Best Galveston Island area for families?
 

We're looking to rent a vacation home in the Galveston Island area in April. We've never been there before and would appreciate advice about the best location for a good beach and other attractions. We'll have cars and don't mind driving a bit (30 minutes) if the better beaches are not directly by the historic district or other attractions.

I'd appreciate recommendations for rental homes that can sleep 9 and accept pets.

Thank you.

I think the better areas are in the West End. It's less crowded, generally nicer, closer to the beach with more direct access, and still easy to get to most attractions. IMO the Seawall and other areas can be crowded, have some places that are really "touristy" (ie, tacky), you have to walk across the blvd to get to the beach (although that's really not a major challenge).

Go to galveston.com and see if that also helps you narrow it down.

For attractions, definitely check out Moody Gardens - it's a neat complex that has a rain forest pyramid, aquarium, small white sand beach, etc. Also, the Strand is the historic area away from the beach and has good shopping and neat architecture. We've never rented a vacation home, so can't help you there.

Since you've never been before, thought I should mention that if you're looking for white sand beaches and acquamarine water, Galveston doesn't have them. Galveston has plenty of things going for it (volcanogirl has mentioned just a few), but those aren't two of them. If those are at the top of your list, look into South Padre Island. IMO anyway.

I meant to mention that on the Strand, there's a great confectionary and soda shop that's been there since I was a kid - I believe the name is La King's; they have ice cream, sodas, etc., and they make their own candy. Kids love it. Also, we've had fun flying kites on the beach, and you can rent bikes along the Sea Wall. I've also done a dolphin tour, where you go out in the bay and see a lot of dolphins; if you do an online search, that info. will probably turn up for you. I agree that Galveston beaches are not the prettiest, but we still begged our parents to take us every weekend when we were children.

Thank you - these are some great suggestions. Are there any restaurants that we should try?

Fisherman's Wharf, Casey's, Willie G's, Joe's Crab Shack, & Landry's. Joe's and Landry's are chains based in Houston, but the food is consistently good. Willie G's also very good with emphasis on Cajun. Fisherman's gets very good reviews, but we haven't been there in a while. Gaido's used to be THE place for seafood, but the last few times we've been there have definitely been sub-par; it's not on our list anymore.

All those, and we also like the Saltwater Grill and Fish Tales. Have fun!

dfr, I agree with you completely on Gaido's - I don't understand why it's so popular.

volcanogirl - yes, Saltwater Grill. That was the other place I was thinking of and couldn't remember. I can find it - just don't pay attention to names sometimes. Thanks.

aj - add that to the list.

Please let us know how everything goes on your trip. We are thinking of taking our 20 month old son to Moody Gardens in the spring. I just noticed on their website that they will be having a Titanic Artifacts exhibit. It looks pretty neat, esp if you like history.

ilt, we saw a Titanic exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science a few years ago; if this is the same one touring, it was amazing - definitely a don't miss. They had so many things that had survived, including letters, jewelry, dishes, even perfume that you could smell.

I am also looking for something to do for a family of 10 during the summer. Galveston is one option I have.

I am checking out VRBO..but I have a question on where to stay. I know someone commented on the west end is quieter. in looking at the map there is the beach on the gulf of mexico and then there is the Gulf Bay.

Is there a certain area that you like....

I was looking at this map:

http://www.galveston.com/maps/map.pdf

bgnsmky - depends on what you want. Are you also looking for quiet or something near attractions? The west part of the island is quieter. There are some very nice houses/condos in the Pirates Beach, Palm Beach and Jamaica Beach areas (see insert on your map). You're still maybe only 20 min from most attractions in the main part of Galveston, which is between 61st St. and Stewart Beach at Broadway. And those areas are not far from the Moody Gardens complex.

Otherwise, Seawall Blvd is lined with hotels, condos, restaurants, etc.

Personally, I'd stay away from the Bay side and concentrate on the Gulf side. The Bay side really doesn't have any beaches, is very shallow and much of it is wetlands.

But if you want something in the downtown/Historic Strand District, it is nice and is on the Bay side as is the cruise ship terminal.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info. I have narrowed it down to a few house.

2 on on pirates beach
1 is at terramar beach
1 is at spanish grant

So far the pirates beach is winning...he says he is 1.5 blocks from the beach and they have a communal pool.

Let me know if you know the other two beaches.

Also, here are things I am thinking to do:
- hang out at beach and pool
- moody gardens (2 day ticket is only $5.00 more - so will buy that even if we don't go two days)
- fish from pier and/or inexpensive charter (if you have suggestions let me know)
- maybe drive to nasa and back (is this about 1.5 hour drive sugggestions for better on weekend or weekday)
- my dad said there are dog races near by for a night time trip
- schlitterbaum maybe
- state park (?? anything there?)
- are there any cool places to rent bikes etc.
- maybe trip to Keemah (sp?) boardwalk

Love any more suggestions.

I did re-read and I will add the Strand to the list to do. The girls will like that a lot. not sure about the teenage boys!

And saw bikes on the boardwalk

NASA is only about a 40 or so minute drive from Galveston. I would say that you would have less traffic once getting into Clear Lake on a weekend vs. a weekday.

Kemah Boardwalk could be combined with the trip to NASA on the same day/evening. Depending on the time of year you are going, there is often evening entertainment/concerts, etc. there.

There is a big Army Surplus store on the Strand that the boys could spend all day in . . .

Also, the boys might like the Railroad Museum which is in the old train station that abuts the Strand. It's actually a pretty nice exhibit and has films on Galveston's history, etc.

All of them would like Moody Gardens.

We went on the Grand Princess cruise last January out of Galveston. The bus driver told us to be very careful as the crime was very high and under-reported. He said to make sure we stayed in crowds and said robberies were common.
Since then Princess no longer ports in Galveston. ( no idea why)

I was surprised as I lived in Houston years ago and we loved Galveston. Has anyone heard this before?

< Has anyone heard this before? >

Nope