Galveston Island

Galveston, one of the oldest cities in Texas, sits on a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico amid 32 miles of relaxing beaches. The Strand National Historic Landmark District is full of retail stores, antiques shops, fine dining, and live entertainment. Much of Galveston was rebuilt after the Great Storm of 1900, but gems of Victorian architecture are still scattered throughout the downtown area. Visitors can tour magnificently restored mansions or one of the heritage museums. Moody Gardens offers a wide variety of activities–the aquarium, an indoor rain forest, a show at the 4-D special FX theater, or a 3-D IMAX film. After an activity-filled day, a stroll along the famed Seawall Boulevard will be the perfect way to unwind. Galveston has 1,781 economical, 738 moderate, 691 first-class, and 1,015 deluxe accommodations of all types.

Bishop’s Palace

1402 Broadway, Galveston, 77550
409-762-2475

Galveston architect Nicholas Clayton designed this exquisite mansion, built in 1886. It’s on the American Institute of Architecture’s list of the 100 most noteworthy buildings in the country. Originally the home of Congressman Walter Gresham, it served as a shelter for 200 people during the 1900 hurricane when the family opened its doors to victims of the storm. The mansion still has original furnishings from the Greshams. After the Catholic archdiocese of Galveston- Houston purchased the house in 1923, Bishop Christopher Byrne lived here–hence the name Bishop’s Palace.

Open Memorial Day–Labor Day Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. noon–4 p.m., Labor Day–Memorial Day daily noon–4 p.m.

Admission: $6, seniors $5, students and teens 13–19 $3, children 12 and under $1. Group rates available. Partially accessible to the mobility-impaired.

The Grand 1894 Opera House

2020 Postoffice, Galveston, 77550
409-765-1894
800-821-1894
thegrand.com

The eclectic roster of entertainers who have performed here includes Sarah Bernhardt, Al Jolson, the Marx Brothers, Bill Cosby, and Ray Charles. After a stint as the largest theater in Texas, the opera house underwent a $7 million award-winning restoration in the 1970s that reclaimed its original splendor. In 1993 the 73rd Texas Legislature designated the Grand as the Official Opera House of the State of Texas. The Grand pre¬sents a full schedule of performing artists year-round.

Open Mon.–Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. noon–5 p.m. for tours. Guided tours available by reservation.

Admission: $2. Call for show schedule and prices.

Moody Gardens

1 Hope Blvd., Galveston, 77554
409-744-4673
800-582-HOPE
moodygardens.org

The Moody Foundation of Galveston built this garden complex where you can explore the oceans of the world without getting wet. The 10-story glass Rainforest Pyramid includes three geographical regions of rain forest with exotic plants, tropical fish, wading birds, reptiles, waterfalls, and a bat cave, as well as cotton-top tamarins, two-toed sloths, an ocelot, and other rain forest animals. The Discovery Pyramid features traveling science exhibits. An IMAX theater shows 3-D films on a six-story screen, and the Ridefilm theater features seats that move with the action. Moody Gardens is also home to Palm Beach (see separate listing), and a 4-D special FX theater.

Gardens open Sun.–Fri. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–8 p.m. (call for extended summer hours).

IMAX shows daily; times vary. Call for schedule and prices.

Moody Mansion

2618 Broadway, Galveston, 77550
409-762-7668
moodymansion.org

This 31-room mansion illustrates the dedication of Galveston residents to restoring the island’s glorious Victorian architecture. The mansion shows changing exhibits of art, jewelry, vintage clothing, and other items from the private collection of Mary Moody.

Open daily (closed major holidays). Call for times.

Admission: $6, seniors $5, children 6–18 $3, under 6 free. Group rates available by reservation.

Palm Beach

1 Hope Blvd., Galveston, 77554
409-744-4673
800-582-HOPE
moodygardens.org

Located inside Moody Gardens, three acres of white sand, freshwater lagoons, and exotic landscaping create a resort beach with paddleboats, volleyball, and much more.

Open summers only; call or check online for hours.

Call for Admission prices. Group rates available.

