BEACH, FERRIES, & FUN! Galveston seems to be a hit destination in Lower Texas. It's got a…read moremini-amusement park pier, large beaches, surrounded by multiple islands, and the gateway to several Carnival cruise lines. Galveston is quite industrial, but at its heart it's well-maintained and clean. I came in mid-July so it was hot. However, I think AZ is 1000x more scorching. Galveston is tolerable as long as you're hydrated, near shade, and close to the water. I can't rate this island five-stars as it's lacking trees and proper shade for its citizens. I was happy with how clear the roads were and the easy/accessible parking across town. Never did I struggle finding a parking space! In fact, I was able to park near the main beach! I'll gladly admit I enjoyed the food and glorious views of the Gulf of Mexico. The water near the FREE ferries has a slight green tinge, not sure if it's good or bad. It could be natural. Thankfully, I didn't get any funky smells when I dipped my toes in the water at the nearby beach. I felt safe! The water by Pleasure Pier seemed less green. Locals seem to keep to themselves and aren't as chatty as folks in Houston or Texas City.

Quaint and historic beach town that I've enjoyed visiting over the years whether it's hitting up…read moretourist spots on The Strand, hitting the beach, or patronizing a local business outside the range of the tourist areas. Most importantly, Galveston is the birthplace of Juneteenth. June 19, 1865-General Granger announced the end of slavery.

It's a unique sculpture at the part of the seawall near the Fort Crockett historical marker. The…read moresculptor (David Moore) created it based off of a Pompeo Coppini cast (or drawing) that was originally rejected back in 1904 for being too heartbreaking. It was of a grieving mother holding her baby while her other child is pulling on her skirt. He donated his works to the university, and they somehow lost them. What a shame! Fortunately, the bronze sculpture that you see today gives off that same emotion but with more of a feeling of resolution. The mother and child have risen to a peaceful & restful place after the devastating storm of 1900. That's how I'd like to interpret it. It looks even more spiritual at sunset. It's beautiful! The surrounding seawall built in the aftermath continues to protect Galveston Island. The structures have all risen to a safer level. We have early warning systems for hurricanes that they didn't have back then. It's a part of Galveston's history that is too difficult to forget. You just can't walk along the beach and not think of the 6,000 (also said to be 8000) lives lost. There are reminders everywhere including the historical seawall. It was a breezy & relaxing walk while staying at the San Luis Resort.

The Storm of 1900 was one of the worst storms in recorded history, killing over 6,000 Texans in…read moreGalveston. This memorial was commissioned by the City of Galveston and the Galveston Commission for the Arts, and was completed in 2000. The artist is the talented David Moore, who used bronze to portray the victims of the storm, reaching out for aide. Before the storm, Galveston was poised to be one of the biggest port cities in the country. That fateful storm changed that forever. Since then, the citizens of Galveston built the seawall, a 12 foot barrier that keeps the sea out from the island during these terrible storms. When visiting this memorial, I feel sadness for the victims, but glad that we now have technology to warn us of these dangerous storms, so that we may do our best to prepare. The memorial is set in a beautiful place, right along the beach, with picturesque views of the Gulf of Mexico. It's a natural meeting spot, and a great place to people watch. Parking is easy, along Seawall Blvd., but you might have to technically pay to park.

This beautiful church stands tall and is one of the more historical churches on Galveston Island…read more There is a small parking lot and there is street parking on neighboring streets. The larger marker reads, "Trustees of the Methodist Church purchased this lot in 1848 as a worship site for Black slaves. Meetings were held outdoors until a building was erected in 1863. At the end of the Civil War (1865), ownership of the property was transferred to the recently-freed Blacks, who organized the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Texas. It was later named in honor of the Rev. Houston Reedy of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who served as the first pastor. The church survived several natural disasters, beginning in 1875, when the sanctuary was damaged in a storm. It was destroyed in 1885 by a fire that burned a large area of the city. Finished in 1887, the present structure was restored after the destructive hurricane of 1900 and repaired again in 1947 and 1957. More than 30 ministers have served the congregation including the Rev. J.E. Edwards, the Rev. Josiah Armstrong, the Rev. M.D. Moody, The Rev. W.R. Beamer, the Rev Louis H. Reynolds, the Rev. A.I. Henley, the Rev. R.C. Walker, the Rev. Erford Barker, the Rev. C.B. Bryant, and The Rev. Sylvester I. Green. Many of Galveston's prominent Black citizens have been members of Reedy Chapel A.M.E. Church. Today the fellowship includes several descendants of the original founders." The building was secured when I was here on a weekday evening, so I was unable to see the interior. [Review 881 of 2024 - 636 in Texas - 21910 overall]

