chimiler

I'll be in the Galveston to attend a conference with my family and may extend our stay for a couple days to check out the area. What is there to do? We'll have a 1 year old so that may limit our possibilites a bit. I haven't read a whole lot of positive posts about the area. Is the Tremount House hotel a decent place to stay or too stuffy for a little one?

gavin

Not to be a wet blanket, but Galveston and tourism don't belong in the same sentence.
It's a pretty bleak place.
Search the archives here at fodor's.

GlenCampbell

Galveston, Oh Galveston! That's the best thing to come out of there....sorry, I am a wet blanket.

Tex

The Tremont is a great place for adults, but the understated luxury is lost on kids.
Galveston itself is OK for just a couple days. The beach is pretty lousy - water browner than the rocky sand, full of tarballs. Kids may enjoy Moody Gardens where they have built an artificial white sandy beach. For adults there are some historic buildigs but it can be "done" in a day. If what you want is a beach house getaway, try the West end.

p.

The old downtown (where Tremont is located) has been revived and is quite OK. The port area has some exhibits e.g Tall Ship "Elissa" and you can take boat rides. Over on the other side you've got Moody Gardens with aquarium etc. There's plenty for a couple of days.

Tex

The San Luis would be a better place to stay with a child. The Tremont is a more historic accomodation. San Luis has a very nice pool area and accomodations, and they keep the pool comfortably warm in the winter. Wonderful whirlpool under a waterfall too. The spa is much nicer than I expected. Things to do: Moody Gardens (aquarium, rainforest, IMAX, etc.) all good with a child; historic buildings, air and train museums, stroll the Strand, ferry across to Bolivar, stroll the beach or seawall. Although I agree the water quality is variable (it can be brown to green), I have not encountered "tar" in years. As far as restaurants, DiBella's and Benno's are my absolute favorites, worth a drive from Houston. Reservations a must at DiBella's. They also have a new Rainforest Cafe in Galveston if your family is into that kind of thing, but that is not Galveston's appeal in my estimation. Galveston's charms are more subtle and unexpected. I lived there a year so I know from experience.

Tex

Forgot to tell you: DiBella's doesn't take credit cards. Verify if you make a reservation.

Helper

Galveston is ok at best and that may be reaching. Expect the worst and you will endure it. However, if you must, head a few miles north toward Houston to Kimah (sp). Charming area with boardwalk, rides, games, shopping, eating, and a nice marina. Pleasant surprise. Moody Gardens, historical homes tours, & The Strand in Galveston are the highlights if they count. The posts re: the beach are true. It used to be the Spring Break destination for the areas black community not so long ago.

Tex

Kemah. A rather congested amusement park/restaurant/shopping complex developed by the same company that owns the Rainforest Cafe chain, Joe's Crab Shack chain, and Landry's chain (and owns the San Luis). The main attractions are a restaurant built around an aquarium and the amusement park. As far as I know, all the major restaurants are owned by the came company, are fairly expensive, and the food in my opinion is nothing special. The amusement park and Aquarium restaurnts are fun for the children, but I prefer the Kemah of ten years ago. There were a few independently owned seafood restaurants, and the highlight of a visit was food, drink, and watching the sailboats go by. Although popular, the area was not as congested. In my opinion "charm" in reference to Kemah refers to the past, but a family with children will enjoy it. Kemah is also just a few minutes from Johnson Space Center (NASA) which is worth a visit.

Debra

I for one like Galveston and know others that drive several hours to go there a few times a year. I have always enjoyed swimming in the ocean there and the town has some great restaurants and fabulous architecure. A long time ago it used to be a "New Orleans" kind of town.

Paul

Used to live there for 6 years. It's not Florida, but can still be romantic in it's own way. The slide presentation at Ashton Villa (home tour) regarding the 1900 hurricane really helps you get an idea of what that island is all about.

I loved the crawfish etoufe` at Benno's on the beach (cheap, eat outside, and delicious!). Say hi to my friends at the ladies fashion store "Morgan's" on the Strand/Downtown. Great outfits, btw!

Happy Trails,
Paul

jessica323

I agree that Galveston is pretty much lacking when it comes to beaches but there are some rather fun things to do for a few days. The aquarium and the rainforest at Moody Gardens are very nice and should be fun for your little one. Also, take a ride down to the strand and walk around there. There's a great candy shop that makes all of their chocolate and quite a bit of other candy on site.
Other than that, the beach may or may not be ok at that time of year, defintely watch out for seaweed.

CF

We were in Galveston last month. The beach was quite a mess with a lot of broken beer bottles all over it. Overall I thought it was a kind of cool place. The sea wall was interesting. They are making desperate attempts to keep the sand from going away.

LindaW

You didn't say when you would be there but when I lived in the NASA area, I would take my nephews to Galveston and ride the ferry and feed the seagulls. Also, visiting NASA is a must. It is about 20-30 minutes up from Galveston on NASA Road 1. The beaches are somewhat bad because the crap from the Mississippi ends up there. For dining I like Clary's (behind the Galveston Daily News off Teichelmann Road just past the causeway). Also, Guido's is the known place to eat--clam on half-shell platter. In Kemah but across the bridge on the NASA side is a place called Pier 8. When I lived there it was a fancy place, but it is now an all you can eat for around $9.99-$12.99. You pick the raw shrimp, oysters, clams, calamari, scallops, etc. Then pick which vegetables, pasta and sauce. They stir fry while you choose an appetizer from steamed crab and shrimp, seafood gumbo, salad, etc. It is NOT a fancy place just good inexpensive food.

meganoreilly

Kemah is good.

Walk around the pier area.

Stayed at Guido's motel across from the beach. cheap and clean

ate at Joes, Guido, and some other fancy place.

Okay to visit, nothing special but I was on business in freeport which is hell

melh

I don't know about the Tremount House, but can add another vote for the San Luis (sanluisresort.com)and for Moody Gardens!