Galveston Island, USA

Galveston Island is where most of the cruise ships with the port of call in Texas enter, but there is more to this place than a ship entry point. The island is one of the sought-after resort destinations, as more and more hotels, shopping centers, and restaurants have sprawled over the years. What makes this island popular to the world, without a doubt, are the miles and miles of Gulf Coast beaches, lively festivities, and welcoming people. Galveston Island is teeming with attractions, and a holiday spent here will surely be one of the most memorable escapades.

The beaches here top the reasons why tourists around the globe take time to visit the island. Stewart Beach, one of the island’s premier resorts, is ideal to families as this beach often hosts family-oriented events in the form of sports and entertainment. Poretto Beach is also family-friendly, and there are beach amenities that cater to the enjoyment of the little ones. East Beach is equally popular, and this destination magnets tourists due to its upbeat and lively character, where happenings are very likely to happen until dawn. And of course, Galveston Island State Park allows swimming and sand-lounging as well, not to mention that it is also a popular attraction for hiking, biking and camping. For a more intense way of experiencing and having fun in the water, activities such as jet boating tours and harbor tours can be done in one of the island’s hottest attractions, Pier 21.

No trip to this island is complete without seeing the historic Downtown.  Since the Downtown is pretty compact, it is nice to have a relaxing walk while being nostalgic in this island’s relevant past. Popularly called The Strand, this historic town is teeming with museums, quaint shopping centers, local eateries, and nightlife. The Grand 1894 Opera House, The Galveston County Museum, and the Galveston Railroad Museum are only a few of what this town is famous for. Not to mention that this side of Galveston is where the very popular Mardi Gras is celebrated, as well as the Dickens on the Strand, a lively Christmas festival. Old fashioned-trolley, horse-drawn carriage, the giant chess, and Victorian architecture give a different character to this attractive historic town of Galveston.

Families cannot get enough of the attractions that cater to their interests, one of which is the ever-famous Moody Gardens. This is without a doubt one of the most important spots in Galveston, and this theme park has been welcoming millions of visitors since the time it was established. From nature to history, from Ice Land to Aquarium Pyramid, all sorts of excitement and fun happen within the walls of the famed Moody Gardens. The Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier is also not to be missed, and this place successfully combines history and amusement which renders fun to all ages. The children will also love the Pirate’s Legends Of The Gulf Coast, Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark, and the Lone Star Flight Museum.

From beach-lounging to nightlife, from dining to shopping, Galveston has great attractions visitors will surely enjoy. What makes it more interesting is that it can be a jump-off point to other beautiful destinations such as the City of Texas, Kemah, and Jamaica Beach.