This is one of my favorite beaches to visit while in Galveston. It's just about a minute or two…read morewalk from the seawall. It's a lovely and well-maintained private beach with available umbrella and chair rentails should you decide you need or want one. Always a lovely experience.

I was staying at a hotel across from Porretto Beach on the off season. Granted, was the mid-high…read more80s in late November. I never really get down to east side of Galveston. But so glad I did! My hotel was right across the street from the beach. It took just a couple minutes to walk from the Seawall to the actual ocean. When I say that we were the only ones there, I absolutely mean it. I think it was the best experience I've ever had coming to Galveston. No loud music, no loud families just calm and quiet. The only people that were around were fishing on the jetty. I was able to catch some rays, play in the sand, dip in the water, and walk the beach without a living soul to bother me. Ha! I am not sure what it's like in the summer, but if you have a chance to go to this end of the beach during the off-season, it is absolutely heaven!! Heads up - no restrooms....at least during the off season. Not sure about the rest.

First time visiting Crystal Beach, TX…read more The beach houses are nice, easily accessible to the beach, and good price for quality. For those not having been here before, this location is unincorporated - very local; which is fine but use of updated technology with the restaurants would be convenient versus using their websites (not functional, non existent), or calling listed phone numbers not actively working. Plan before coming with food choices. If your goal is to eat out - must go in person. Online ordering, forget it.

This beach is utterly disgusting. Literally trash everywhere you walk. The sea life is growing on…read morethe trash it's been there so long. The community of homes is so beautiful, you'd think they'd put some money into keeping their beaches clean. We went for the sole purpose of sea shells, luckily. There were LOADS of man 'o wars, everywhere. We were watching them get washed up. I don't know how anyone would let their children swim somewhere that they could get stung by something so incredibly painful. Even when they are dead. Wouldn't recommend this beach.

Nice place, we had a happy weekend together, I will be back at the nearest time , To enjoy the sea…read moreair

Amazing beach where you can drive your car almost into the waves!!! Exceptionally clean and…read moreleveled. Loved the sunrise there!!!

A six mile jetty into the Galveston Bay that you can drive on paved road, with sand beaches, rocks…read moreand docks to fish from shore, and parking on the sand pretty much wherever you want. Lots of family's enjoying the bay, swimming, boating, fishing & picnics. Mellow vibes. Cool that you can easily launch a trailer boat from the sand beach. Dog friendly. My dogs love it! Not the most scenic beach but clean and maintained with $10 daily fee.

A marvel of engineering, the levee that is called "The Texas City Dike" just out into and protects…read morethe Houston Ship Channel which is a critical commercial waterway for the Port of Houston and Texas City. Construction started during the Public Works Administration era of the 1930s, today it is more than 5 miles long and has a proper asphalt road along the entire length. [Review 862 of 2024 - 617 in Texas - 21892 overall]

I usually go on hikes with the Houston Women's Hiking group Clear Lake edition, but when I want to…read morego on a good adrenaline hike on a Saturday I come here. Jack Brooks is the only park in the area that I know that has high slopes with deep dips and some flat terrain that is similar to something you'll find in Hill Country, Central Texas. I get here very early in the morning to beat the MTB (mountain bikers) since the trail was essentially designed for them. However, it's also perfect for hikers too. Trekking poles are recommended when doing this trail that crosses over ponds, wooden planks curved in to create a high endurance speed track, and different props throughout. A suggestion is to wear good hiking shoes non-slip with good grip support. Ones that don't slip and slide around when you're walking. I would even wear toe covers to protect your toenails from shoe impact if not, you might have hikers toes (hematoma in the nail bed) otherwise. I don't recommend physical disabled, limited ROM, or anyone ridiculously out of shape to experience this trail. It isn't easy and it is very challenging; it's best if you have somewhat physical fitness under your belt since you'll need that abdomen and legs strength to pull yourself up and down between all the dips. If not, you'll be very much out of breath and unhappy. It isn't wheelchair or any assistive devices friendly as you may experience falls if you're unstable on your feet. The signage on the trail is themed based on your experience when attempting each path such as they have some that say: Hell II, Autobahn, and Hell I. When I come with the hiking group and alone, I hike up to 5.5 miles. And if you get lost, I tend to rely on AllTrails app to guide me. It can be very helpful when it working. The whole trail is heavily shaded, but since it's located in Santa Fe/Hitchcock, TX which is closer to Galveston (Gulf of Mexico) then the temps are typically muggy hot humid leaving me in a sweat bath. I suggest bringing some electrolytes and a hydration pack because whew, you can get dehydrated or overheated just by hiking this trail. The mosquitoes can be bad, so spray yourself first. There's wildflowers, spider webs blocking paths, and flying bugs. Nonetheless, this park trail system is by far the most fun I've experienced. I love it! I was a tad bit leary of hiking solo since it's in Santa Fe, TX has a history of KKK rallies dating back to the 1980s and the presence of hateful looks from the locals are still present today (my mum experienced it at Haak Winery and my sister experienced it at the Walmart). That's why I like to go early or with a group of ladies (all races) because I don't want no flack from anyone when I'm simply trying to have fun burning calories. To get to the trail, at the stop sign once you enter the park, take a left turn then go to the big parking lot. Park then walk at the starting point according to AllTrails. I posted in photos the whole trail system screenshot from the AllTrails app. Come, have fun, and leave no trace!

