Galveston's temperate weather generally allows visitors to enjoy the beautiful outdoors year-round. The Island offers wonderful Gulf beaches, golf, fishing, birding, volleyball and horseback riding.

Galveston Island is home to Texas' first nourished or replenished beach that continues to be one of its primary attractions. Beach and umbrella concessionaires provide their services along the new beach, an area that is designated by City Council as an alcohol-free beach area.

Galveston is also one of the top locations for birding in the United States. The Island is a central location for novice and expert birders, offering a wide variety of species. Water and shore birds are common on the Island throughout the year while rare species are spotted during fall and spring migration. In fact, three/fourths of all North American species travel through Galveston during fall and spring migration.

And for the golf lover? There are two 18-hole golf courses located on the Island - the Galveston Island Municipal Golf Course and the Galveston Country Club. The Municipal course is a public course and the Country Club is private.

Anglers will enjoy the Island's premium commercial fishing piers, which include Seawolf Park Fishing Pier, The Galveston Fishing Pier, and 61st Street Fishing Pier. These piers are open year-round, weather permitting. Private and public fishing charters are also available on the Island. Fishing is also permitted at the rock groins, or jetties, along the beachfront.

Sports enthusiasts can enjoy volleyball courts at East Beach, Stewart Beach, and Seawolf Park, and for those who love water sports? Schlitterbahn Waterpark is a convertible waterpark with closeable sections, allowing visitors to enjoy the facility year-round, while Jungle Surf Waterslide operates seasonally.

Of course, some of the most visible water sports lovers are the surfers - and the city of Galveston has designated certain areas of the beach for that purpose. They include the beaches between the 17th Street & 21st Street rock groins; between the west edge of the Flagship Pier (25th Street) & 29th Street rock groins; between the 29th Street & 53rd Street rock groins; 300 feet west of the 61st Street Fishing Pier; 300 feet east of the 91st Street Fishing Pier; and west of 91st Street. Surfboard rentals are available at most surf shops located along Seawall Boulevard.

Finally, for those Texas cowboys who can't get enough of their horses, Gulf Stream Stables, located at FM 3005 at 8 mile road, offers horseback riding on the beach!