Over the last few months I have made several visits to Texas which included San Antonio, Austin and South Padre. All of these vacation destination offer a variety of attractions like sandy beaches, amusement parks, historic museums, and fresh seafood.
Well, guess what? Galveston, Texas has all of those things, and it’s only 50 miles southeast of Houston! It’s not only a great place for a vacation, it’s also a great day-trip destination. Everyone can find something fun to do on Galveston Island including my own family. I’m so pumped because we are planning an upcoming visit to Galveston in the next few months. I’m hoping to take a couple days and visit Houston before heading to Galveston for another 2-3 days.
If you’re looking for rest and relaxation, there are over thirty miles of beaches to hang out on and play in the water. East Beach is famous for music and parties, and Galveston Island State Park is known for nature study, hiking, mountain biking, bird watching and fishing. Another great one to try is Seawall Urban Park, which is along Galveston’s well-known Seawall Blvd.Want a little more amusement? How about going to Schlitterbahn Waterpark or Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier? Both offer plenty of rides, games, and fun for all members of the family.
Galveston is a city rich in history, and history buffs will enjoy all sorts of interesting museums featuring aviation, railroads, oil rigging, and military and war memorabilia. Some tourist favorites are Galveston Railroad Museum and the Texas Seaport Museum. People interested in architectural history will also find plenty of places to go in Galveston, including mansions, ornate homes built in the 1800s, and gorgeous churches. Popular attractions include the Moody Mansion Museum and Bishop’s Palace. Both are also rumored to be haunted so paranormal enthusiasts will be sure to want to visit!
The Strand, as it’s called, is the downtown shopping district in Galveston. Tourists can find just about anything they’d ever want here, including many antiques and souvenirs in the Victorian era buildings. Post Office Street is another destination for many Galveston visitors, offering more antique stores and fine art galleries.
Let’s talk about food. Because it’s an island, Galveston is known for its fresh seafood. Listing all of the phenomenal places to eat in the city would take forever, but let’s just say that the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company is located at Pleasure Pier! A few more notable seafood places include Rudy & Paco’s and Landry’s Seafood. Not into seafood? No problem. Galveston also has Italian, Japanese, Greek, and traditional American fare available all over the place.
Just to make things a little more budget friendly, you can get a Galveston Island Pass – it allows visitors to visit certain destinations for up to a 40% discount…more details and info can be found here
As you can see, there truly is something for every taste, budget, and Latino culture in Galveston. The city has so many fun and exciting attractions it’s impossible to do everything in one day. It’s no wonder that visitors keep coming back!
Have you considered a trip to Galveston this Spring or Summer?
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