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Galveston Travel Guide: 273 reviews and 607 photos
Galveston, the small yet historic island town located on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, is less than 50 miles southeast of Houston. Growing up in Houston, Galveston has always been the place for me to go for a quick escape from the hustle & bustle of the big city. Whether it is for good fishing, great festivals, or just a day at the beach & some fresh seafood, Galveston has always been like a second home to me, although I am not a true B.O.I. (Born On the Island). :) There is much to see & do on the island; everything from the obvious, i.e. miles of beaches & many seafood restaurants; to it's interesting historical sites & museums and family friendly recreational parks. Galveston is a great place to visit, whether it's just a day trip down from Houston, or a multi-day vacation to experience all the island has to offer!
The city of Galveston is located on the eastern end of Galveston Island. The island is one in the string of natural barrier islands that stretch from the northeastern coast of the U.S., all the way down to the Mexican coast along the Gulf of Mexico. Like all barrier islands, the erosion of beaches here is a natural process that occurs, despite efforts to replenish the beaches with new sand every year. Ever since the city was founded, Galveston has had an unrelenting battle with mother nature against this, and everytime a tropical storm or Hurricane comes ashore, years of deposited sand is washed away in a matter of hours. An interesting fact though: Every year after Christmas, the city uses hundreds of old Christmas trees to bury beneath the sand to help prevent erosion! The battle against the Gulf is constantly being waged here, and I guess we'll see much further down the road how it turns out! :)
Galveston has a rich and deep history, dating back to pre-Columbian times when the island was inhabited by Akokisa & Karankawa tribes of Native Americans. The island itself takes it's name from Galveston Bay, which was named for the spaniard Bernardo de Galvez, one time governor of the territories of Louisiana and Cuba, and viceroy of New Spain, during Spain's colonial reign over these areas. Pirate Jean Lafitte used the island as a base for several years in the early 1800's, and his treasure is still believed to be buried here! After Texas gained it's independence from Mexico, Galveston prospered greatly, becoming it's chief port city, and having Texas' first post office, first gas & electric lighting, and still having the state's oldest daily newspaper. Galveston is also the unfortunate location for the United States' deadliest natural disaster, when a devistating hurricane crushed and flooded the city in 1900, killing over 8,000 people. The hurricane marked a turning point for the city, as it never regained it's economic status & importance following the catastrophe. But the tragedy gave birth to the tough spirit and proud heritage that can be found on the island to this day.
Reviews (32)
Texas Crab Festival
Local Customs
(3)
The Texas Crab Festival, which is actually held in Crystal Beach on the Bolivar peninsula, is an annual event held on... more travel advice
"It was down at the Balinese!"
Nightlife
(2)
The Balinese Room is a nightlife landmark of sorts in Galveston, with quite an interesting history. During the 1940's &... more travel advice
Nice Views, Good Fishing - The East...
Off The Beaten Path
(2)
The most eastern point of Galveston Island is a nice place to go and check out some views that are unlike any elsewhere... more travel advice
High Price, But Good Quality & Good...
Restaurants
(5)
Located right on the harbor of the Port of Galveston, Fisherman's Wharf is yet another restaurant owned by Landry's... more travel advice
Travelogues (2)
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Written Mar 5, 2006
5 photos
The Great Christmas Snow of 2004
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Written Aug 12, 2006
6 photos
Galveston Mardi Gras!
- 1
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Diving and Snorkeling
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Latest: May 14, 2013 - Hotel Galvez
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Latest: May 15, 2013 - Best Western Beachfront Inn
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Latest: May 13, 2013 - Moody Gardens Hotel
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Latest: May 15, 2013 - Holiday Inn Galveston On The Beach
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Latest: May 14, 2013 - Seascape Condominium Rentals Galveston
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Latest: May 9, 2013 - Beachcomber Inn
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Latest: May 14, 2013 - Flagship Hotel Over the Water Galveston
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Comments (8)
Hi, Josh! Thanks for your interesting description!
Galveston is a place I can't wait to see! We're alot closer than we were two months ago when we were living in New Jersey! I think Christmas time would be a great time of the year to visit...THANKS.
wonderful tips....gorgeous time looks to spent u there !!
Excellent pictures and description of Galveston. Beach where cars are allowed? I guess this happens only in the USA :)
Very good tips, I like both off the beaten path ones and info on the tanker surfing phenomena, I didn't know :-) Haha... I was in Galveston exactly on presidential election day in 2004.
I hope there will be more of the same. Great job, my friend!
Went here during high school, but having lived in NOLA, I always have a hard time picturing Mardi Gras anywhere else. Good start!!
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and all my wishes for a happy and prosperous 2006 full of adventure and travel!!