Galveston offers 32 miles of relaxing beaches, superb restaurants, top resort hotels, marvelous downtown shopping, numerous antique stores, incredible art galleries, fabulous entertainment and one of the largest and well-preserved concentrations of Victorian architecture in the country.

Galveston is a small romantic island tucked deep within the heart of south Texas possessing all the charm of a small southern town and just 40 minutes south of the fourth largest city in the United States. At 32 miles long and two and a half miles wide, most residents can't remember the last time they visited the mainland and, if circumstances permitted, they would never leave.

The Island has seen its share of calamities, yet the worst natural disaster in U.S. history could not erase the tranquility of a Galveston sunset.

From soft sandy beaches to famous 19th century architecture, the island is surrounded with incredible history and unique beauty.

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Recommended attractions include: The Broadway Beauties: 1859 Ashton Villa, 1892 Bishop's Palace, 1895 Moody Mansion which portray early 20th century family life among Galveston's elite; The Grand 1894 Opera House ranked among the nation's finest historical theaters; the Texas Seaport Museum & 1877 Tall Ship Elissa highlighting the history of the Port of Galveston; The Great Storm documentary detailing the 1900 hurricane which killed 6,000 and changed the Island's history; the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum; the Railroad Museum in the restored Union Depot; Harbor Tours offering dolphin watching; the Lone Star Flight Museum & Texas Aviation Hall of Fame housing one of the finest collections of restored aircraft and aviation exhibits in the nation; Moody Gardens featuring a 1.5 million-gallon aquarium pyramid, a 3-D IMAX theater, tropical rainforest pyramid, and a Ridefilm Theater; and the new year-round Schlitterbahn Waterpark - the first facility of its kind, and a wonderful family destination.

Lastly, getting around the island is easy. You can travel by land, sea and air via Treasure Isle Tour Train, The Colonel Paddlewheel Boat, Galveston Island Ferry, Galveston Duck Tours, Galveston Harbor Tours, Galveston Island Tours, Painted Lady Tours and aerial tours through our local airport, Scholes International Airport. If romance is what you're yearning for, try an after-dinner ride by horse-drawn carriage through the downtown area at dusk.

For more information on Galveston Island, please contact the Galveston Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, toll-free at 1-888-GAL-ISLE, or explore our state-of-the-art website, Galveston.com. Also, you may wish to download the Official Galveston Island Visitor Guide by clicking here. Enjoy your visit!