Weather-beaten Shelter

My family lived in the Bahamas for a short period, and on one of our walks near the beach we came upon a campsite with shelters constructed of tent-like frames (like a low dome) covered in palm fronds. We guessed they were left by Boy Scouts. The site was under tree cover, away from the beach. My brothers and I thought it was totally awesome, of course; these huts were so roomy and looked like they would keep out the rain. I don't know how many shelters of our own we attempted to build back then, but ours were always pretty small and with a flat roof.
The best part of a shelter is waiting for it to rain, then taking some snacks and sitting inside to see how long you stay dry. Having a cat, a little goat, or other animal friend in there with you is also recommended.