors. Learn about how Texas gets oil so you can spout off the next time it comes up at a party.
Moody? So's everybody. Moody Gardens offers a full day of indoor fun. Visit the rain forest (where the rain does not go) and the aquarium. Or take moviegoing to a new level with the Moody Gardens Ride Film (literally a ride through a film) or feel what's on the screen with the 4D Special FX Theater. 1 Hope Blvd. (take 81st Street off Seawall Boulevard), www.moodygardens.com).
Storm stories. Watch a documentary about Galveston's deadly 1900 hurricane at Pier 21 Theatre. It also has a movie about Jean Lafitte, if you're in a piratey mood. The theater is at Pier 21 on the bay (www.galveston.com/pier21theatre/).
Have a shake. The best are at La King's Confectionary (2323 Strand St.). Sip your shake while you watch candy being made.
Watch the rain. Best place to do it, I believe, is Gaido's (3800 Seawall Blvd., 409-762-9625). Get one of the tables by the windows, eat some gulf shrimp and watch the Gulf of Mexico go gray.
Hit the water park. Seriously? Yes. Schlitterbahn Galveston (2109 Lockheed Road, www.schlitterbahn.com) has a retractable roof — and walls. If rain shows up, it takes about eight minutes to create a ride-filled room. Yes, you're already wet, but Schlitterbahn knows you'd rather not get rained on. People are funny that way.
Corpus Christi
If you're at Port Aransas, Mustang Island or North Padre Island, Corpus is your rainy-day harbor.
See that ship. You've always meant to check out the USS Lexington? Now's the time to board the World War II aircraft carrier and see what all the fuss is about. 2914 N. Shoreline Drive, www.usslexington.com.
Can't fish? See fish. At the Texas State Aquarium, you can watch dolphins dance, pet a stingray and check out the sharks. 2710 N. Shoreline Drive, next to the Lexington, www.texas stateaquarium.com.
Can't fish? Eat fish. Try Water Street Seafood Co. at 309 N. Water St. (361-881-9448) or its sister eatery, Water Street Oyster Bar nearby at 314 N. Chaparral St. (361-882-8683). Or head out under the John F. Kennedy Causeway toward North Padre Island and eat at Doc's Seafood & Steaks (13309 S. Padre Island Drive, 361-949-6744) or Snoopy's Pier (13313 S. Padre Island Drive, 361-949-8815). Both overlook the Laguna Madre (the bay).
Try a museum. This is the perfect time to explore one of Corpus Christi's museums. Try the Art Museum of South Texas (1902 N. Shoreline Drive), the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History (1900 N. Chaparral St.), the Instituto de Cultura Hispanica de Corpus Christi (1617 N. Chaparral St.), the Selena Museum (5410 Leopard St.) or the Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures and Education Center (1809 Chaparral St.).
Go shopping. La Palmera Mall (5488 S. Padre Island Drive) is just finishing up a $50 million renovation and has all the usual suspects: JCPenney, Macy's, Dillard's, Gap, etc.
Watch it rain. My favorite place to do this? Republic of Texas Bar and Grill up on the 20th floor of the Omni Bayfront Hotel (900 N. Shoreline Drive). Big windows all the way around the room. Great view of the lightning.
South Padre Island
Beachcomb indoors. There's a Beachcomber's Museum inside Padre Island Trading Co. at 104 W. Pompano Street. Look what washed up and got collected by owners Steve Hatchcock and Kay Lay. Pretty intriguing.
Can't see the sky? See turtles. Sea Turtle Inc. has rescued some giant sea turtles that have been injured by everything from fish hooks to boat propellers. They're fun to watch as they cavort in their tanks. (Those deemed able to survive are eventually returned to the Gulf.) 6617 Padre Blvd., www.seaturtleinc.com.
To the lighthouse! Across the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway on Texas 100 is the only tall lighthouse in Texas in which you can climb to the top. If you really want to get slapped by the wind and rain, go outside when you reach the top. If not, stay in the lightkeeper's cottage and read the history of the light. 414 E. Queen Isabella Blvd.
Indoor sea creatures. The small but delightful South Padre Island Dolphin Research and Sea Life Nature Center, 110 N. Garcia St. in Port Isabel across from the lighthouse, has starfish, stingrays and other creatures to show you.
Movie time. South Padre Island does have a movie theater, Island Cinema, at 4700 Padre Blvd. The seats are bum-numbingly uncomfortable, but it's the only show in the area, and it does run new releases, specializing in kid stuff and action movies.
Watch it rain. Watch the rain pound the Laguna Madre and see what would have been the sunset at the upstairs bars at Amberjack's (209 W. Amberjack St.) or Louie's Backyard (2305 Laguna Drive).
Of course, no matter where you are, rain presents a good opportunity to hole up in your hotel or condo and just read, cook (if you have a stove), sip wine or whatever else comes to mind.
Enjoy your down time. The sun could come out tomorrow.
Helen Anders writes for the Austin American-Statesman. E-mail: handers(at)statesman.com.