So, Contrary, how are you getting there? Driving I assume…
Where you staying? I used to hang out at Jamaica Beach on the west end…open beaches, few tourists, etc. Got a bro-in-law w/ a house at Bolivar (Crystal Beach) and family in Seabrook, Kemah, El Lago and Clear Lake City.
If you’re driving and want to avoid the traffic in Houston , which will be a SOB both ways. You might want to catch 146 south out of Livingston and cruise through the cities I just mentioned. Lots of good places to eat and visit, it’s quicker and you go right by NASA.
Last weekend, Spanish Flower was on the horrid side of sucky.
The salsa was watery and weak, and the food was oversalted and chilly. This points to a new kitchen crew again. Maybe they’ll be straightened out by Memorial Day weekend.
Chapultepec (on Richmond? I can drive there, but I forget street names) is also open 24 hours a day and the area’s a bit more secure. I’ve seen plenty of drunks around Chapultepec, but no dead bodies, and I can’t say that for Spanish Flower.
La Mixteca on Mechanic (1800 block, I think) in Galveston is supposed to be pretty good, according to my family members that live in Galveston County (NOT on Island).
We are flying (yay American Airlines, we got great flight times from KC), then renting a car in Houston. We weren’t sure whether there’d be any good public transportation and this way we can take some of the side trips you guys have recommended.
We are staying at the Hotel Gavez? I think that’s what it’s called, it’s on the seawall apparently and we got a room with a view of the gulf.
Oh and no kidding about the sun, the future Mr. C always wears 48 since he doesn’t tan at all. Even dair-haired I will be using the sun block.
I’ll put in another vote for Gaido’s. For Mexican, I don’t have any ideas for Galveston, but in Houston my real big favorite is Cafe Adobe. They’ve got 3 locations around Houston.
And definitely rent the car. The public transportation isn’t geared well for tourism, nor well for going back and forth between Houston and Galveston.
You want “good public transportation” in Houston, TX? It is to laugh–ah ah ah!
Blasphemer! I was there last weekend too (you may have seen me–I was the guy in the shorts with the hair, you know, with the wife) and it was divine, as usual.
It’s called atmosphere, jerky. And it’s good for you, too. The parents can get some exercise dodging bullets while the kiddies learn about the inner workings of . . . well, their innards.
(The neighborhood around SFs isn’t the best in the world, but it’s not Harlem or South Central or anything.)
i have a galveston tour book i could zip to you if you like. it looks like you will be there for the “red, white, and boom” weekend. in the strand district there will be free live entertainment.
go for the tour of the houses, the bishop’s palace is wonderful, as is moody mansion, ashton villa, powhatan house, menard house, and williams home. the rosenberg library has quite a collection of things texas and many pictures of the damage the 1900 hurricane did and how the town raised the grade and built the seawall after.
the strand has the railroad museum, i really enjoyed it. they have many rail cars to tour. the seaport museum, grand 1894 opera house, mardi gras museum, the great storm museum, and the galveston county historical museum (very, very, interesting).
the mosquito cafe has wonderful pastries.
i remember 2 book stores near the tremont, one an independant and one a used book store. if you haven’t already read “isaac’s storm” i would recommend it. you get a bit of a feel for what the hurricane did to galveston. as you walk around look for the signs on the houses that survived the hurricane.
I think everyone’s covered the the prime tourist attractions, so I’ll focus on the restaurants.
Mexican:
The Original Mexican Cafe is “okay”, used to like it more. My dad loves it.
Salsas Mexican & Seafood Restaurant always does good business, pretty good food.
Personally I prefer Gringo’s, located near the Mall of the Mainland, for the best Mexican food. Of course thats kinda out of the way.
Italian:
Brothers Petronella is top notch but kinda pricey depending when you go.
Gino’s is also very good and they give you alot. Don’t go if your starving tho, there kinda slow on preparing it.
Bar-B-Que:
Queen’s Bar-B-Que is the only place for BBQ for me. nuff said.
Asian:
If your really hungry and want to eat without waiting, go the China Border. They have a chinese buffet.
Happy Buddha is a well established chinese restaurant with good food.
I have never eaten at Yamato Japanese Seafood Sushi & Steak House but I hear its pretty good, also very expensive.
Hamburgers:
There’s Sonic, we have two of them now. I’m not so sure I would go to the one on broadway after dark.
Cafe Michael Burger has some of the best burgers around. There on the west end and kinda out of the way of everything.
My mom loves Fuddruckers, you can fix up your burger just the way you like it. Avoid the 1lb burger unless your “really” hungry.
Okay I could go on and on, but I’ll stop here. Most of the locations to the restaurants above can be found on Galveston.com. If its not then just ask. Have fun
This just in for the wife (who used to work near Galveston). Try a restaurant called El Napolito (off 61st, almost to I-45), she said it’s pretty good Mexican grub.
We got back yesterday from Galveston. Many thanks to all of you who posted your ideas/suggestions.
We ended up mostly hanging out at East Beach. We rented an umbrella and chairs on Saturday and Sunday and that was probably the best $50 we spent since the future Mr. C is a red head and only burns.
We also tried Gaido’s as several of you suggested and you were right, that is some very good seafood. I especially loved the shrimp bisque.
Yesterday was supposed to be spent checking out the oil rig, several of the museums etc, but alas, the future Mr. C double-checked our flight times and realized he’d booked our return flight for today rather than yesterday. So we headed to Houston Hobby to work on getting home. Which we did, no worries, and very relaxed to boot.
Thank you all for the suggestions ~~ we had a great mini-vacation and really enjoyed ourselves.
