We spent 3 days on Galveston Island, because during our 3-week round trip through Texas we couldn’t miss a stop on the Gold Coast. We’ll tell you how we liked the island and what we did in our travel report.
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Interesting facts about Galveston Island
Galveston Island is located off the Texas Gulf Coast, around an hour south-east of Houston. The narrow barrier island, which is around 43 kilometers long and up to 5 kilometers wide, covers an area of around 165 square kilometers. Centuries ago, the island was already home to indigenous peoples and was later visited by European explorers. In the 19th century, Galveston developed into the most important port in Texas, flourished as a trading center and was an important gateway for immigrants. But the heyday came to an abrupt end when a devastating hurricane hit the island in 1900, killing over 6,000 people and destroying large parts of the city. The subsequent reconstruction has shaped the island to this day – including the construction of the Seawall dyke and the raising of the entire town.
Galveston Island in Texas
Today, Galveston Island is a lively vacation destination that attracts over eight million guests every year. The mixture of Victorian charm, maritime history and modern leisure activities makes the island particularly diverse. Visitors can stroll through the historic beach district “The Strand”, enjoy rides at the Pleasure Pier or discover the futuristic pyramids of Moody Gardens with aquarium, rainforest and science exhibitions. In addition to family-friendly attractions, the island also offers extensive beaches, a natural state park and numerous museums and historic villas. This combination of beach vacation and culture makes Galveston Island one of the most popular destinations on the Texas coast.
Our accommodation on Galveston Island
We opted for accommodation near the beach and found a very nice little house for 119 EUR per night on 1st Street.
On the island you will find many different types of accommodation, from historic hotels to great vacation homes on the beach. You can find lots of great deals at Booking.com – The best accommodation on Galveston Island
The beach on Galveston Island
It was only a 5-minute walk from our accommodation to the beach. It was perfect for a few relaxing days and ideal for the kids, as the beach is extremely wide, slopes gently and there were hardly any waves when we were there 🙂
The beaches of Galveston Island are among the most beautiful in Texas, stretching for miles along the Gulf Coast and offering a varied mix of lively sections with restaurants, bars and water sports as well as quiet, natural beach areas. The Galveston Seawall Beach with its promenade and the expansive East Beach, where festivals and concerts are held in summer, are particularly popular. For those who prefer a more relaxed pace, Galveston Island State Park offers ideal conditions for sunbathing, swimming or long walks through dunes and salt marshes.
The most famous beach in Texas with wide expanses of sand, warm water and numerous leisure activities. Ideal for families, water sports enthusiasts and partygoers during the spring break season.
Galveston Island
Popular for its long sandy beaches, historic town center and leisure attractions such as Pleasure Pier and Moody Gardens. Family-friendly and diverse, with lively sections of beach and quieter natural areas in the state park.
Port Aransas / Mustang Island
A relaxed beach on the Gulf Coast, known for its wide sand, nature parks and good surfing conditions. Ideal for camping, fishing and birdwatching, but also with beach bars and restaurants for vacationers.
Surfside Beach
Quiet beach west of Galveston, popular with campers, anglers and families. Less touristy, with miles of sandy beaches and natural dunes. Perfect for a relaxing day at the beach away from the hustle and bustle.
Corpus Christi Beach / Padre Island National Seashore
A nature reserve with pristine beaches, ideal for nature lovers and wildlife spotting. The longest uninterrupted sandy coastline in the USA, with opportunities for camping, hiking and kayaking
Downtown / Strand Historic District
Downtown Galveston is the historic heart of the island and tells of the city’s eventful past on every corner. Especially famous is the Strand Historic District, a neighborhood full of Victorian warehouses and commercial buildings from the 19th century, when Galveston was the most important trading and immigration port in Texas.
Mural in Saengerfest Park in Galveston
Today, the magnificent facades house boutiques, galleries and restaurants that fill the old splendor with modern life. Impressive buildings such as the Grand 1894 Opera House, one of the oldest theaters still in use in Texas, or the Ashton Villa, a magnificent brick mansion, bring the island’s heyday back to life. The Old City Hall and the imposing facades along Postoffice Street also provide an insight into the city’s prosperous past. A special experience is a ride on the historic streetcar, which offers visitors a comfortable overview of downtown and connects the most important sights.
Port of Galveston
The Port of Galveston is one of the oldest ports on the Gulf of Mexico and still plays a central role for the island today. As early as the 19th century, it was the most important trading center in Texas and was at times considered the second largest port of immigration in the USA after Ellis Island in New York City. For decades, the port shaped the economic development of the city and made Galveston the “Gateway to Texas”. Today, it is primarily known as a major cruise port: Millions of passengers board ships from well-known cruise lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Line here every year.
Moody Gardens
The Moody Gardens are one of the most popular attractions on Galveston Island and offer a fascinating mix of nature, education and entertainment. The three large glass pyramids are the landmark visible from afar: In the Aquarium Pyramid, visitors can immerse themselves in the underwater worlds of the oceans – from colorful coral reefs to majestic sharks. The Rainforest Pyramid transports you to tropical rainforests with exotic plants, birds and wild animals such as monkeys and sloths. The Discovery Pyramid is all about science and exciting exhibitions that are designed to be interactive, especially for families and children. The experience is complemented by a water park, 3D and 4D cinemas and a lagoon with white sandy beaches.
We did drive to the Moody Gardens site once to see the pyramid – but didn’t visit any of the attractions due to time constraints.
Is Galveston worth a visit?
Nevertheless, we were not as impressed by Galveston Island as we were by Panama City Beach or Fort Myers Beach in Florida, for example.
Round trip through Texas - Our travel route & reports
We did a lot of research for our round trip through Texas and in the end we probably put together a "typical" round trip where you explore the best-known cities and regions. We started our trip in Dallas and Fort Worth, then went on to the capital Austin, then to Fredericksburg and San Antonio, from there to the Gulf Coast to Galveston and finally we visited Houston. All in all, a really beautiful and varied route that you can do very well in 3 weeks with 2 small children 🙂
Our itinerary & travel reports:
➥ Dallas - Sights, Attractions & Photo Spots
➥ Fort Worth - Cowboy feeling in the Wild West
➥ Fossil Rim Wildlife Center - A safari in Texas by car
➥ Austin - Sights of the Capital of Texas
➥ Fredericksburg - The most German city in Texas
➥ San Antonio - Top 10 attractions: River Walk, Alamo & more
➥ San Antonio - SeaWorld & Aquatica Water Park
➥ San Antonio - Mission (UNESCO World Heritage)
➥ Galveston Island - relaxing on the Gulf Coast
➥ Houston - Our highlights and activities
➥ Houston Space Center - Dive into the world of space travel