Best Places in Galveston, TX

Galveston Beach
Galveston, TX

FOOD

Dining out is at the top of most folks’ priorities when planning a getaway weekend  to Galveston. Type of fun varies, depending on the time of the year, but it’s a given that visitors to the island will want to know the best places to eat.

Gaido's, Galveston, Texas
Me and My Hubby at Gaido’s

Listed here are three of the most fabulous dining places to visit in Galveston:

Gaido’s

Gaido’s is one of the best fine dining restaurants on the island. The first time my husband and I ate at Gaido’s was nearly 38 years ago on our honeymoon. I love this place – the ambiance, the history (open since 1911), pictures, store – and the food! Favorite entrees we enjoy include:

  • combination platters (all were excellent!)
  • bisque (the BEST ever!!!)
  • stuffed crab

The Spot

The first time I ever ate at The Spot was 12 years ago with my husband and our family. Last Sunday I ate there with two of our daughters, sons-in-law, and granddaughters. One of my daughters and I split the Blue Cheese burger and shared the fried pickles. My other daughter and her husband ordered a fish sandwich and a shrimp po’boy. They stayed a couple of days in Galveston, went back to The Spot, and ordered the SAME thing. You know the food is fabulous when you go back during the same trip and order the same entree!

Make sure you include a walk on The Strand in Galveston’s historic district. You’ll enjoy the shops, historic buildings, and the famous La King’s ice cream parlor and candy shop.

La King’s Confectionery

Don’t miss the ice cream parlor on The Strand in downtown Galveston. Not in the mood for ice cream? They have candy galore! A favorite little purchase I like to get is a cherry-flavored lip balm my three-year-old granddaughter LOVES.

La King's in Galveston, TX
La King’s Cherry Lip Balm

FUN

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier

Pleasure Pier, Galveston
Galveston Island Pleasure Pier
Pleasure Pier, Galveston
Galveston Island Pleasure Pier

Add Galveston’s Pleasure Pier to your list for family fun. The historical pier has seen its share of devastating storms. Previous to the hotel was another amusement park that was destroyed with Hurricane Carla. Hurricane Ike ruined the beautiful USS Flagship Hotel that was built over the Gulf of Mexico closed in 2008.

The Flagship was unique because it was built on the pier over the Gulf of Mexico and not on land. I felt sad to see the Flagship’s demolition. Staying in the seven-story hotel over the water was a pleasant experience. My husband and I stayed there twice and loved it. You could sit out on the room’s balcony and enjoy listening to the waves.

The Peanut Butter Warehouse

The Peanut Butter Factory was another historical place that was shut down after Hurricane Ike.  It has been reopened as The Market Place at the Peanut Butter Warehouse. If you want to go shopping for womem’s clothing, antiques, or art, this should be a fun place.

Museums

  1. Galveston Railroad Museum –  open daily, train rides, one-hour tour, gift shop
  2. The Bryan Museum – open Thursday-Sunday, self-guided tours
  3. Moody Museum – open daily, self-guided tours

Festivals

Coming soon is this month’s shrimp festival. Other fun events are:

Summary

There is plenty to do for fun and relaxation on Galveston Island. A day or week’s vacation, either way, you’ll find something to interest the whole family. The food and fun places mentioned in this article are ones I’m familiar with or have enjoyed. A trip to the island doesn’t have to be expensive. Try one of these activities for fun:

  • Enjoy a picnic lunch by the beach
  • Buy a bag of bread, and feed the bread to the seagulls on a ferry ride
  • Shop on The Strand
  • Do your own random photography Galveston Island tour

What fun family activities have you enjoyed in Galveston? If you were planning to go to the island, what could you add to this list of inexpensive fun? It’s fun to hear from my readers. Make my day by sharing your idea in the comment section on this page.

 

1 Comment

  1. I have never been to Galveston, but it’s been on my list of places I would love to visit. I fell in love with Galveston as a child reading a book and seeing all of the houses built on stilts. I thought it was charming.

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