Beaches, Attractions & Tours Are Open
A few favorites to consider
It was great seeing people on the beach this morning!
If you seek the warmth of Gulf water and sand between your toes, come on down. The beaches are open, as well as most attractions and tours. Here are a few of my favorites for your consideration…
Kayak the Coastal Heritage Preserve
Covering a 690-acre area on the island’s West End, the Coastal Heritage Preserve is one of the largest unfragmented, undeveloped locations of its kind on Galveston Island. Here, you can go on a kayak tour with the non-profit Artist Boat to see several places of natural significance, and learn about the organization’s work to preserve and restore 1,400 bordering acres from the beach to bay.
Experience Moody Gardens
Dive into the oceans of the world in a 1.5-million-gallon aquarium teeming with creatures from tuxedo-clad penguins, to seals, stingrays, sharks, and more! Don’t stop there! Moody Gardens boasts tons of other attractions, including an indoor rainforest, 3D & 4D theaters, science and interactive exhibits, and other seasonal attractions.
Take a Ghost Tour
Historic Galveston Ghost Tours is your home for historical information on all of Galveston’s best ghost stories. Their ghost tour guides take you on a grand expedition through the historic Silk Stocking District and beyond, while you soak in the sights and sounds of our eerie island.
Insider Tip: Save 40% on 4 attractions with Galveston Island Pass.
Go Fishing
Some say the best way to social distance is to head out on a charter, pier, or wherever your favorite fishing spot is and casting out. From the bay to blue-water, trout to tuna, Galveston offers something for everyone with a rod, a reel, and a love of angling. There are bait and tackle shops, marinas for storing your boat, and charter services that send you home with a great haul and plenty of fish tales.
Eco-Art Kayak Adventure
Samuel B Jewelry
Board a Train
The Railroad Museum boasts one of the largest restored railroad collections in the southwest, and one of the five largest in the country. With numerous railroad memorabilia and exhibits, including more than 40 pieces of locomotives and rolling stock, this is one stop you can’t miss.
Insider Tip: Save 40% on 4 attractions with Galveston Island Pass.
Go Shopping
It’s important during these turbulent times to support local economies, and what better way to do that than shopping at Galveston’s vast variety of small businesses! From the quaint shops of the Historic Downtown Strand District to the thoroughly modern retailers on Seawall Boulevard, shoppers will delight in the offerings ranging from fine to fun.
If you’re downtown, stop by Island Silver, featuring a vast collection of brands including King Baby, Belle e’toile, Samuel B, Charles Garnier, Bastian Inverun, Twisted Blade, Stuller, Silvex, 925 Sterling, and more.
Take a Self-Guided Tour
Unlock the history, romance, and beauty that lies within Galveston. Explore every nook and cranny because Galveston loves sharing her treasures with you. Our self-guided tours include exploring whimsical tree sculptures that have replaced the majestic oak trees destroyed by Hurricane Ike.
Or, how about exploring the colorful Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle statues around the island! This public art project’s purpose is to raise awareness of Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles that call the Texas Coast home. How many can you find?
Go Birding
Head to the wetlands and ponds around the island in search of Great Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills, and other shore birds. Keep an eye out for the Reddish Egret, the official bird of Galveston!
Take a Dolphin Tour
Enjoy a one hour tour of Galveston’s Harbor to see birds and marine life. You’ll even (probably!) get a close up view of dolphins jumping and playing.
Insider Tip: Save 40% on 4 attractions with Galveston Island Pass.
Tour the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum
Take a leisurely, self-guided tour through the retired Ocean Star jack-up rig which now serves as a museum and educational facility. From geological exploration to drilling, to oil and gas production, you will see offshore drilling equipment, exhibits, and videos on this refurbished offshore drilling rig. There are three floors within the museum that include scale models and interactive displays that visitors can explore through the self-guided tour, providing a close-up look at what life is like on a drilling rig. It houses some of the equipment that has been historically used to tap the vast natural energy resources beneath the world’s oceans.
Tour the 1895 Moody Mansion
Restored to its turn of the century splendor, the 28,000 square-foot, four-story structure was completed in 1895. Today, guests visit 20 rooms on a tour that depicts the home life of a powerful Texas family. The Moodys established one of the great American financial empires. Based on cotton, it grew to include banking, ranching, insurance and hotels.
That should keep you busy! Don’t forget your mask, practice social distancing, and wash your hands often. Enjoy.
Lee Roane
Lee Roane has worked on the Galveston.com website since 1994. He is interested in history and birding but will write about anything if he thinks it will help someone enjoy the island.
