CruzieSue Posted January 18, 2013 #1 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Coming in late Friday night and will have all day Saturday before our cruise leaves on Sunday. We've never been to Galveston before. What are your favorite things to do, places to see, places to eat when you are in the Galveston area? We will be staying about halfway between Houston and Galveston. Thanks. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssb Posted January 18, 2013 #2 Share Posted January 18, 2013 There are special events in Galveston area almost every weekend www.galveston.com (what to do)(calendar of events) your vacation calendar dates Sign up on Galveston.com for email of weekly events www.galvestonhistory.org ---Galveston Historical Foundation !!!!!! www.moodygardens.com -- just look at site !!!!!! LOTS www.thegrand.com – 1894 Grand Opera House !!!!!! Mardi Gras February 2013 - mardigrasgalveston.com LARGE Houston Museum District Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo February and March 2013 - http://www.rodeohouston.com 330 million to youth of Texas since 1932 2,257,970 attendance 2012 Largest Fair – North America Big Entertainment Clearlake Nasa Space Center Kemah board walk – www.kemahboardwalk.com Galveston: Beaches Beaches Beaches Old Town Strand Galveston *- Strand To Post Office Street (lots of shopping, ice cream, old army surplus store, nautical shop, Clothing Stores Restaurants, Antiques, Shops, Bakery and Coffee shop Wineries and wine festivals Restaurants overlooking gulf and on port Two first class convention centers Many live theater venues Many live music venues Free concert nights - old town Galveston *- on strand Free film nights -old town Galveston *- on strand Free band nights-“family/kids” oriented-summer Tuesdays 24th & Sealy 1894 grand opera house * (a must seetour, and/or performances Chess park Artist festivals Oleander City of the South and Gardens Art Walk Museums Antique stores and art Galleries Horse drawn carriage rides Swimming in Gulf Fine restaurants Night scene Galveston Historical Foundation properties* Many Historical and Victorian homes Galveston has second largest preservation membership in United States Wooden Carved Trees Tour (wonderful) Bishops palace (wonderful) Moody mansion(wonderful) · Ashton villa (wonderful) Moody gardens *(lots and lots and lots to do) .....(massive, fun and family oriented) Schlitterbahn water park www.schlitterbahn.com/gal Restored tall ship schooner Elisa www.tsm-elissa.org (wonderful) 1900 storm and pirate jean Laffite documentary films at port Pirates Store and program - Old town Strand Pleasure Pier Maritime museum- www.tsm-elissa.org Airplane museum (Lone Star Flight Museum)- www.lsfm.org/ Railroad museum - http://www.galvestonrrmuseum.com Oil drilling rig museum - www.oceanstaroec.com Sea Wolf park – WWII submarine and destroyer - www.cavalla.org Large souvenir shop over gulf water - Murdochs Walks and shelling on the beach Cruise ships (RCCL, Carnival, Princess, Disney) Fishing (piers, wadefishing and charters-offshore & inshore)) Golfing Skateboard park - large Kayaking trails Surfing and children surf camps Kite flying on beach Marine life and children marine care educational camps at Moody Gardens Marine life and children marine camps Texas AM Univ - Sea Camp Programs Various Running events with major Triathlon event Sand castle building event Shopping shopping shopping Dolphin watching and port water tours Turtle rescue farm behind San Luis Resort Thursday's tour Carved damaged trees tour from storm Free ferry ride and a short cruise to Bolivar Duck tour (amphibious boat) Galveston.com/ interact and discover/cams Many major weekly events and festivals not mentioned as example : Spring Break Events Large Confederate Reenactment Sanctioned and Fun Runs(some large) Triathlon Events Art Walk (every 5 or so weeks year around) Dickens on Strand (Dec) ----LARGE - http://www.dickensonthestrand.com Lone Star Motorcycle Rally (Nov) ---LARGE - www.lonestarrally.com Mardi Gras Galveston (Feb) ----LARGE - www.mardigrasgalveston.com October Fest Beer Fests Wine Events and Fests Greek Fest Epicurean Evening of all restaurants Shrimp Fest Yega’s Wild Game Cook Off large County Fair - LARGE Children’s Fest Feather Fest - Large Old Timey Bathing Beauty Fest And many many more !! Trauma 1 Emergency Hospital on Island – Univ. Texas Medical Branch/Sealy Hospital Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruzieSue Posted January 18, 2013 Author #3 Share Posted January 18, 2013 SSB, you must work for the tourism department !!!! That's a lot of info :eek:, and I do appreciate it. :) I was actually looking for something a little more personal - from someone's personal experiences, not a website, which I have searched plenty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGBCruiser Posted January 18, 2013 #4 Share Posted January 18, 2013 I love going to Moody Gardens...they have the Rainforest Pyramid and the Aquarium Pyramid, both are nice. Also I love touring the historic homes. Bishop's Palace, Ashton Villa and the Moody Mansion are all worth seeing. The tall ship, the Elyssa, is very interesting too. It's a coule of blocks from The Strand historic area which is nice too. Lots of shops, some restaurants, etc. Gives you a glimpse of the past. Galveston was the "Wall Street of the South" and many of those old buildings still stand today. Do take a look at www.galveston.com though...it has information on all the above! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galveston Cruiser Posted January 18, 2013 #5 Share Posted January 18, 2013 SSB, you must work for the tourism department !!!! That's a lot of info :eek:, and I do appreciate it. :) I was actually looking for something a little more personal - from someone's personal experiences, not a website, which I have searched plenty. SSB and I live here and have been to all these venues. We are very much involved in all that Galveston has to offer and are constantly on the go. I think we cruise so we can get some rest:rolleyes: The Texas Seaport Museum and Tall Ship Elissa (returns to her dock end of February) are next to the cruise terminal and one block from the Strand. Ashton Villa is no longer open for tours, only private events. (galvestonhistory.org) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssb Posted January 19, 2013 #6 Share Posted January 19, 2013 SSB, you must work for the tourism department !!!! That's a lot of info :eek:, and I do appreciate