Galveston Island
Make an escape to Texas’s favorite Gulf Coast getaway
Sitting off Texas’s Gulf Coast, Galveston welcomes visitors with rollicking neighborhoods, historic buildings and fun-filled beaches. Galveston truly lives up to its nickname, “Playground of the South,” with diverse attractions that will keep visitors entertained for days on end.
The Strand Historic District is where Galveston goes to dine, shop and celebrate. The Dickens on the Strand and Mardi Gras! Galveston festivals keep the antique horse and carriage conveyances busy in the winter, and the heritage streetcar system comes in handy when arms are filled with shopping bags.
The star of the adjacent Post Office District is the Grand 1894 Opera House, an ornate Romanesque Revival structure that has survived every hurricane and still hosts major national touring acts. No seat is more than 70 feet from the performers.
Galveston Island CVB
At the ocean’s edge, Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier at the foot of Rosenberg Street boasts a lively mix of restaurants, shops and entertainment. The 1,130-foot amusement pier attached to the Seawall boasts a 100-foot Ferris wheel and the Texas Star Flyer, which swings riders 230 feet above the Gulf waters and is the highest ride in the Lone Star State. Several midway games offer passersby the chance to win big prizes.
Hit the Beach
For real ocean sand, Galveston sprinkles four full-service public beach parks among its vast menu of beaches. East Beach, which caps the eastern tip, is home to a boardwalk and packed calendar of festivals and live concerts. The first weekend in June is given over to the Sandcastle Competition sponsored by the American Institute of Architects. Stewart Beach at Broadway Avenue gives off more of a family vibe with lifeguards and plenty of beach chairs and umbrellas.
Galveston Island CVB
The protective Seawall has been camouflaged as “America’s longest continuous sidewalk,” ideal for strolling or bike riding along the ocean. Seawall Urban Park encompasses more than 10 miles of Gulf of Mexico sand.
For More Information
Galveston Island Convention and Visitors Bureau
888-GAL-ISLE
www.galveston.com
Texas Tourism
800-452-9292
www.traveltex.com
