Galveston, Texas

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier

How about a fun ride when you are exploring the ports of Galveston? The Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier is where you can enjoy most thrill rides, midway games, shops, and restaurants. The original Pleasure Pier was built in 1943 for military personnel and eventually became a public amusement area. Unfortunately, Hurricane Carla severely damaged it in 1961. In 1965, a hotel called the Flagship Hotel was constructed over the water, but it was torn down after Hurricane Ike hit in 2008. Today, the Historic Pleasure Pier has been rebuilt, and it is one of the top destinations for family entertainment.

The Strand Historic District

The Strand Historic District is a National Historic Landmark in downtown Galveston, Texas, and one of the best places to shop, eat, and explore. It was known as the Wall Street of the Southwest, as it was one major commercial hub. The historic district houses ancient Victorian buildings, shops, restaurants, art galleries, and much more. You will find some famous boutique shops, gift shops, and antique stores. This is also a great place to dine in, as there is a range of cafes serving authentic Tex-Mex cuisine, seafood, and steaks.

Galveston Arts Center

If you are someone who admires art, the Galveston Arts Center (GAC) is one place you cannot miss in Galveston. It hosts exhibitions and educational programming for visitors, offering them a great insight into the art and history of Texas. The center displays works from local artists as well as artists from around the world. You can get hands-on visual arts experiences and also participate in Galveston's popular ArtWalk event. It occurs monthly on the Second Saturday, when all the galleries, artist studios, and local artists gather to celebrate the art.

Galveston Historic Seaport

The Galveston Historic Seaport is a maritime museum that shares the rich history of Galveston, which is an important port in the USA. As you explore the seaport area, you will come across a stunning tall ship, Elissa, that serves as both a museum and an active sailing vessel. After years of carrying cargo, she was discovered in a scrapyard in Greece during the 1970s. It is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, and today, it offers special day sails during the spring. The museum also hosts the Ship to Shore exhibition, which tells the stories of immigrants who arrived in Galveston during the 1880s.

Moody Gardens

Recreational and educational, Moody Gardens is one of the major attractions in Galveston for tourists, known for its three striking glass pyramids. It is also a nonprofit organization working towards the conservation and rehabilitation of the wild. 

The 12-story aquarium pyramid at the Moody Gardens is one of the largest aquariums in the Southwest that features marine life from the Gulf of Mexico, the North Pacific, the South Atlantic, and the Caribbean. You can find penguins, seals, sharks, stingrays, and thousands of tropical fish. Then there is a 10-story rainforest pyramid where you can discover environments from Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The Discovery Pyramids has science, art, and imagination, hosting the immersive 4D adventure, "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea."