Galveston's Primetime (not to be confused with the infamous Primetime himself, Deon Sanders), is a…read moregreat place to take your family for a little fun. I haven't went bowling in years and I won our first game! Making reservations is pretty easy online. It saves time when you're checking in and choosing the right bowling shoes. The concession stand serves the bowling alley and the theater so I'd suggest ordering your food when you first arrive. it could take up to 40 minutes to get a simple order of fries.

Super clean facilities that seem recently remodeled. The movie and bowling package was a good deal…read moreand a good way to spend the afternoon. The recliner chairs in the theater were top notch. Concessions were pretty standard. Some staff were super friendly and others not so much.

We have been coming to this museum for at least 8yrs. It's definitely a gem and one of the few…read moreindoor places to bring kids to. The space has a lot of open-ended activities to do and will rotate play to keep kids engaged. The space is small, which makes it easier to monitor your child(ren), but has something in every corner for kids to do. As parents, we even get involved in playing with our kids. The camps are great, two of our boys attend regularly, they offer family free nights, and they have some really great events like DaVinci Day. They really do try to meet the needs of families and engage with our community. On a separate note, as a mom of three neurodivergent kids who range in abilities, I appreciate that the staff is welcoming, inclusive, and doesn't judge the boys or us when someone is behaving in a typical way. They embrace who they are as people and don't shy away from engaging with them. If you live in Galveston and haven't made it in, you should. If you're visiting Galveston and want something to entertain your kids, definitely come in.

Nothing dampens my vacation to the beach like a week of rain and no sun but that's what happened…read more So we were on the hunt for something fun to do with five children under 4! Fortunately we came across this sweet little place on the island. Small and quaint but full of rooms of imagination and learning. Each of the kids had different personalities and within seconds we found a spot for each of them. It may have been a toss up as to whether adults or kids had the most fun. There is only one doorway to come in and out of so we felt pretty safe that we wouldn't lose any too quickly lol. Every time we thought we had seen it all, there were more rooms to discover. Kids were fully entertained and happy to be out of the airbnb. There were enough activities for ages up to 8 I would say. There was also an art studio. Supplies were rough. Very used so a donation might improve that activity. Restrooms clean but small. So was parking. We had to park on adjacent street when we were there. Takeaway-when it rains, make a trip here you won't regret it. I believe it was $10 per head. Oh and be sure to do a little jig with Mr Skeleton while you're there.

It's the famous pier with great views of the Galveston Channel, Battleship Texas, and the…read morewaterfront. You'll see all kinds of seabirds sunbathing on rocks, as well as dolphins frolicking around the ships. They also have dolphin and scenic boat tours that leave from here as well. There are many photo opportunities including the whimsical "High Tide" sculpture by Charles Parks. It's very uplifting. This is also where you can find the 1877 Tall Ship Elissa Museum and the Ocean Star Oil Drilling Rig Museum. Many people stay at the Harbor House Hotel on the waterfront so that they can walk to the Strand Historic District. There are many good restaurants on the pier including Katie's Seafood House where you'll see the mosquito fleet of shrimp boats. We mainly enjoyed watching the wildlife while walking along the pier. It was a cool & breezy day. It was fun seeing the birds carrying around their fresh catch of the day. I totally recommend stopping here at some point while you're in town. It's a great start or end to a day of touring Galveston.

Very cool and a safe space for a stroll There are some restaurants and a hotel near by. There is a…read morecool public art piece here. A young man reaching upward toward a flock of seagulls. By artist: Charles Parks. Not much to see here honestly.

Wow this was so much more impressive than I expected! We went on the 29th of Dec near the last…read moreday. Parking was easy,volunteers help usher you in and out of the parking area. It is free but they accept donations and we gladly obliged for the experience we enjoyed. We took my 8 year old autistic niece who just loved it! The displays are quite creative and they cast beautiful reflections in the bayou. There were a couple of snack huts, one was a cookie decorating place. Porta potties around and benches along the trail its well suited for littles up to the elderly. We really enjoyed this to end our holiday season.

