Galveston, Oh Galveston! Our 'go-to' spots for soaking up the last bit of Summer
- By Design Interiors
- Jul 26
- 5 min read
Summer is coming to a close very soon...sadly. However, there's still time to squeeze in a last minute, local trip to our beloved Galveston for some seaside fun. We are lucky to have a this coastal getaway just over an hour away from our city of Houston and suburban areas! While yes, it may not be the Bahamas, it still offers a vast array of fun activities, public beaches, great food, and boutique shopping for visitors to enjoy!
We love Galveston!
Thus, we looped in our 'in-house' Galveston experts: Interior designer, Jessica Salinas, and design assistant, Shannon Ballenger to share their top recommendations when visiting the lovely Island of Galveston.
The Galveston Beaches (of, course!)
There are over 32 miles of shoreline in Galveston to explore. Each has its own unique features and personality - so there is a spot for everyone! Here's a few of our favorites:
The Dellanera RV Park: It has over 65 full RV hook-up sites along shoreline where you can camp out and enjoy a more private part of the gulf coastline. The area has hot showers, laundry facilities, a cozy clubhouse, and a gift shop for snacks and beach essentials. It is a fun way to enjoy the beach...It's only $15/vehicle for a day pass too!
State Park Beach: It was just recently renovated to have over 95 campsites to enjoy along the beach. You can opt to stay for the day or overnight to enjoy the beach, kayaking areas, trails, and coastal nature it has to offer. From bird watching, swimming, fishing; it's a pretty secluded spot and only $5/day to camp here!
Beachtown: A gorgeous oasis in the east end of Galveston Island. This area is one of the more 'private' public beaches. It's actually called a 'Growing Beach" which is one of the rare spots on the coastline where nature is making the beaches wider! (how cool!?) The beach is said to grow several feet per year compared to the rest of the islands and is nearby the 'Beachtown Center' and rental beach houses. This area is so pretty & perfectly coastal chic. We highly recommend this area!
Stewart Beach: We all know Stewart Beach! It is the island’s go-to spot for most visitors. The beach ideal for families and larger groups, due to its accessibility to parking, restrooms, games, restaurants and concessions. It has a $15/vehicle entry fee.
Pocket Parks Beach: This quiet and quaint beach is a perfect spot for those wanting a more relaxed, laid-back spot to chill in the sun. For $15/car, you can drive up onto the beach for up-close seaside parking along the water. It's a 'sweet-spot' for relaxing in peace yet be close enough to the all main attractions of Galveston.
Seawall Beach: Last, but not least, is the Seawall! It over 10 miles of coastline (the longest sidewalk in the US) with prime access to great restaurants, bars, shops, and tourist attractions to check out throughout the day. It's the hot-spot for soaking up what Galveston has to offers.
Other Fun Things to Do:
Aside from the beach, Galveston has tons of other fun activities and attractions to see. Starting with:
Murdoch's - This is prime Galveston souvenir shopping. The shop is an Galveston staple, perfectly representing all that we love about the island. Our design assistant, Shannon, loves the hammocks under the store. It's a must-visit for gifts, souvenirs, beach supplies, and quick snacks when on the island.
Moody Gardens - This is a must visit for families! It's a nonprofit educational campus with a hotel, convention center, museums, and water park! The stars of the show are deficenly the 3 Pyramids: The Rainforest Pyramid with over 1,700 exotic plant and animal species from the rainforests of Asia, The Discovery Pyramid that is a NASA - inspired exhibits, and features science-related exhibits, and lastly The Aquarium Pyramid, which is one of the largest aquariums in the U.S!
Also, check out the Palm Beach Waterpark on the property! It's small but perfect for the kiddos: featuring slides, a kids play area, and lazy river.
Oh, and then, there is Beats on the Beach offering live music every Saturday during the Summer!
Other Attractions to Check Out!
Schlitterbahn: It's a fabulous waterpark in Galveston!
Pleasure Pier: This is a blast! It features a waterfront family-oriented attractions such as coaster rides, midway games, a tons of food and retail options.
Bolivar Peninsula Ferry - Our design assistant, Shannon, loves the Ferry! She says, "Her Dad calls it: "Galveston's very own sunset cruise!" Plus it's free and runs 24 hours/day!
Moody Mansion, The Railroad Museum, and Ghost Tours are also fun spots to check out!
The Top Places to Eat:
Some of our 'Tourist Favorites' are gathered below - Check them out:
Gaidos - Founded in 19911, it'a coastal classic with some delish seafood options!
Nick's Kitchen & Bar - It's 'the Real Deal' offering up fresh seafood, burgers and po'boys.
Mario's Seawall - Offering some amazing, award-winning italian food in Galveston
Katie's Seafood House - Located on the Historic Pier 19, it's got some delicious seafood on the menu.
Willie G’s - It's on Pier 21, and is one of Galveston’s most popular seafood destination with waterfront dining.
La King's Confectionery and Ice Cream Parlour - This is such a cool spot, designed as a throwback to the 1920’s, its retro-inspired treat shop is a must-visit for a sweet treat.
The Spot - If you have been to Galveston, you've probably eaten here. It's a tourist hot-spot located by the seawall. It's pretty good food with a view of the beach!
Rainforest Cafe - This one is for the kids!! The food is average, but the boy, is there fun to be had here...it's the only remaining operating restaurant with the Rainforest River Adventure Ride!
If you want to check out some local spots, here's our list of top cafés ,cremeraries, and joints on the Island:
Beachtown: A hidden oasis on the eastside of Galveston.
Take a drive down to Galveston!
If you're looking for a quick trip away from the city - Galveston is a great option. We hope this list of top attractions, beaches, and foodie spots have inspired your next beach-day or weekend getaway!
Did we miss anything?
Comment below if your favorite Galveston spot if it didn't make our list!
Now, go catch some rays!
Until next time,
-BDI