Fun biking/hiking park. Good hills and ramps for experts and flatter trails for the beginner…read more Very woodsy. Bring mosquito spray. Water tends to pool in the flat areas after a good rain. Summer time brings orb spiders on the trails. I have seen small snakes and rabbits in the spring on the trails. I have heard there are wild hogs and have seen the prints and areas where they are digging for grubs and such but have never seen one. There are areas for frisby golf and other open areas for other sports and picnicking. Covered areas are available and restrooms are clean and well maintained. The whole park is well maintained.

Good morning! I was up super early and made it here for coffee and the sunrise, enjoying watching…read morethe container ship CGM Samson at the tail end of its journey. It left Busan Korea on around four weeks ago and arrived in Houston today. Welcome! Yes, there's a website where you can track ships including that one that you see right there. A perfect spot for a sunrise, nice and quiet other than the swarms of seagulls that will mostly leave you alone unless you have food. Super windy this morning, so be prepared for that. The marker here reads, "The northeastern tip of Galveston Island has seen defense fortifications since the early 1800's. Crude Spanish and French forts (1816-1818) gave way to small sand forts and batteries constructed by the Republic of Texas from 1836 to 1844. In 1863 the Confederate Army built sandbag breastworks and an earthen battery named Fort Point. All traces of these early fortifications were destroyed by the strong winds and tides which regularly reshaped the sandy tip of the island. A more substantial fortification call Fort San Jacinto was built here by the U.S. Army in 1897. After the fort was destroyed in the 1900 storm, the Galveston seawall was extended northward in 1921 to protect the area. The fort was rebuilt and new gun emplacements were added for the defense of Galveston during World War II. The round, concrete base of one of these 90-mm gun emplacements remains here today. For San Jacinto was decommissioned in 1959." [Review 885 of 2024 - 640 in Texas - 21914 overall]

A sad little spot, but may be fine if you want to watch the ships go by. This is a dirty, smelly…read morelittle observation area at the end of the road. Not sure I'd want to be here after Dark. I'm sure there's some history here, but it's lost in the simple unattractiveness of the location. However, if you're interested in watching ships go by this is the place to do it. Break out a program like marinetraffic.com and play identify the ships.

Epic spot to cruise with dogs when not many people around. Galveston hidden treasure! Birds,…read moremarsh, ocean, ship channel all colide.

Don't be misled. There's nothing here except potential. Maybe if more people became interested…read moreconditions would improve. There are no trail signs. I stomped through the deep boggy sand to find the trailhead and it was badly neglected. It's between East Beach and Big Reef. At this time it is totally impassable. Needs to be bushwhacked in order to connect to an awesome oyster shell trail that runs parallel to Boddeker Road. This area is best visited in cooler weather, followed by a dry period, during lowest tide. Otherwise infested with mosquitoes, to boggy, and flooded. Wear hiking boots and bring water shoes...also repellant.

One of my favorite places on the Harmony of the Seas, this was the location where my brother and I…read morewatched the Bears - Bengals game. There are various loungers and cabanas available (first come first serve). Because we were some of the first folks to be allowed on the boat (consecutive cruisers), we were able to make use of the cabanas to provide shade and space.