Pier 21 Theater

21st at Harborside Dr., Galveston, 77550
409-763-8808
galvestonhistory.org

This restored historic theater shows two movies about exciting moments in Galveston’s past. The Great Storm, a wide-screen multi-image presentation, portrays the terrible 1900 hurricane that ravaged Galveston and killed at least 6,000 people. Photographs, eyewitness accounts, and dramatic sound and light effects honor the indomitable spirit of Galvestonians, who refused to accept defeat and rebuilt their city. Pirate Island tells the story of early island inhabitants and the pirate captain Jean Lafitte.

Call for show times and prices (closed major holidays).

Group rates available.

Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark

2026 Lockheed, Galveston, 77554
409-770-9283
schlitterbahn.com/gal

Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark covers approximately 15 acres. German-style castle spires and architecture provide the visual focal point. The park has food kiosks, retail shops, changing rooms with showers, lockers, group areas, plus more than 20 attractions.

Call for hours.

Admission: $25.59, children 3–11 $20.99 (tax not included).

Texas Aviation Hall of Fame and Lone Star Flight Museum

2002 Terminal Dr., Galveston, 77554
409-740-7722
lonestarflight.org

The Texas Aviation Hall of Fame honors outstanding aviation achievements and Texans who have contributed to the advancement of aviation. The museum houses more than 44 restored aircraft, including WWII fighters, bombers, liaison trainers, and executive planes.

Open daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (closed Christmas).

Admission: $8, seniors and children 5–17 $5, under 5 free. Group rates and tours available. Reservations required for groups.

Texas Seaport Museum and the Elissa

Pier 21, #8, Galveston, 77550
409-763-1877
tsm-elissa.org

The Elissa, Texas’s only 19th-century tall ship, docked in Galveston twice during the 1880s to deliver cargo. When ported in Greece in the late 1960s by her Greek owners, she was used to smuggle cigarettes. In 1975 the Galveston Historical Foundation had her towed home and funded the majority of the restoration, at a total cost of $4.5 million. At the museum, exhibits and a multimedia presentation recount the Elissa’s long and fascinating history. Narrated harbor tours are available on the Sea Gull II.

Open daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (closed major holidays).

Admission: $8, children 7–18 $6, under 7 free, family $22.50. Harbor tours 1 hour. Admission: $10, seniors and children 4–18 $8, under 4 free.

Events

Dickens on the Strand

409-765-7834
galvestonhistory.org, dickensonthestrand.org

Galveston
Nov. 30–Dec. 2, 2007

A pre-Christmas festival along the Strand takes you back to the Victorian era. Scrooge and other Dickens characters, costumed carolers, street performers, and vendors wander among the crowd. Come decked out in Victorian fashion and get in for half the price.

Mardi Gras Galveston

888-GAL-ISLE
mardigrasgalveston.com

Galveston
Jan. 25–Feb. 5, 2008

Celebrate Mardi Gras Texas-style at Galveston Island’s version of this festive event, where nearly 500,000 partygoers get all decked out for the occasion. Parades, costume balls, and live entertainment keep things rambunctious. The Grand Night Parade from Seawall Boulevard to the Strand on the final Saturday night is the biggest of the events, and the festival concludes with the Fat Tuesday Parade.

Historic Homes Tours

409-765-7834
galvestonhistory.org

Galveston
May 3–4 and 10–11, 2008

Acquaint yourself with Galveston’s architectural past by visiting these beautiful private residences, which are not usually open to the public.

AIA Houston Sandcastle Competition

713-520-0155
aiasandcastle.com

Galveston
June 7, 2008

Eighty-five to 90 teams, including professional architects and designers from the American Institute of Architects, compete for the Golden Bucket Award. The promotional display, which uses more than 1,100 tons of sand, is a sight to see.

Travel Itinerary

Bay Area Houston (Clear Lake, Pasadena, Texas City, Kemah), Galveston

6 Days

A 125-square-mile swath between Houston and Galveston, Bay Area Houston offers fun in the sun, “out of this world” tours, top-notch fishing, boardwalk shopping, and relaxed dining.

