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Things to do in Houston!

Galveston

Seawolf Park and the Galveston Naval Museum!

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Address: 700 Pelican Island Causeway, Galveston, TX 77550
Cost: $6/car, plus admission to tour the ships or to fish

I was reminded by my son that I had promised to visit all the Houston area Navy ships over school break… and that we were way behind. And so we packed up the car and headed to Seawolf Park and the Galveston Naval Museum!

This trip was no hardship… because we love to tour old ships and we love great playgrounds, and Seawolf Park has both!

The park has popular lighted fishing piers, picnic spots, the Undersea Warfare Center and the great playground.

From Houston, you take I45 until it turns into Broadway Street… and from here there is a long, almost empty, road that takes you from the busy beaches to Seawolf Park.

When you pull up, there is a booth to pay for parking and admission to the ships. (You can get the current rates HERE.) On one side of the parking lot are the ships… and on the other is the amazing playground!

The ninja-approved playground has a lot of climbing structures that let you start on one side and climb your way to the other, without touching the ground.

It is right by the fishing piers and the water… and is also in full sun… so once we are hot we head to the ships for some shade and air conditioning.

The WWII submarine, the USS Cavalla, and one of only three destroyer escorts in the world, the USS Stewart are on dry land and open for your to tour. (Parts of these old ships are also air conditioned.)

Restroom trucks (with water) are by the ships and another real restroom is in a building near the playground.

The park is open every day, around the clock. The Galveston Naval Museum opens at 9:00am, every day, rain or shine.

Next time you are in Galveston, check out this park. It was not too far from the busy beaches… but it is a really great addition to a Galveston day trip!

For more things to do in Galveston, with kids, go HERE!

Navy Ships, Fishing & Great Playground at Seawolf Park on Pelican Island/Galveston

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Address: 700 Pelican Island Causeway, Galveston, TX 77550
Cost: $6/car, plus admission to tour the ships or to fish

We love to tour old Navy ships and we love great playgrounds… and Seawolf Park has both!

Seawolf Park has popular lighted fishing piers, picnic spots, the Undersea Warfare Center and the great playground. From Broadway Street in Galveston, there is a long, almost empty, road that takes you from the busy beaches to this park.

When you pull up, there is a booth to pay for parking and admission to the ships. (You can get the current rates HERE.) On one side of the parking lot are the ships… and on the other is the amazing playground!

The playground has a lot of climbing structures that let you start on one side and climb your way to the other, without touching the ground. (My ninja warriors approve!)

The playground is right by the fishing piers and the water… and is also in full sun… so once we are hot we head to the ships for some shade and air conditioning.

The WWII submarine, the USS Cavalla, and one of only three destroyer escorts in the world, the USS Stewart are on dry land and open for your to tour. (Parts of these old ships are also air conditioned.)

Restroom trucks (with water) are by the ships and another real restroom is in a building near the playground.

Next time you are in Galveston, check out this out-of-the-way park. It was not too far from the busy beaches… but a really great addition to our Galveston day trip!

For more things to do in Galveston, with kids, go HERE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Galveston Children’s Museum… Small, fun, not crazy busy & housed in the Moody Mansion!

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Address: 2618 Broadway Avenue J, Galveston, TX 77550

I like this children’s museum!

The Galveston Children’s Museum is small, not crazy busy, housed in the Moody Mansion and has lots of fun things to do.

My big kids loved the Lego car ramps and the little woodworking station. My little kids love just about everything.

The museum is air conditioned, easy and entertaining!

The Galveston Children’s Museum is for kids 18 months to 12 years.  Exhibits includes…

  • Our Town: Fishing boat, lifeguard stand and restaurant.
  • Kid’s Clinic:  Treat you baby dolls and stuffed animals.
  • Building Zone:  Lots of building options with lots of materials.
  • A Stroke of Genius:  Paint, clay, textiles and more.
  • Tinker Workshop:  Take apart broken toys, build new things with recycled materials.
  • Explore and Discover:  Marble ramps and much more.
  • Now Starring You:  Puppet theater, stage and musical instruments.
  • Room to Grow:  For 2-5 year olds.
  • Lego Ramp: Build your vehicle and race it down the ramp.

Look at all the picture below… and find more to do around Galveston, HERE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A Quick Guide to Galveston Island Beaches… and How to Take the Kids Without Going Crazy!

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Guide to Galveston Island Beaches!

Years ago, a trip to Galveston Island Beaches, with little kids, seemed like too much trouble.  The drive and the beach just seemed like  a lot of WORK.

Then a Houston mom told me about West Beach, parking on the sand, having all the gear you need (without hauling anything) and being home by early afternoon… and the beach trip suddenly seemed like a lot MORE FUN.  And we have been going weekly for the last several summers!

To help with your summer beach trips, here is a simplified guide to Galveston Island Beaches and lots of details on West Beach.

To get to Galveston, just drive down I45, stop at our favorite Buc-ee’s, and let the highway turn into Broadway. Broadway will dead-end at the water and you can easily find any of these beaches:

  • East Beach:  When Broadway ends, turn left and go to the end of the island.  East Beach has bathrooms, showers and concessions and alcohol is allowed.  There is a fee to park in the parking lot.  Check out the pictures HERE.
  • Stewart Beach:  Back where Broadway ended, Stewart Beach is right in front of you.  This is the family beach and there are bathrooms, showers and concessions and no alcohol is allowed.  There is a fee to park in the lot.  Check out the pictures HERE.
  • Seawall Beach: Just west of Stewart is the Seawall.  This is a long strip of beach with lots of hotels and restaurants.  Street parking is metered but beach access is free.  There are some restrooms along the Seawall.
  • West Beach: West of the Seawall (on the same road) is West Beach.  Here you can drive onto the beach and it is free.  Cars on the beach are not beautiful, but it sure is easy. Just drive on to the packed sand, back up to the water and have everything you need without hauling bags and chairs and coolers and kids. The one issue… there are no restrooms (and *maybe* you will find a port a potty).  Check out the pictures HERE.
  • Galveston Island State Park:  Just west of West Beach is Galveston State Park.  Here there are not many people… but there are showers, changing rooms, a nature center, miles of trails, camp sites, places for kayaking and more.  There is a small fee to enter the park.  Check out the pictures HERE.

Before moving to Texas, I had never seen cars on the beach… and that first time a friend told me to drive onto West Beach, I thought she was insane.  But I did, and it was so EASY.  Cars on the beach is not beautiful, but you just drive on to the packed sand, back up to the water and have everything you need without hauling bags and chairs and coolers and kids.

Also, note that at beach entrance 10, the cars drive behind the parked cars… away from the kids playing in the wet sand. (At Surfside, we saw cars driving on the wet sand, way too close to kids playing.)  Watch the video above to see what I mean.

On our last trip, we drove the Chevy Traverse, but the sand is so packed that cars can drive on it as well.  The one problem with West Beach is that there are no restrooms, just porta-potties.

So, we spend a few hours at the beach and then head to one of the many other Galveston attractions (with real restrooms!).  Find lots of things to do in Galveston HERE.

Chevy loaned us the Traverse for the roadtrip and it was surprisingly easy to drive.  It is bigger than my minivan, but with all the sensors and cameras, it was actually easier to drive.  This car had the standard rear camera, a forward-looking camera in the front grille and two side-looking cameras under each side mirror, all displaying a 360 degree, bird’s eye view of the entire perimeter.

I liked that the Chevy knew when I had opened the back door before the trip, and reminded me to check on the baby at the end of each trip.  And my big kids were especially pleased with the wifi hotspot, USB ports and power plugs.

We all give the Chevy Traverse two thumbs up… and the short roadtrip to Galveston another two thumbs up (for a total of 24 thumbs up).  And if you are looking for a very EASY trip to the beach, check out West Beach!

Beaches near Houston:

Have Fun & Save Money at Schlitterbahn Galveston!

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This is why I like Schlitterbahn Galveston:

  • You can bring in coolers and parking is free.  Admission is expensive enough… no need to buy lunch or pay for parking.
  • The staff is very friendly.  As we walked through, several employees stopped to say hello and give us tips on where to set up for the day.
  • There are pools for little kids and slides for big kids in every section of the park.  There is plenty to do for everyone!
  • Many of the big slides have spiral ramps rather than steps.  This is good for my 5 year old because he hates the gaps between stair treads.

Schlitterbahn invited us out last week and we headed down to Galveston.  My kids have asked to visit this big waterpark each time we see the slides at the entrance of Moody Gardens, but this was our first time going!

We arrived to Schlitterbahn at opening and figured out how it all worked.  We parked for free, rolled in our cooler and asked the staff what to do next.  Apparently you can just grab one of the many many picnic tables and leave your cooler for the day.  (But put valuables in the lockers!)

Since we were all exploring together and there would be no poolside lounging, we grabbed a table by the lockers in the middle of the park.  As we ran through the park we’d stop for water, snacks and sunscreen.  (Also, I’m happy to report that my concerns about leaving coolers out were unfounded.  No one messed with our stuff.)

We did see other big groups that would take turns relaxing at tables by pools while some ran off to slides.  So… the best table just depends on what kind of waterpark trip you have planned!

We ran around the park and found plenty of slides for my 42″ and 48″ kids to do together. For the slides for just the big kids, my little boy and I were able to splash at a little pool while they came down.

Wait times were relatively short on a weekday (except Massiv!) and the kids were usually just waiting for about 5 minutes.

One thing to know is that there are 3 rivers and they all connect up. On the map they look like they are separate, but I once sent my big boy around… and then he did not return to the same spot. Fortunately we had a meeting spot agreed upon (the picnic table) and found each other without major panic.

Also, another thing to know is that the Torrent River is a very cool river with big waves. BUT be ready! I did not know it was more than a lazy river… and when the big waves come I was terrified I would drop the baby. I am a very strong swimmer, but I did not know this was coming. You really need life vests (for non-swimmers) and to be on your tube and ready for big waves because there is nothing to grab or a way to get out until you reach the beach.

Other than this 3 seconds of uncertainty, we had a great day Schlitterbahn.  We did everything and left happy and tired after 8 hours of fun.  The kids declared that this was their favorite waterpark around Houston (but keep in mind that it was also the most recent visit!).

If you want to go this summer, more tips are below:

  • Arrive at opening… and do your favorite rides first.  Massiv has a massive line… so if you want to do the tallest slide, try it early (or late) in the day.
  • Parking is FREE!
  • You can bring in COOLERS!  Food is also for sale, but bringing in our own lunch saved us at least $10 each.
  • Bring a cooler on wheels or a little cart.  The park is big and you could pick a picnic table far away!
  • There a picnic tables all over the park and people just claim tables with their coolers… and come back when they are hungry.  I wasn’t sure how well this would go… but we had no problems!
  • We grabbed a table by the lockers so we had a central spot.  If you have a favorite pool or slide, you can grab a table next to it so you can let the kids play while you hang out.
  • Lockers are available for $10-$20.  I’m not sure how to get around renting the locker if everyone plans to swim and you have keys and a phone.  The good thing is that you can open and close all day for one price.
  • Consider wearing water shoes.  The sidewalks are rough and hot!
  • Lifeguards are everywhere.  But, of course, you have to watch your kids!
  • The 3 rivers connect!  On the map it looks like there are 3 rivers… but they actually connect.  So if you were to send your oldest around the river and expect him to come back to the same spot… well, you might be surprised.
  • Have a meet up spot planned in advance… just in case you get separated!
  • This is a lot of walking and climbing!  The stairs and ramps to the top of the slides can take you several stories in the air.
  • With all the water, I locked away my phone and was offline all day…. but I saw lots of people with affiliate waterproof phone cases.
  • Tubes are available for all the slides that require tubes and for the lazy river.  I really liked that there were double tubes with one side that was meant for little kids under 50lbs.  It had a closed bottom so they did not fall though the hole.
  • Life vests are available for free, all over the park.  You can also bring in your own devices.  My youngest wore his Puddle Jumper, even though he can swim.  (It made his mom feel better.)
  • Strollers are allowed in the park.

Check out more pictures below and decide if Schlitterbahn is right for you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tour Navy Ships, Fish & Play at Seawolf Park on Pelican Island/Galveston

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Address: 100 Seawolf Pkwy, Galveston, TX 77551
Cost: $6/car, plus admission to tour the ships or fish

I don’t know which is better… touring the Navy ships or playing at the awesome playground at Seawolf Park.    One of our favorite things to do on Galveston day trips is stopping by this Pelican Island Park.

Seawolf Park has popular fishing piers, picnic spots, the Undersea Warfare Center and the great playground.  From Broadway Street in Galveston, there is a long, nearly deserted, road that takes you from the busy beaches to this park.

When you pull up, there is a booth to pay for parking and admission to the ships.  (You can get the current rates HERE.)  On one side of the parking lot are the ships… and on the other is the playground.

And what a playground!

There are lots of climbing structures that let you start on one edge and climb your way to the other, without touching the ground.  My little ninja warriors tell me it is top notch.

The playground is right by the fishing piers and the water… and is also in full sun… so once we are hot we head to the ships for some shade and air conditioning.

The WWII submarine, the USS Cavalla, and one of only three destroyer escorts in the world, the USS Stewart are on dry land and open for your to tour.  (Parts of these old ships are also air conditioned.)

Restroom trucks (with water) are by the ships and port-a-potties are everywhere else in the park… so probably you want to go to see the ships!

Next time you are in Galveston, check out this out-of-the-way park. It was not too far from the busy beaches… but a really great addition to our Galveston day trip!

For more things to do in Galveston, with kids, go HERE!

 

 

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ALL the Kids Agree: Dolphin Tours in Galveston are Great!

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My kids don’t always agree. In fact, they probably disagree on what to do for fun more than they agree… but we found something that everyone liked to do!

 

After seeing a segment on Houston Life, we decided to head down to Galveston for the Bay  Watch Dolphin Tour!

This 45 minute tour heads out from Galveston’s Pier 21 and is for all ages. Adults are $10, kids are $5 and babies are free.

We rolled up, parked in the paid lot ($4/hour), bought our tickets and were on the boat a few minutes later. (The boat leaves on the hour, every hour.)

It wasn’t long until we were in the bay and dolphins were swimming by our boat! I don’t know what it is like every day, but we saw a lot of them close to us!

On this boat, you could sit on the front, inside in the middle or on the back. On the front you are in full sun and cannot stand up. In the middle, you are sheltered and can probably hear the tour guide clearly and in the back, where we sat, there was some shade, a great view of the dolphins and a lot of noise. It was hard to hear the tour guide… but I think we got the best look at the dolphins!

I also noticed other tours that were all outdoor shaded seating. These were slightly more expensive ($12 and $8… but some had kids under 5 were free… so do the math for your family and decide which is best).

All of the tours see the same bay, the dolphins and get to learn more about the places you see along the shore.

For us, it was a great hour of dolphin watch and EVERYONE was pleased with the trip!

Things to do in Galveston, with kids!

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I moved to Houston from San Diego, where I lived right at Ocean Beach.  Each day I would walk along the water, go for a run, grab lunch from the local cafe or just sit and watch the people.

Now I’m in Houston, where some people love to not love Galveston beaches… but I really do like having it so close.  It’s a sunny and sandy getaway that is only about 45 minutes from downtown!

Whether we are looking for a beach, museum, park or restaurant, the small Galveston Island has them… and they are easy to get to!  Below are the places we’ve visited with kids (and not just a laundry list of things to do).  If you can personally recommend another spot… let us know and we’ll add it!

Scroll to the bottom for the map.

Galveston Island State Park Path
Beaches:

  • East Beach: Not far from the Seawall is East Beach on the tip of the island. It has a pavilion, playground, restrooms, showers, concessions… and alcohol is permitted and it is known for the festivals and live concerts.
  • Stewart Beach: Located right after I45 turns into Broadway… and where Broadway meets the Seawall, the beach is very easy to find. This beach has a pavilion, concessions, restrooms, showers, playground, volleyball courts and more. No alcohol is allowed on this family beach.
  • Seawall Beach: This busy beach is what you see when you drive by the hotels and restaraunts.  Street parking is metered but beach access is free.
  • West Beach: Before moving to Texas, I had never seen cars on the beach… and that first time a friend told me to drive on the sand, I thought she was insane. But now I think that cars on the beach are not beautiful, but it sure is easy.  Just drive on to the packed sand, back up to the water and have everything you need without hauling bags and chairs and coolers and kids.  And West Beach is free!
  • Galveston Island State Park: The cool thing about Galveston Island State Park is that there are not many people, showers, changing rooms, a nature center, miles of trails, camp sites, places for kayaking and more.
  • Jamaica Beach:  Like West Beach, this little section of beach has drive-on-the-beach access. The public beach is the area of sand from the vegetation line to the water’s edge.

 

Galveston Railroad Museum Trains
Museums:

  • Galveston Children’s Museum:  Small, not crazy busy, housed in the Moody Mansion and has lots of fun things to do.  My big kids loved the Lego car ramps and the little woodworking station. My little kids love just about everything.
  • Galveston Railroad Museum: Trains! The museum is quite big with the old depot, lots and lots of restored trains, a model train building, concessions and more.
  • Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig Museum: The Ocean Star Museum is housed in a retired jackup drilling rig. There are three floors of models and interactive displays that show the history of offshore oil and gas. There are movies, scale models, actual drill bits, vehicles and more. There is also a third floor skywalk to the drill floor of the rig!

 

Schreiber Flagship Park Galveston Playground
Parks (and Amusement Parks):

  • Moody Gardens: Visit the pyramids, 4D movies, small water park, ropes course or holiday events at Moody Gardens.
  • Schlitterbahn Galveston: Big slides, lazy rivers, kids pools and lots of fun!  It’s open during the summer and winter!
  • Seawolf Park: Located on the water, with an amazing playground, a Navy submarine and destroyer escort, is Seawolf Park!
  • Flagship Park: Tthis is an AMAZING Space City park.
  • Menard Park: When you are on the beach, you may not notice it because there is a rec center building on the street. Just behind this there is a splashpad, skate park, dog park and playground.
  • Lasker Park: Thanks to a tip from Nicole, we found this pool with slides and fun for all ages.  Non-residents can swim for a fee.

 

Shrimp N Stuff Galveston Downtown
Restaurants:

  • Shrimp N Stuff: The original location is super casual and has customers lined up out the door.  We like this location best!!
  • Shrimp N Stuff Downtown: This is a family friendly restaurant with several locations in Galveston. It is a nice place that is kid friendly and has many options (in addition to shrimp!) that are under $10.
  • Fish Tales:   This restaurant is on the Galveston Seawall, directly across from Pleasure Pier. It’s a Landry’s restaurant (like Rainforest Cafe) and given the location, you can probably guest that it gets a lot of tourists. And since we’re tourists when we go to Galveston, we felt right at home.
  • LA Kings Confectionery:  Go back in time to this old candy story… and catch the taffy as it’s made and thrown out to the crowd!
  • Cafe Michael Burger:  Cafe Michael Burger is on the west side of Galveston off the Seawall and it is right across the street from the ocean but you still have a great view… and the burgers are good! (NOTE:  The hours are variable… so be prepared with a back up plan.)
  • Mosquito Cafe: Fresh homemade food with a lot of gluten free choices!  Locals eat here!

The Cajun Greek is highly recommended… but we have not been!

Also, here are the places recommended by Nicole B, a Galveston local… they are on our list to try soon!

Another tip from Nicole:  MANY of restaurants are closed on Mondays – even during busy season – so keep that in mind while planning!

 

JoeFerry
More to Do:

  • Galveston Island Port Bolivar Ferry:  Drive right on to this free ferry!  The only catch is the wait times… so check the website to know the latest times before you go.
  • Tree Sculpture Tour:   Hurricane Ike uprooted thousands of trees in Galveston and destroyed much of the tree canopy.  Artists then turned many of these trees into whimsical art around the island.  Take a tour!
  • Dolphin Tours:  Watch the dolphins swim by the boat on this hour long tour!

And here are recommendations from Nicole that we will try soon!

  • Rosenberg Library has a fantastic children’s area, with a bank of touch screen computers loaded up with fun games, story times and art project sessions – and the library has a wonderful free museum on the 4th floor all about the history of Galveston.
  • Haunted Mayfield Manor – For older kids/teens, this is fun and historical.
  • Kitchen Chick – Cooking classes for adults and children

 

Lone Star Flight Museum in Galveston… One of the top flying museums in the United States

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Update: The museum is now at Ellington Airport. See it HERE!

Lone Star Flight Museum Galveston Building
Address: 2002 Terminal Drive, Galveston, TX 77554

7/2017 Update: This museum has moved to Ellington Airport!

As we drove down to Galveston, I asked, “Where to today?”. Let’s try one new place before hitting the beach. We’ve been to the Oil Rig Museum, Railroad Museum and Ropes Course… so we picked the Lone Star Flight Museum!

Located right next to Moody Gardens is the airplane hanger full of beautifully restored planes!

Lone Star Flight Museum Galveston Gift Store
We are a fan of all things-that-go and all things military history… but let me tell you, there are some serious flight lovers at the Lone Star Flight Museum.  Volunteers are maintaining the planes, visitors are taking selfies like they are at a rock concert and the conversations are nothing I recognize.  It was cool to see the super fans enjoying the museum.

The displays over 40 historically significant aircraft and over 1500 artifacts and apparently it is one of the top flying museums in the United States.  Some of the planes are even available for flights.  (Get the details HERE.)

 

Lone Star Flight Museum Thunder Bird
We walked through the airplanes, picked our favorite (the army helicopter!) and people watched.  We did not spend as much time there as some groups, but it was cool to see all the planes and helicopters.

When we visited, the admission fee was $10 for adults and $8 for kids over 5.  (Check HERE for the latest.)

Lone Star Flight Museum Army Helicopter
We went to West Beach afterwards… but if you want white sand and a waterpark, Palm Beach is right next door (as well as Moody Gardens, Schlitterbahn and Flagship Park).

Lone Star Flight Museum Galveston Plane
 

Find event more do do around Houston and Galveston:

Galveston Island State Park… Beach, Nature Center, Trails, Fishing, Kayaking and More!

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Galveston Island State Park Sign
Address: 14901 Farm to Market 3005, Galveston, TX 77554
Admission: $5/Adult, Kids Under 12 are Free

On the west side of Galveston, between West Beach and Jamaica Beach is Galveston Island State Park.  West and Jamaica are free drive-on-and-park-at-the-water beaches and the State Park is a paid walk-to-the-water beach.  The cool thing about Galveston Island State Park is that there are not many people, showers, changing rooms, a nature center, miles of trails, camp sites, places for kayaking and more.

Admission to the park is $5/adult and free for kids under 12.  If you have a car full of kids and not many adults (like our car), this makes it cheaper than Stewart Beach and East Beach.

Galveston Island State Park View of Beach
We arrived on a weekday afternoon and went to the headquarters on the beach side of the park.  Here I paid $5 for one adult, got our car permit and grabbed a map of the big park.

The beach is very close to the headquarters.  We parked and made the short walk over to the changing rooms, picnic tables and sand.

My oldest saw the sign saying there could be riptides and venomous snakes and decided this adventure was the worst I had ever planned.  I calmly tried to explain that anywhere we go could have riptides and venomous snakes… which did not help much.  So I told him to listen to his mom and he’d be fine.

Galveston Island State Park Beach Warning
On the sand, my son sat to draw for a while and the younger two played in the sand and in the shallow water.  After a while, the venomous snakes and riptides were forgotten and they were all playing.

Galveston Island State Park Beach Digging
A few other families were on the beach and a group came by on a school or camp tour.  After a while, we headed out to the showers and changing rooms.

I really like having fresh water to clean off the sand and clean up the kids.  After we were changed, we headed across the road to the bay side of the park.

Galveston Island State Park Path
We found trails, observation decks, kayaks and fishermen.  We also found camp sites (also on the beach side) and a couple of cabins.

The nature center is on the bay side, but only open on weekends.  If you are there during the right hours, you should check out the Junior Ranger program!

Galveston Island State Park Bay
If you are looking for fewer crowds, for a nature day or for camping by the water, check out Galveston Island State Park!

Galveston Island State Park Trail
 

Galveston Island State Park Cabin
 

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