it. :) I was actually looking for something a little more personal - from someone's personal experiences, not a website, which I have searched plenty. Just given you some choices! What are you interested in, And I will give you some more personal observations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katerkat Posted January 20, 2013 #7 Share Posted January 20, 2013 We went on vacation to the Galveston area a couple years back, and very much enjoyed Kemah, the Space Center, and Moody Gardens (mostly the aquarium). We were there with a four year old, so we did a full day at each place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbgd Posted January 20, 2013 #8 Share Posted January 20, 2013 you didnt say what dates you are cruising but Saturday night at Olympia Grill 21, for sailaway of other cruises, is defiantly our favorite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGBCruiser Posted January 20, 2013 #9 Share Posted January 20, 2013 you didnt say what dates you are cruising but Saturday night at Olympia Grill 21, for sailaway of other cruises, is defiantly our favorite I forgot about the Olympia Grill down by the port...we ate there in September on a Saturday night! Food was good and love the atmosphere. Pretty sure they have a belly dancer for entertainment on Sat. nights. They did the night we were there. I had only been to the old Olympia Grill on the Seawall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RVRCLC Posted January 21, 2013 #10 Share Posted January 21, 2013 The Wooden Carved Trees tour is great fun. Dead tree in your yard? Carve it!!! Historic Homes. Great. Just drive around the island to see them. We enjoyed driving onto the island from the far west end because we did not want to drive through the city. We are driving down a day early to repeat many of the sights we remember from a great Road Scholar week a couple of years ago. Amazing things were done to rebuild the area after a terrible storm. Which direction did all of the destruction come from?? Why is a beautiful iron fence 3-4 feet high?? Wait!! No, it's really about 6' tall!!!!?? I appreciate the information from folks who live there, I had forgotten about the carved trees and that was one of my favorite things. I loved seeing the historic homes, though I have no patience with touring them. The docents were way too long winded for me. I want to see, I do not want to stand and listen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Kat Posted January 21, 2013 #11 Share Posted January 21, 2013 The Wooden Carved Trees tour is great fun. Dead tree in your yard?Carve it!!!... For anyone interested in the self-guided tour, click here: http://www.galveston.com/treesculpturetour/ Also, there is this old link (May 2012) from the Galveston Historical Foundation about their tour showcasing the post Hurricane Ike tree sculptures via their electric solar shuttle: http://www.galvestonhistory.org/East_End_Historic_District_Tours.asp I do not know if it is in operation at this time. Kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoVikes Posted January 23, 2013 #12 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Moody mansion is wonderful. The Ocean Star oil rig museum is interesting. The kids really enjoyed the dolphin watching tour. After living in CA for a while, we are not huge fans of the beaches in Galveston. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmasNana Posted January 23, 2013 #13 Share Posted January 23, 2013 We like to take the ferry. It's free and fun to watch the dolphins follow along the boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galveston Cruiser Posted January 23, 2013 #14 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Moody mansion is wonderful. The Ocean Star oil rig museum is interesting. The kids really enjoyed the dolphin watching tour. After living in CA for a while, we are not huge fans of the beaches in Galveston. I'm from Ca. and the water is much warmer here:) And, I don't need to drive to the beach, I can walk:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssb Posted January 23, 2013 #15 Share Posted January 23, 2013 I'm from Ca. and the water is much warmer here:)And, I don't need to drive to the beach, I can walk:D AND The weather in Galveston is sunny and 70 degrees today, tomorrow, and Friday.:) Today the beaches are clean and beautiful. :) Today the water is clear and green to the beach!:) And we leave on cruise on Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruzieSue Posted January 24, 2013 Author #16 Share Posted January 24, 2013 Thanks for the suggestions. Lots of good ideas to start with !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sminfiddle Posted January 24, 2013 #17 Share Posted January 24, 2013 The Orange Show Unique to the max. Impossible to describe, so I'll cop out and paste from their website. :D The Orange Show Monument is a folk-art environment - a monumental work of handmade architecture - located in Houston's East End. It was built single handedly from 1956 until its completion in 1979, by the late Jefferson Davis McKissack, a Houston postal worker. The outdoor 3,000 square foot environment is maze-like in design and includes an oasis, a wishing well, a pond, a stage, a museum, a gift shop, and several upper decks. It is constructed of concrete, brick, steel and found objects including gears, tiles, wagon wheels, mannequins, tractor seats and statuettes. Each piece of the Orange Show Monument was hand-placed and hand-painted by McKissack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssb Posted January 24, 2013 #18 Share Posted January 24, 2013 The Orange ShowUnique to the max. Impossible to describe, so I'll cop out and paste from their website. :D The Orange Show Monument is a folk-art environment - a monumental work of handmade architecture - located in Houston's East End. It was built single handedly from 1956 until its completion in 1979, by the late Jefferson Davis McKissack, a Houston postal worker. The outdoor 3,000 square foot environment is maze-like in design and includes an oasis, a wishing well, a pond, a stage, a museum, a gift shop, and several upper decks. It is constructed of concrete, brick, steel and found objects including gears, tiles, wagon wheels, mannequins, tractor seats and statuettes. Each piece of the Orange Show Monument was hand-placed and hand-painted by McKissack. Absolutely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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