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COPYRIGHT 2001 Texas Monthly, Inc.
so much fun for everyone
Galveston Island swims in sunshine and 32 miles of sparkling Gulf Coast beaches. Naturally, as the weather heats up, Texans take to the island the way a fish takes to water. Planning a trip to Galveston for pleasure or business? Here's a sampling of the island's 60-plus attractions, 100 or so shops, and variety of accommodations and restaurants you can enjoy on any budget.
Galveston Island is just 50 miles south of Houston on Interstate 45. Accessible to Houston's major airports, the island is 40 minutes from William P. Hobby Airport and an easy 90-minute drive from George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Plus, private and charter aircraft can fly right to the island at Scholes International Airport in Galveston.
Getting Around
If you drive to Galveston from the mainland, you'll enter the city from the Galveston Island Causeway, which then becomes Broadway, once you cross the bridge. The city is laid out in a grid, with numbered streets running east and west and named streets running north and south.
From Broadway, straight ahead are Seawall Boulevard and Stewart and East beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. To the left (or north) are many of the city's turn-of-the-century mansions, the Strand district, and Galveston Bay. To the right (or south) are more historic mansions, public fishing piers, and other attractions to keep you busy and entertained during your visit.
Galveston was the first city in Texas to incorporate a new environmentally friendly electric shuttle bus service into its public transit system. This service makes travel across the island even more convenient for visitors in the downtown area, the beachfront, and Moody Gardens. The cost is just $1 per person, and the shuttles run approximately every 25 minutes Thursdays through Sundays.
Galveston Island Trolley (2100 Seawall Blvd. and 2016 Strand) runs fixed-rail cars similar to those used in Galveston at the turn of the century. The trolley provides convenient transportation from Seawall Boulevard to the Strand National Historic Landmark District and Pier 21, with beautiful historic homes and other points of interest along the route.
Air Excalibur (2115 Terminal Drive) flies aerial tours out of Scholes International Airport. Tours last 30 minutes to an hour and include a run down the beach over to the ship channel and on to Bolivar Peninsula. The return trip flies over the University of Texas Medical Branch and Pelican Island as well as the Bishop's Palace, Sacred Heart Church, downtown Galveston, Galveston Bay, and the Causeway bridge. As the pilot circles to land at the airport, passengers get a fantastic view of Moody Gardens.
The Colonel paddlewheeler, docked at Moody Gardens, is an 800-passenger reproduction of an 1800s riverboat offering day and evening cruises on Offatts Bayou. The captain narrates the day cruises, and the evening dinner cruises feature a dance band.
Where to Stay
Galveston offers accommodations for every traveler's tastes and budget, from affordable motels to luxurious resort hotels and condominiums with Gulf views to romantic getaways in historic bed and breakfasts.
Built in 1911, the historic Hotel Galvez (2024 Seawall Blvd.) has undergone renovations to its meeting rooms and public areas to bring the hotel back to its original grandeur. The hotel has refurbished the 225 guestrooms, the music...
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