June 8, 2021 One of…read morethe many historical churches on the island. It's very unique because it's an African "Methodist/Episcopal" church! A 2-for one...which I've never known of that before. Church dates back to 1848 when black slaves were given the land where the church resides. After slavery ended in Texas this church acted as a school educating freed men/women. It endured the storm of 1900 but the original building was destroyed in a fire in 1885. Point of reference Church is off Broadway between 20-21st and next door to RCC resale FYI Every year (to date) people celebrate Juneteenth here

Beautiful day for a picnic! The home is gorgeous, but wasn't open to visit. The picnic benches…read moredidn't require the blanket I packed, but it was such a pleasant day for a picnic and the weather was awesome. The grounds are well kept and there are a few swings for the little ones. A pleasant day overall.

This park sits almost halfway between Seawall Boulevard and Broadway Street on 27th St. It sits…read moresurrounded by local residential homes and the Holy Family Catholic school directly across the street. The 3-4 acre property has quite a large number of very well manicured old oak trees with just a few palms. There is a very nice gravel path that runs along the fenced perimeter. There are also numerous benches and uncovered picnic tables along with a fountain to drink from, but no grills. You can park along the street or choose the parking lot located on Avenue O. In the parking lot is a home designated as a Galveston landmark, which appears to be available for special occasions such as weddings. At the rear of the house sits the park and a pagoda, which is perfect for weddings. Definitely a very nice park to sit and relax in, and a very nice asset to the local community.

The Powhatan House is a very well preserved example of early Galveston architecture. Built in 1847,…read moreit was the residence of one of Galveston's early mayors, John Seabrook Sydnor, who also grew up here. It was Sydnor's middle name of Seabrook for which the little town just north of Galveston on the edge of Galveston Bay was named. It is remarkable for the fact that it is in very good shape, and for the fact that it survived to 1900 Storm and several others since! It is located at 3427 Avenue O. It is very impressive to view and is surrounded by shrubs on the front facing avenue O and on the side facing 35th street. It is the current location for the Galveston Garden Club. With that being said, I would think that as a garden club they would keep those hedges a little more manicured! There is a Texas Historical marker located on the 35th street side and it is kind of hard to see, or photograph as the hedges are a little high and somewhat obscure the view. There are times when the Galveston Historical Society do tots of the islands historical homes and sometimes this one is included. It is usually the first two weekends of the month of May. It's a good way to learn about a lot of Galveston's past history, and there is a lot to learn as there are quite a few historic old homes left in Galveston with seeing and learning about!

The tour guide Steve was very good. He told us some hidden insight, about things to do such as free…read moreferry and the moody mansion. Cool artificers from the 1900 flood.

I've been to several GHF events; Bishops Palace midnight tour, their warehouse, dang, I can't…read moreremember them all since 2013 when I moved here. So tomorrow April 7th, 2018 I'm going to the Plank-owners Captain Dinner and walking aboard on the 6 ships

It was the "Wallstreet of the Southwest" prior to the 1900 Storm. A financial district in a booming…read moreport city that was thriving due to the cotton industry and port location. The restored Victorian style buildings along The Strand still keep that memory alive. Unfortunately, it was all built close to sea level which had devastating consequences when the hurricane hit. It took the city over a decade to recover. All the buildings that survived were raised 17-20 feet higher. At the time, it was considered a feat of ingenuity along with the construction of the massive seawall. The Strand went through a period of disrepair up until about the 1970s. That's when many of the buildings that you see today were restored and given a historical landmark status. It started with the Old Strand Emporium. The King family opened up La King's Confectionery around the same time that the Mitchell's were revitalizing the Blum Building. This would eventually become the rebirth of the Tremont House Hotel. I mean, this is just a summary of events that made this district what it is today. There's really a lot more that went into all of this. Let's just say it was a very interesting visit full of charm. There's so many attractions to see in this part of town. There are many touristy shops mixed in with boutique shops and restaurants. I swear there's a bar on every corner, and some in between. The pier is nearby where you can get fresh fish. Some of the cruise ship terminals are within walking distance from here. There's at least 4 different museums including a railroad station and an oil rig. I think our favorite stop was La King's Confectionery. If that's not enough, then go there during one of their festivals. They have one for Mardis Gras, FeatherFest, Juneteenth, Shrimp Festival, Lone Star Rally and the Dickens at The Strand. It was an enjoyable visit!

So many cute shops!! Everyone is so welcoming and such a variety of items to shop fromread more

This is a cool place to take a photo to remember a trip Galveston! Super easy to find with parking…read morelocated right across the street!