So I am going to Galveston, Tx on the 16th, for a few days on my spring break. Yay! I can’t wait, never been to the Gulf, though I have been to each ocean and the great lakes, so this is needed. It will be a nice break from school that is for sure. Only problem is, I could definately use some ideas on stuff to do, eateries to visit, (I love seafood, so a good seafood resturaunt could work) and other places to go. A friend of mine mentioned “the strand” for some shopping, but what else? I can probably only spend about 150-200 dollars for the week (16th-19th) and I am staying with my sister so none of that is needed for hotels. Recommend me some Spring Break fun!
I figure the gulf is a bit cold this time of year for swimmin
Go tour the tall ship Elissa. There’s a museum right by the ship that you go through before you tour the ship.
There is also a theatre where you can see a show about the great hurricane in 19-whenever that nearly destroyed Galveston Island. It’s well worth catching.
There is shopping on the Strand. It’s the typical touristy-type shopping street. Reminds me of Main Street in Park City, Utah.
I’ve been to several of the seafood restaurants down there, and most of them are reasonably good. My favorite is the oh-so-expensive chain Landry’s, but wow–grilled shrimp the size of my palm!
Beach. Yes. Special nicey good beaches. Some are better than others, of course. But you can hike along the beaches, swim, bike ride, yadda yadda.
Galveston has lots of beautiful old homes that are open for touring, with really rich histories, like Jean Lafitte, etc.
I used to live in LaMarque and worked on Galveston. Loved it (the Galveston part). My sister and I try to get out there at least once every couple of years for a girls-only trip. Have a great time!
I haven’t been to Galveston in a decade so things have probably changed since then. But if You Can’t Touch This Jambalaya is still open on the seawall, then you must eat there. The Original Mexican Cafe, 1401 Market, is another must-visit (especially for their breakfast burritos).
Eat at Gaido’s. It’s a wonderful restaurant right on the seawall. You can’t miss it, there’s a giant crab on the roof.
Go tour The Bishop’s Palace. It’s a historical home on Broadway (the main drag in Galveston) across the street from Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The home is gorgeous, but the main reason to go is for the tour guides. They are SOOOOOOOOO creepy. I can’t explain it properly, it’s just something you have to see, and no, it’s not intentional.
Visit the Rainforest Pyramid at Moody Gardens. It’s touristy, but beautiful.
Galveston is a great place to explore. It’s a wonderful mix of history, giant mansions, pirate tales and a touch of ghetto. Totally underrated city.
When you are going to see the “Elissa”, go to the next pier (40 or 41 I think), there is a fish market there (on land facing the Elissa it’s to the left), walk in and go to the left, there is a lunch counter there, I suggest the “debris” po-boy (it’s all the “stuff that didn’t go in other po-boys”, Shrimp, Crab, Fish, Oysters etc.) you never quite know what you are gonna get, it’s GREAT!. And go to Colonel Bubbies (if it’s still there), it’s an amazing Army/Navy surplus store (when facing the Elissa it,s behind you on the right hand side of the street at the corner).
Ooooooooooh, Colonel Bubbie’s is awesome! It’s the greatest military surplus store I’ve ever been to. When I was a kid, I thought they sold the uniforms of dead soldiers.
If you’re interested in the paranormal and feeling trespassy (I’m not advocating it) go over to UTMB and see “The Face”
Yes! Colonel Bubbies is great! Gaidos has a great reputation but the last time I went there (last summer) it seemed really run down. Most of Galveston actually seems really run down come to think of it.
The face is really cool although I’ve never seen it in person. I thought you actually had to be out in the Gulf to see it?
Moody Gardens has been mentioned but needs to be mentioned again since there is so much more than the rainforest. Link here The aquarium there is awesome. It’s actually four of the largest aquariums in the states and each represents a different oceanic region. Oh, and if you are into old war planes there is the Lone Star Flight Museum in a hangar just to the left of the Moody Gardens entrance.
The museum about the Great Storm of 1900 is really a must see. It was a hurricane that killed thousands (?) on Galveston and the whole island had to be rebuilt as well as raised up. Pretty morbid stuff but still very cool. Here’s a link to the story but not the museum.
The Grand 1894 Opera House is a great place to visit. Link here It was wiped out too in 1900 but rebuilt. The plays there are great! If you can catch any play with “Tuna” in the name don’t miss it. You will pee your pants laughing so hard.
I want to second the aquarium at Moody Gardens. Walking under the aquarium is really awesome. (When my son was in Cub Scouts, they had a sleep-over there, and went to sleep watching the sharks circle overhead.)
I would also second Gaido’s, but admittedly, I haven’t been there in several years.
If it interests you, you might take the Galveston Mansions tour – look at some turn of the century homes. It’s kind of neat. And depending on the weather, it might not be too cold for a quick dip.
mmmm…Galveston water! Polluted but interesting. I go there every two weeks and have yet to find a clear spot to swim. Scuba Diving is a different matter as the water has almost an aquamarine tint to it farther out. Good luck!
On a field trip one time in jr. high (it was some time ago) we went down to a museum there and watched a good Imax-kind of video on the Galveston storm of 1900. After that was another movie on Jean Lafitte, back when Galveston was known as Campechy and was a pirate haven.
We also went to this neat little seafood place called Pier 51 I believe, that had huge servings of shrimp and I distinctly remember the jello and chocolate cake desserts. Very good.
Moody Gardens is also cool. I liked the manta rays.
It will be a nice break from school that is for sure. Only problem is, I could definately use some ideas on stuff to do, eateries to visit, (I love seafood, so a good seafood resturaunt could work) and other places to go. A friend of mine mentioned “the strand” for some shopping, but what else? I can probably only spend about 150-200 dollars for the week (16th-19th) and I am staying with my sister so none of that is needed for hotels. Recommend me some Spring Break fun!
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