Exploring Galveston Island:
Houston’s Favorite Beach Town
The fourth largest city in the US by population, and the 9th largest in the world by land area. A concrete jungle, a stretch of unbroken cityscape extending for miles and miles in every direction. Sometimes you need a break, and sometimes you need a beach, and unless you want to share it with a bunch of alligators you’re probably heading from Houston to exactly one place: Galveston Island.
Why Galveston Island?
Only an hour away, fifty miles from the city of Houston proper, Galveston is almost a different world. Two miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, trading the clogged city streets and constant city noise for the sounds of waves on the beach and live music in the bars is equal parts relaxation and party.
Relaxation, of course, is on those long stretches of beach that look out onto the Gulf of Mexico. While the innermost edge of Galveston town still has vestiges of the bars and restaurants that are the appeal for many, just beyond is a long stretch of beach houses and open sand calling out to those that visit for quiet and calm.
Of course, that’s not the only appeal. For others, indeed for many, this is party weekend paradise. Not just the in-town beachfront, but almost the entirety of the historic restored old town is lined with cafes and restaurants and bars and bars and live music and bars. Though not quite the diversity of Houston’s food scene, there are far more and better restaurants in Galveston than the permanent population of around 50,000 would otherwise warrant. There’s seafood and steak, fine dining and street food, American and Asian and Cajun and Mexican (of course) and cafes and bakeries – the whole host. And so many of them, no matter what they serve during the daylight hours, turn into centers of live music and flowing drinks as the night falls. Other than that brief twilight when the last revelers have left for the night and the first frolickers of the coming day haven’t yet awakened, it’s an accomplishment of sorts to walk down the main drags in the center of town and *not* hear somebody singing or strumming a guitar.
Of course, there’s one other reason tourists stream to and through Galveston Island: cruise ships. Several major cruise lines leave from the Port of Galveston for trips to the Caribbean and Bahamas (including the infamous 2013 ‘Poop Cruise‘), which means on the days just before and after these cruises are in town it can feel downright packed. (So if you’re ever stuck in terrible traffic on I-45 trying to go south on a Saturday morning, feel free to blame it on Carnival or Disney!)
History of Galveston Island
Though very much the fourth wheel in terms of tourist appeal, there is also a fairly interesting historical context to Galveston Island. Founded as a stage for attacks in support of the Mexican Revolution, occupied for some time by the pirate Jean Laffite, five years under Mexican rule, and at one point the capital of the Republic of Texas. All of this BEFORE the two major US Civil War battles fought here, and the garrison of Union troops that stuck around for a long while after.
By the late-1800s it was one of the busiest ports in the United States and a major center for immigration into the young country. Galveston was, for a time, also the largest city commercial center in the entire state of Texas. And then there was the hurricane.
The 1900 hurricane that struck Galveston on September 8th remains the largest natural disaster in U.S. history, and inflicted damage that the city would never fully recover from. Despite efforts to rebuild and shield the city from future storms, the damage done (combined with the extension of the Houston Ship Channel in 1910) meant that Galveston would never regain quite the same importance it once held.
There are signs of all this history in town, if you care to track them down. Literal signs, in some cases, depicting the details of the Civil War battles and Union occupation of the port. Tangible reminders in spots, including the long seawall that was built after the 1900 hurricane to protect the city from further oceanic onslaught. Small plaques, in other cases, with which the town council has marked those buildings that still remain from pre-1900. But you have to look for them, seek them out. If that sounds like too much effort? Well, there’s always those long quiet stretches of Galveston Island beaches.
Practical Details
How to get there:
Getting to Galveston from Houston is super easy… just as long as you have a car. It’s a one-hour drive straight down I-45 on a good day – hours and hours longer on a friday afternoon when the rest of Houston is also heading down to the beach. It’s an easy stop to include on your USA Travel Itinerary.
Where to stay:
There are plenty of places to stay in Galveston, but most non-Houstonian tourists will visit as a daytrip so hotels in Houston make much more sense. If you do stay in Galveston itself, you’ll have to choose between the historic town (with quick access to restaurants and bars) or the beachfront (with quick access to the water) depending on what your priorities are.
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I have always wanted to go to Galveston Island! Now I know what it looks like too. Wide sandy beaches and very historic. Its the perfect destination for history buffs like my husband I know we will make it down there sometime in the near future.
Definitely worth a day or two, though I have to say it took me quite a long time to get down there as well so you’re in good company!
I had never heard of Galveston Island before! It sounds like a great escape away from the city. Thank you for sharing!
Nice little trip for a day or three – hope you make it down there at some point!
This is the first time I’ve heard of the Galveston Island. I like the laidback ambiance, who would have thought the place has so many history in it.
It’s a nice little surprise, and doubly so in a city like Houston that can be hard to dig into the history of.
I thought I’d never heard of Galveston before, until I got there and remembered it was impacted by Hurricane Ike. We were there in 2013 and the impacts of the hurricane could still be seen, especially the palm trees that had not grown their leaves back and some of the houses still under repair. What I loved most were the houses. The different levels, the different colours. I also didn’t realise it was so close to Mexico (as the crow flies).
That’s the one – yep, I think the impact is less visually apparent now but there are a few art exhibitions and little stuff like that which testify to it. You’re right about the houses – the architecture goes a long way towards showing some of the history of what Galveston has lived through.
I’ve never heard of this place before, but it definitely looks like it would be a welcome break from the city for a good couple of days!
Is this the same Galveston from the song by Glen Campbell? I didnt know it was a seaside town. Good to learn something when reading blog posts.
Nice catch! It is, in fact, the official anthem of both the city and the island of Galveston.
What a nice getaway from city life! I’m a massive beach bum and I really like the idea of having a beach town so close to Houston! Must be amazing.
It definitely gets its fair share of lovin’, especially since so many of the other waterways near town are a bit polluted from all the refining and shipping that goes on in the area.
Always curious on Galveston…thanks for shedding some light. Never realized it probably has a long history, be interesting to see this part of the States… some day.
stay adventurous, Craig
I’ve never spent much time in Texas. Galveston looks like a good excuse to visit.
Nice job Stephen!!
I have been trying to convince my husband to go to Galveston for some time now but completely forgot about the Cruise Ships. Do you know where to find out when the ships come in to try and avoid the craziness?
Not offhand – I imagine you’d have to check the cruise lines’ websites or maybe the Port of Galveston pages? Anyways just keep away from the port area and hopefully it won’t be too bad!