Galveston is a popular beach city known for Southeast Texas coast. Galveston Island offers 32 miles of shoreline along Gulf of Mexico. Popular Galveston beaches are: Steward Beach, Crystal Beach, Jamaica Beach, and East Beach. Stewart Beach located at Broadway Avenue and Seawall is the best family beach park that offers range of amenities including restrooms, showers, rental chair and umbrella, and volleyball courts. The beach offers lifeguards on duty for day time. East Beach also known as R.A. Apffel Park is popular for boardwalk, festivals and live concerts held during summer months. East Beach also offers restrooms, showers, chair and umbrella rental and other amenities.
Moody Gardens is one of the top tourist attraction and educational destination of Galveston, Texas. Moody Gardens features family friendly attractions, hotel, and golf course. Moody Gardens is known for it's three main pyramid attracions: Aquarium Pyramid, Rainforest Pyramid, and Discovery Pyramid. Aquarium Pyramid features 15-million-gallon aquarium with creatures from Gulf Of Mexico, South Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific and Caribbean. Rainforest Pyramid features rainforest plants and animals of Asia, Africa and the Americas such as Giant Amazon River Otters, Saki Monkeys, sloths and birds. Discovery Pyramid of Moody Gardens features science-oriented exhibits and activities. Palm Beach is a popular small water park that features Lazy River, Wave Pool, Tower Slides, and Splashpad. Colonel Paddlewheel Boat offers beautiful views of Offatts Bayou, and dinner cruises. Other attractions of Moody Gardens include 3D & 4D theaters, holiday lights, and animal encounters.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Galveston features thrill rides, rivers, water slides, wave pools, and chutes. The 26-acre water park has both indoor and outdoor areas with more than 33 attractions. The water park attractions and things to do include tube slide, water coaster, surfing, tidal wave river, lazy river, and zip line. You can also rent private cabanas that include private shaded area with table and seating. Schlitterbahn Galveston also offers a variety of food and beverage options.
Galveston Island State Park located on western Galveston Island features dunes, wetlands, and beaches. The park offers 4 miles of hiking trails with scenery and wildlife viewing. The park has boardwalks over dunes and marshes, observation platform for bird watching. Galveston Island State Park offers fun activities for everyone including swim, fish, bird watching, hiking, camping, and picnicking. You can also bring your own canoes or kayaks and enjoy paddling. The park nature center is only open weekends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The beach side of the park is closed until 2022. Campsites with electricity and water are open for bay side only.
Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier built over the Gulf of Mexico featured amusement rides, games, shopping, and dining. The pier has 16 fun rides and a 5D Theater. The Pleasure Pier requires walk on pass just to visit the pier and for individual ride tickets. All Day Ride Pass does not require to pay for walk on pass.
Located on Broadway and 14th Street, 1892 Bishop's Palace is a national historic landmark. The Bishop's Palace, also known as Gresham's House is one of the most significant of Victorian-style residences in the country. The house was built by Galveston architect Nicholas J. Clayton for lawyer and politician Walter Gresham. Interior of four story house features stained glass, wood carvings, and decorative plaster ceilings and walls.
Moody Mansion is a four-story historic home built in 1895. Also known as the Willis-Moody Mansion, the Romanesque mansion was designed by British architect William H. Tyndall. Interior of the 31 rooms and 5 bathrooms mansion was decorated by the world famous interior design firm of Pottier & Stymus of New York. Self guided tour of the mansion offer visitors opportunity to see 20 rooms that depicts life of Moody family. The house remained home for Moody family until 1986. Self-guided audio tour features six members of the Moody family telling stories about their ancestors. The historic home is also available for rent for private events such as weddings, reunions, anniversaries, and meetings.
Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry is a popular tourist attraction that takes travelers on SH 87 between Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula. The free ferry service has two vessel in service with one vessel in operation 24 hours per day and second vessel in service at 6:30 a.m. Each ferry can carry approximately 70 vehicle. The ferry service is provided by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). It is the only way motorists can cross the waterway between Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula. The 2.7 miles trip takes about 18 minutes. Ferry offers travelers opportunity to see dolphins. Upper observation area offers outside and inside sitting area surrounded by windows that offers great view.
Galveston Naval Museum located at Seawolf Park on Pelican Island features USS Cavalla, a World War II submarine. The USS Cavalla was a Gato class fleet marine known for sinking the 30,000 ton Japanese aircraft carrier Shokaku involved in the Pearl Harbor attacks. In 1971, decommissioned Cavalla was transferred to the Texas Submarine Veterans of WWII. Today, The USS Cavalla serve as a memorial to the lost submarine USS Seawolf. The Galveston Naval Museum offers self-guided tour of the historic WWII vessels.
Bryan Museum located in the Galveston's historic district is a history museum dedicated to the Texas and the American West. The Bryan Museum moved to old Galveston Orphans Home in 2013 features 20,000 square feet of exhibit space. The museum collection includes books, archival material and artifacts that document the history of the American West. Started by J. P. Bryan and Mary Jon Bryan, the museum collections spans more than 12,000 years that includes ancient Native American cultural artifacts to modern 21st century objects. The museum has 70,000 items in total that includes books, documents, saddles, antique firearms, spurs, fine art, religious art, folk art, portraits, rare maps, native american tools, and a Spanish mission bell.