Apparently this has been a tradition in Dickinson for more than a decade. It all started off when…read moretwo neighbors teamed up and began creating steel designs adorned with lights. Now, this winding trail of lights encompasses most of Paul Hopkins Park. I like this particular Festival Of Lights because you go by foot, and everyone in the family is invited - even the dog. (I saw quite a few on leashes.) And get ready for a beautifully lit park with all types of figures you can imagine: mariachis, Longhorn and Texas A&M signs, alligators (to represent those Dickinson Gators!), a NASA space shuttle and the like. Most of the time, signs request that you stay on the trail, but there are photo opps where you're permitted to stand side by side with figures for pictures - like the giant Santa sleigh with reindeer and a glistening palace with larger than life drummer boys. Also on site is a "cookie house" baking up holiday treats, a souvenir shop to purchase glowing tchotchkes, a concession stand selling popcorn, hot dogs, hot chocolate and more, and a seating area with picnic tables. You can also bring along you own coffee and snacks in tow, as I did (I bought those across the street at the convenience store before I knew about the vendors). And I love that it's all set in Paul Hopkins Park. You have wooden bridges to cross with a lovely view and the peaceful water below ... and even a few ducks and geese attempting to grab the attention of patrons. They joined us along for the trail walk! And as a special treat, it's completely free, but donations are accepted. If you go on a slow night, park in the lot (handicap permits can always park here). Busier nights, which require the help of traffic controllers, you're asked to park at the nearby church, True Cross, where they have free shuttles running to and fro. ...Or do as we did and find a spot across the street in the neighborhood and just walk on over. I recommend checking out their website for more information on the history of this community event and how you can also get involved. Volunteers always needed! Hurry and check this out before January 2, when it closes for the year.

I love cinemark because of the loungers and how comfy the seats are. Obsessed with the reclining…read moreseats because once you've experienced them you can't go back. We did the xd dbox experience for the spider man movie, and I liked the 4D movie experience with the heated loungers and the vibrating chairs that matched the tempo of the movie.

Last night was my first time seeing a movie at Cinemark 18 and XD…read more My favorite part about this theater is the grand set of stairs leading up to the entrance. They offer a great vantage point in the parking lot, allowing you to easily spot the person you're waiting for, and making it easy for them to spot you. The theater was clean, lines weren't too long. Greeters and ticket scanners were kind, efficient and a little silly, wanting to make you laugh. I always appreciate the kindness and cheer of others, especially around the holidays. We didn't get any snacks, having just eaten dinner down the street at El Tiempo, but the concession lines were short and seemed to movev quickly. The theater also served alcohol for you adults who may be interested. This theater has D-Box, motion-enabled seats that are synchronized to the movie as well as more standard auditoriums. We were in a 3D auditorium without D-Box. All seats are luxury lounge recliners. We watched Wicked For Good, which was showing in multiple auditoriums. It was a great movie night and this is a theater I would recommend to others and to which I look forward to returning.

It's more of a public square than a park. The name comes from a biennial singing contest that…read moreGalveston hosted in April of 1881. There's a historical marker that tells the story. It's where you can find the "Greetings from Galveston" mural as well as a cool looking mosaic of George P. Mitchell (the "Son of Galveston"). It's a nice tribute to the Mitchell's who started up the project to create this area of celebration. It's currently the place where free movie and music events occur every summer. We were there just before Christmas time. There was a huge Christmas tree with a Santa's chair in front of it. A great photo op for family pictures. But, it was the Galveston mural that really brought us here. My husband was born on the island (B.O.I.), but moved to Tampa when he was 2 years old. It was his first time seeing Galveston since that time. The picture of him with the Galveston mural made this visit special. It will always be memorable for us.

This is a small paved area that could be a park, located next to a pair of restaurants. The paving…read moreis quite nice and includes a "raised" area that could be a stage. Music performances take place here, on top of the usual buskers on the corner. You'll find the "Greetings from Galveston" mural and the London-style phone booth, either of which is always good for a selfie. The park takes its name from Saengerfest, a biennial singing contest sponsored by German immigrant choral societies around the State of Texas in the 19th century. [Review 880 of 2024 - 635 in Texas - 21909 overall]

I've been here a number of times with the grandkid with more in the way and it has been a pleasure!…read moreI loved the dinosaur exhibit and all the other sights Will be back soon

Not as much stuff to do or see as the Rainforest pyramid or the Aquarium pyramid. There is a very…read moresmall shark exhibit upstairs and a 4D theater downstairs. I wouldn't pay for this on its own. The 4D movie will be great for kids.

My second year on Shiprocked, I definitely need a vacation!…read more What an amazing way to spend a week. I was excited to finally get to see Papa Roach and I attended both of their shows. About the ships- Last year was aboard the Pearl, this year the Victory. I prefer the deck stage as well as the theater of the Victory over the Pearl. I liked the dining room of the Pearl better. I missed the bowling alley! Our steward was horrible this year. I had to dry off using one of the towel animals! But getting to decorate our cabin door was so fun. Getting on the Victory was quick and everyone at the terminal was great. Getting off the ship was easy also. Last year getting on the Pearl took a very long time. The muster drill this year took way too long. Drink prices on the Victory were very good. About Shiprocked staff- I'm honestly not sure how these guys pull this off. I have ZERO complaints about the security staff, the process (prebooking, setting up payment, addressing issues). The guys in charge answer every question asked in a timely fashion. They are also open to discussion and if there is something that cannot be changed, they explain why. Who cannot appreciate this?? The security guys are great. I made a wrong turn and instead of rudely raising his voice, because I'm sure people push the limits, I got a, "Hey darling you need to go that way." About Shiprocked artists- these guys and gals are awesome! I'm sure traveling the world gets tiresome and the logistics of performing on a ship have to be difficult. But the artists seem to have a really great time. It's great that they are interacting with all the fans. Already put our deposit down for 2018!

Another great year for Shiprocked in 2017. Each year has its own personality, but in the end, it's…read moreabout 3000 rockers just having a good time on a 4-day cruise letting their hair down! The 2017 Band lineup was strong, but took a hit when two bands could not make it (Shaman's Harvest and From Ashes to New). Both notified fans well in advance, and additional bands were added but several folks lamented the loss. These things happen in show business, nothing can be done. To me, Papa Roach was the show stealer (although Breaking Benjamin was the headliner and also very entertaining). Other bands of note: Avatar (man their fans come out), Alter Bridge (GREAT GUITAR), Dead Deads (two years in a row of rocking), and the Stowaways. The Stowaways are pieces of bands that get together for a couple of 2 hour sets and do not disappoint. Members of Unloco, Aranda, POD, Buckcherry, and many many more were there. My favorite Stowaway was Geoff Tate formerly of Queensryche (and yes, he did several of their songs including Jet City Woman and Another Rainy Night, the latter in an intimate acoustic set in the Atrium). The 2017 Deck stage on the Victory was far superior to the previous two years on the Pearl. It was more vertical/up (instead of long ways out). Everyone had a great view. I did NOT like the theater as much; the acoustics didn't seem as good in the upper level (where we had to sit as we were not VIPs). Service on the victory was outstanding, as was the bar staff. Embarkation was way easier on the Victory vs. the Pearl, however the muster drill took a VERY long time (over 30 minutes) I'm told due to passengers not following directions. The Meet and Greets are a very unique aspect of this cruise/festival. No additional charge, you get a professional photo with all the bands in the session (posted online after the cruise ends). The lines are long (1.5 hours usually), but that's just part of it. Be patient and you won't be disappointed. The bands are great in shaking fans hand and enjoying the experience. In that regard, you see the bands all over the ship, most of the time they love just hanging out and having a drink and chatting. Just don't interrupt their meals or gambling, that's their vacation time. Finally, the Shiprocked promoters do an amazing job of organizing. Everything was near flawless. The first concert was an hour or two late due to embarkation logistics, literally nothing they could do (it takes a while to get all the people, equipment, etc. on the ship AND set up for a concert within hours. No doubt this is an annual must attend and we have already prebooked for next year. I hear it will well out in days!