Start at Clear Lake and the NASA Johnson Space Center–the “out of this world” experience! Begin your space journey with the NASA Tram Tour, where you can see the original Mission Control Center, the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility, or the current Mission Control Center. Don’t miss the Apollo exhibit, a permanent display of that historic first mission, including original moon suits, flight suits, and pressure suits; the largest collection of lunar moon rocks in the world is also here. At the popular Kids Space Place, kids can experience walking on the moon or use the Build-a-Rocket computer program to design a virtual rocket. And everyone can try the flight simulators–it’s not as easy as it looks, though–in Space Center Plaza. Come down to Earth with a bite to eat at Abe’s Cajun Market (1080 Clear Lake City Blvd.).

Pasadena, the next destination, is a small town with friendly people and a nature lover’s paradise: the Armand Bayou Nature Center, a 2,500-acre preserve with a wildly diverse ecosystem. Imagine hardwood forests, native grassland prairies, wetlands, and wildlife like bison, deer, bobcats, and owls. Designated as one of only four Texas Coastal Preserves, Armand Bayou has more than five miles of primitive trails and a 500-foot teaching boardwalk.

Stop for lunch in Texas City at Blue Gulf Seafood (4020 N. 22nd St.), one of many seafood restaurants you’ll discover as you make your way down the Texas coastline to Galveston. Texas City is a picturesque Gulf Coast town of historic gazebos, lighthouses, and nostalgic reminders of the past. Learn more at the Texas City Museum, and then visit the refurbished Sixth Street Historical District that’s now packed with boutiques, antiques and quilt shops, and more. For a change of pace, break out your rod and reel and try your luck on the Texas City Dike, the world’s longest man-made (five miles) fishing pier. Spend the rest of the afternoon and the evening exploring the revamped and expanded Kemah Boardwalk–an amusement park whose new attractions include a 36-foot carousel and a 65-foot Ferris wheel! But the boardwalk is much more than rides and cotton candy. It also offers plenty of shopping and dining.

Among the dining choices: the Aquarium (called an “underwater dining experience”), the Flying Dutchman, or the Cadillac Bar for after-hours fun. Turn in for the night at the Clipper House Inn Bed and Breakfast–it’s tucked away from the action for a good night’s sleep.

Start your day with a leisurely breakfast at the Clipper House, then hit the road for the 22-mile drive to Galveston. When you arrive, park the car, grab towels, flip-flops, and bathing suits, and hop on the Galveston Trolley to the city’s 32 miles of beaches for some R&R.

At night, explore the exciting and fast-growing Strand National Historic District, where bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and more have opened in the last few years, making this THE hot area of town. Try the Mosquito Café (628 14th St.) in the East End Historical District, where the motto is “one bite is all it takes.”

Spend the night at the restored European-inspired Tremont Hotel, the elegant Victorian Hotel Galvez, or the newly expanded Moody Gardens Hotel. The next day, hop on the Galveston Island Ferry, located on Texas Highway 87, for a visit to the peninsula of Port Bolivar. Once there, take some time to marvel at the Bolivar Lighthouse. Now privately owned, it was built in 1872 and survived Galveston’s devastating 1900 hurricane. On the way back, stop at Crystal Beach, a gem that’s about 10 miles from the ferry landing.

Once back in Galveston, explore one of the city’s most popular attractions, Moody Gardens (at One Hope Blvd.). This tropical paradise that celebrates the ocean features the Aquarium and Rainforest Pyramids, a revealing look at the ecosytems of tropical plants, exotic fish, and birds. There’s also the brand-new 4-D special FX theater, which opened in November 2006. Have lunch at the Garden Restaurant.

For getting around the city, the Galveston Island Trolley is the best bet. It’ll cost you $1, and it makes regular stops on Seawall Boulevard, the Strand, and popular sunning spots like Stewart Beach.

End your stay in Galveston with a bit of history at Seawolf Park, home of the U.S.S. Cavalla (SSK-244) submarine and the destroyer escort U.S.S. Stewart (DE-238). There’s also a three-story pavilion with a view of Galveston harbor, picnic sites, a playground area, and a lighted fishing pier.