Galveston, Oh Galveston

Serenity, Beauty, Sun & Sea

Located approximately 50 miles from 'Houston, Texas' the port of Galveston is the heartbeat of The Strand. Open markets, deep sea fishing excursions, breathtaking ships, a free ferry ride – and so much more...

If you’ve never visited this delightful gulf port plan to stay a few days so that you can see some of the unique visitor offerings. This 32-mile long barrier island sports luxurious hotels, a carnival-style playland at Stewart Beach Park, The Strand, Moody Gardens, golf courses, a State Park, the Bishop’s Place, cute shell shops, and four-star seafood restaurants.

Lodging - The first thing that you’ll need to do when you ‘land’ on the island is to secure a hotel. Depending on the time of year they can be few and far between. In Y2K, Tom and I had the misfortune of arriving on the Island after dark and there was literally no place at the inn. We drove, and drove, and drove and when we finally decided that we’d need to rough it out in the State Park, we arrived an hour after the gates had been locked. We spent a miserable night sleeping in a small car in the middle of June, with no pillows and no air-conditioning, parked just outside the gates of the State Park. So close, yet so far away!

The city is jam-packed with hotels and motels, even houses on stilts that are designated as summer rentals. Most of the hotels are located across from the beach on Seawall Boulevard. There is at least one hotel, The Flagship, that is anchored along the beach and juts out into the Gulf. The hotel is several stories high, equipped with a freshwater pool and a fishing pier that is reserved for guests.

The Strand - After you secure your quarters for the evening, take a drive around the city to familiarize yourself with the beautiful island. As you drive along The Strand you’ll notice people pedaling bikes, skating, and surfing – both on skateboards (on the concrete) and boogie boards (out in the Gulf).

It’s very hard to match the beauty of the crashing waves of Galveston. As you drive along The Strand you can hear them slamming against the jetties that my Grandfather helped build in the early 1900’s.

The beach isn’t a pristine white as found in the tropics. At first sight you may think that the sand is dirty, due to its gray tinge – but it’s not. Galveston is in the outwash fan of the great Mississippi River, so the distinct coloring results from the river silt mixing with the sand.

Fishing - Galveston is a fisherman’s Mecca! You can fish in the bay, the surf, off piers and jetties for some 52 varieties of saltwater fish. There are also deep sea fishing excursions that go out daily. If you wish, you can even charter a boat. There are numerous rock groin piers that extend well into the Gulf from the beachfront, as well as lighted fishing piers stocked with bait and rental tackle.

Dining  - Oh yes! Tons of great restaurants here and you’ll find everything from clams to calamari. If seafood is not your favorite fare, there are plenty other fine offerings. Try to take advantage of the restaurants that jut out over the Gulf. Order a fresh basket of fried shrimp, lean back under one of the tables shaded with a colorful umbrella, and enjoy the whitecaps rolling in from the Gulf. It’s something that you’ll never forget.

Sandcastles - From time-to-time you’ll have the opportunity to see a ‘sandcastle artist’ at work. If not, grab a small shovel and pail and bring out the little kid in you. Watch out for meandering conches that inhabit the beach, though they won’t harm you – they’re just fun to watch!

Port of Galveston - Banana boats, shrimpers, grain carriers, container ships, fishing boats, schooners, tugs, flatboats, even cruise ships channel these waters. Take a stroll along the port and try to time your visit in unction with returning deep-sea fishermen. You’ll love seeing their ‘catch’.

Be sure and bring along your camera so you can clip off some great shots of the floating vessels that frequent the port. It’s difficult to believe how large these sea giants can be!

Shell & Souvenir Shops - Visiting the local shell and souvenir shops is a great way to escape the heat. Unique creations made from shells will fascinate and sometimes astound you. Overall, prices seem very reasonable for a major port, with some items falling into the ‘great bargain’ category.

Ferry Ride - There is a free ferry, the Bolivar Ferry, located on the north end of Ferry Road in Galveston. Don’t miss it! Tom and I had the fortune of riding it at night and it was one of the most enchanting evenings of my life!

Other Great Things To See & Do In Galveston - Scuba diving, bird watching, boating, swimming, Greyhound Racing, Strand Street Theatre, The 1894 Grand Opera House, Stewart Beach Park, Seaside Safari, Bolivar Peninsula – and much, much more!

Make sure to include at least one sunrise and sunset in your visit. You are guaranteed to be dazzled!

As long as you're in the Galveston area, why not consider taking in Houston? Of course, that’s a different story...

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