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Fun Things To Do In Galveston Texas!

Why would there be fun things to do in Galveston Texas? Well, it's an island in the Gulf of Mexico, and that spells FUN!

Galveston has nice beaches, a theme park, a waterpark, a museum, a nice shopping area, several restaurants, and plenty of hotels.

I like it that most of the fun things to do in Galveston Texas are also located close to one another, so we don't have to do endless driving to get from one to the other.

To help you when you go to Galveston, I also want to give you a Galveston map to help you find your way, tell you about other Galveston events, and tell you what to expect from Galveston's weather.

Things To Do In Galveston

Beaches

My kids love to swim. They just don't seem to get tired of it. So if Galveston only had beaches, I think we'll still have a good time there.

Galveston has a few miles of public beaches along Seawall Blvd. The water is a comfortable 80°F through the whole summer. Just in case the sun gets too much, we usually get one of the umbrellas that are readily available. We also like to take a few beach toys along.

Stewart Beach

Stewart Beach is really nice. It's a family beach that has many family activities, like sandcastle competitions, bumper boats, and a mini golf course. It also has a nice playground.

Stewart Beach is a State park. There's an entrance fee per car, but it's worth the money.

Poretto Beach

Poretto Beach is another favorite beach in Galveston. You have to pay a few dollars to park for the day. On the beach are chairs and umbrellas already set up that can be rented for the day. There are also floats available to rent, and plenty of food and drinks available.

A great source of information on safety at Galveston's beaches is the Galveston Beach Patrol.

Moody Gardens

I think Moody Gardens is one of the coolest things to do in Galveston Texas. They have several attractions to visit, like a rainforest inside a huge glass pyramid, aquarium, a science exhibition (discovery pyramid), a collection of lagoons and waterfalls (Palm Beach), and an IMAX theater.

It can become quite costly to visit everything (around $40 per person), so I would suggest you pick one or two to visit. I like the rainforest and the aquarium the best.

Schlitterbahn Galveston

My kids will tell you that a day at Schlitterbahn water park is one of the funnest things to do in Galveston Texas.

If you've ever been to the Shlitterbahn in New Braunfels, you know what Schlitterbahn is all about. If not, and my kids will confirm this, Schlitterbahn is a fantastic waterpark, with water rides for young and old. One of the water slides even goes upwards!

Part of Schlitterbahn Galveston is indoors, which is very nice when everyone gets a little sunned-out, but want to continue having fun.

The Schlitterbahn in Galveston is relatively new. It is smaller, but it is nevertheless a lot of fun. It is located next to Moody Gardens.

Galveston Shopping - The Strand

The Strand in Galveston is an interesting shopping and dining area that has a unique charm to it. There is a wide variety of stores and restaurants to choose from in The Strand. My kids love the horse and carriage rides!

There are several other attractions within walking distance of The Strand. We like to park at The Strand and then explore the area on foot.

Texas Seaport Museum

If everyone needs a break from the sun and would like a little Galveston history, a visit to the Texas Seaport Museum is a good option. It won't break the bank either.

Among the exhibits at the Texas Seaport Museum is Elissa, a working sailing ship built in 1877.

The Seaport Museum is close to The Strand and Stewart Beach.

Galveston Restaurants

One of my favorite things to do in Galveston Texas is to eat shrimp and sip on a Corona at Joe's Crab Shack on Seawall Blvd. It has a nice view over the Gulf of Mexico. The view and atmosphere is great around sunset! They also have a playground to keep the kids busy.

Joe's is of course not the only nice restaurant in Galveston. Some of the other restaurants in Galveston that I like are the Saltwater Grill (seafood), Mario's Ristorante (Italian), the Mosquito Cafe (various types of food), and Casey's Seafood Cafe.

For a few more choices, check out this list of Galveston restaurants.

Galveston Hotels

Galveston has many hotels to choose from. Afterall, it is an island that relies on vacationers for a big part of its income!

To give you a few quick ideas, the Harbor House, on the channel side of the island, is a good choice. For an ocean view, try the Casa Del Mar Beachfront Suites. The price is around $150, but the location is great. The Quality Inn & Suites, also on Seawall Blvd is another nice hotel to look at.

Check out this list of Galveston hotels to find other options.

Map of Galveston Texas Attractions

When going on vacation, it helps a lot if you know where to find the attractions that you would like to visit!

To help with that, I have created a Galveston map that shows where our favorite things to do in Galveston Texas, as well as hotels and restaurants are located.

Galveston Events Calendar

There are events that take place in Galveston that aren't fixed attractions. They can be a lot of fun too.

Take a look at my Galveston Texas Events Calendar to find some fun events for your family.

You can also buy tickets for events in Galveston right here!

Galveston Weather

It always helps if the weather plays along when planning things to do in Galveston Texas.

To find out what the weather's plans are for the next few days, check out the Galveston weather.

Your Galveston Texas Vacation Story?

Have you been to Galveston before and have a fun attraction that you like to visit? Please tell us about it! Also read about others' favorite activities and experiences.

See Visitors' Galveston Vacation Stories!