Things to Do in Galveston, Texas

The city of Galveston , while only 45 miles southeast of Houston, could be in another part of the world. Located on Galveston Island, the city has a mood and a flavor all its own. It also has a multitude of things to do, covering just about every interest. And hey, if none of these things thrill you, there' always the 32 miles of beaches!!

Moody Gardens- Moody Gardens is more than just a single attraction, it is a complete complex of buildings and activities. However, for the simple visit, the Moody Garden pyramids will provide hours of interesting, and even educational, entertainment. The largest of the pyramid houses an aquarium (listed as one of the largest in the world), the middle one a rainforest and IMAX theater, and the smallest is the Discovery Center, which plays host to traveling exhibits . Admission to the pyramids can be bought separately, or as a package. The exhibits themselves are beautifully done (the penguins at the aquarium steal the show!!) and it would be easy to spend and entire day browsing all there is to see. If the pyramids don't keep you entertained, you can always sit outside and enjoy the spectacular view of Galveston Bay. For a complete list of attractions, hours, and prices at Moody Gardens, visit their official website at www.moodygardens.com/

Schlitterbahn Water Park- The newest location of this popular chain is located on Galveston Island, right next door to Moody Gardens. Schlitterbahn offers water slides, wave pools, thrill rides, kiddie pools and pretty much anything else you can think of that would be considered an "aquatic adventure."

And in the Texas heat, there probably aren't many more things that would be welcome than a huge blast of cool water. Schlitterbahn also allows guests to bring their own coolers or lunchboxes if they like, and offers free parking. A regular, one day admission ticket will cost $40 per person for adults, but child tickets are available and discounts are offered for multiple day admission and for buying online. For hours, prices and details on attractions, visit their website at www.schlitterbahn.com

The Seawall- Imagine a 10 mile long wall with a highly traveled road on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, and that's Galveston's famous seawall. As you drive down Seawall Boulevard, the view of the ocean is spectacular, if not just a little bit unnerving. On days when the water is choppy the effect is more more fascinating to watch. There are many places to pull over and head down to the water as well, for a closer look at this barrier that was constructed after the devastating hurricane of 1900. A trip to Galveston isn't really complete without at least riding along this stretch of beach.

The Strand Historical District- Galveston is home to six historic districts and perhaps the most densely populated with things to do is the Strand. Much like New Orleans's French Quarter, the Strand is a perfect area to just park and walk and enjoy the sites. This district offers something for everyone, including a wide range of eateries, shops of every interests, museums, and a ton of beautiful architecture to admire. You' ll also find markers on many buildings indicating that those are the ones that survived the 1900 hurricane. Again, like the French Quarter, this area has so much to do and see, it would be hard to do it all in one day. The Strand has become so popular and covers so many activities, there is now a website with a complete map and attraction list at www.thestrand.com

These are just a few of the many, many things to do in Galveston. Every section of the city has something new to offer, and it would be hard to cover just the few things on this list without spending several days. And that doesn't even begin to cover the nightlife!! Of course, though, not doing everything in one trip always provides the perfect excuse to go back!