Galveston Island — the Playground of the South

At its Golden Era in the late 1800s, Galveston Island was known as the “Playground of the South”—a booming tourist destination built on its attractive beaches, convenient location, high-­‐traffic port and numerous attractions. Galveston has reclaimed that title in recent years with an influx of new attractions and cruise ships that keep drawing visitors to this charming historic beach town on the Texas Gulf Coast.

Galveston is described as a romantic island tucked deep within the heart of south Texas. It possesses all the charm of a small Southern town, yet it’s only 50 miles south of Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States. Galveston Island is a popular year-­‐round destination, blending temperate weather and rich history—including one of the largest and well-­‐preserved concentrations of Victorian architecture in the country. But that’s only the beginning.

The island is also home to 32 miles of beaches, a wide variety of family attractions, museums, restaurants, downtown shopping, top resort hotels, and outdoor adventure activities by land or sea, including kayaking, diving, deep-­‐sea fishing, birding, golfing, beach volleyball and more.

Much of Galveston’s appeal is tied to its history, an aspect the island’s tight-knit tourism community works to preserve. Popular historical attractions on the island include the 1892 Victorian mansion Bishop’s Palace, 1895 Moody Mansion, the Grand 1895 Opera House and 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA. The Downtown Historic Strand Seaport District is lined with Victorian buildings that house quaint boutiques, art galleries, shops, restaurants and attractions.

For more information, check out the Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau.