Galveston Beyond the Beach: Insiders' guide and tips to island favorites

By Darcie Malphrus-Schlegel and Natalie Malphrus

While Galveston has been a major, national tourist destination for more than a hundred years, some of the Island's most overlooked features are among its most interesting! Remember that Galveston was once one of the leading ports in the U.S. and largest city in Texas. It was home to a major Civil War battle (you can still see cannonball holes in so

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dar Nat Books
• Release date: Jul 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9780578141022

Book preview

GALVESTON: BEYOND THE BEACH

© 2014 Darcie Malphrus-Schlegel and Natalie Malphrus

Original Illustrations by Whitney Yarbrough

All Rights Reserved

Second Edition

Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of websites, dates, telephone numbers, addresses and other facts in this book, the authors will not be held responsible for errors or changes that occur.

ISBN 13: 978-0-578-14102-2 (ebook)

GALVESTON: BEYOND THE BEACH

INSIDERS’ GUIDE AND TIPS TO ISLAND FAVORITES

Contents

Introduction

Annual Historic Homes Tour

Artoberfest

Ashton Villa

Bishop’s Palace

Board Game Island

Bomdiggidy Glass Gallery

Breakfast with the Sandhill Cranes

Build a Sandcastle

Coastal Cupcakes

Collect Seashells

Cool Tours

Dickens on the Strand

Dip Your Toe in the Surf

Drive a Go Kart

Eat Shrimp with the Locals

Empanadas and a Glass of Wine

Featherfest

Festival of Lights

Find a 1900 Hurricane Survivor Plaque

Find a Roseate Spoonbill

Find a White AND Brown Pelican

Fish Off a Pier

Fishing in Gulf Waters

Fly a Kite

Galveston Art Walk

Galveston Children’s Museum

Galveston Custom House (1861)

Galveston Farmers Market

Galveston Food and Wine Festival

Galveston Hurricane Memorial

Galveston Island Brewing

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier

Galveston Island Historic Tours

Galveston Railroad Museum

Galveston State Park

Garten Verein (1880)

Ghost Tour

Grab a Cup of Gumbo

Greek Festival

Haunted Mayfield Manor

Hendley Building

Hotel Galvez

Hunt for Nautical Treasure

Island Bicycle

Juneteenth

Karankawa Indian Campsite

Katie’s Seafood Market

Kitchen Chick

Lone Star Rally

Look for Buried Treasure

Maceo Spice & Import Company

Magic Carpet Mini Golf

Mardi Gras

Moody Gardens

Moody Mansion

Murdoch’s Bathhouse

Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum

Ohana Surf and Skate

Old City Cemetery

Old Quarter Acoustic Café

Old Red at UTMB Medical Center

Paddle a Kayak

Paddle Board Lessons

Pier 21 Theater

Pirates! Legends of the Gulf Coast

Raise a Pint at Oktoberfest

Ride a Ferry for Free!

Rosenberg Library (1871)

Ruins of Pirate Jean Lafitte’s Home

Sacred Heart Church

Schlitterbahn Water Park

Sea Camp at Texas A&M

Search through Seaweed

Seawolf Park

SegCity Segway

Shop the Historic Strand District

Silk Stocking District

Spa Treatment

Spot a Dolphin

St Joseph’s Church

St. Mary’s Orphan Asylum Historical Marker

Star Drug Store (1886)

Take a Duck Tour

Take a Stroll on the Seawall

Tasty Tex-Mex

Tee Off

Texas Hero’s Monument

Texas Seaport Museum

The Bryan Museum

The Grand 1894 Opera House

The Grand Kids Festival

Treasure Isle Tour Train

Tree Sculpture Tour

Tremont House Hotel

Try some local Taffy

Turtle Barn

Watch the Sunrise

Wave Farewell to a Cruise Ship

Yaga’s Chili Quest & Beer Fest

Yaga’s Galveston Island Shrimp Festival

Galveston History Scavenger Hunt

Galveston Beach Scavenger Hunt

Galveston Back Streets Scavenger Hunt

Restaurants

Hotels

Annual Events

General Index

Introduction

While Galveston has been a major, national tourist destination for more than a hundred years, some of the Island's most overlooked features are among its most interesting! Remember that Galveston was once one of the leading ports in the U.S. and largest city in Texas, was home to a major Civil War battle (you can still see cannonball holes in some of the historic buildings) as well as wars between competing prohibition-era gangs, a wide open period of gambling and vice spanned into the mid-20th century spurred by the investments of a local crime family, and the Rat Pack called some of the more notorious fun spots along the sea their home away from home. With all that history, it always surprised us that Galveston has historically been viewed as only a beach destination. My mom and I love to travel, and we found over time that some of the best travel can be found close to home. We have lived in an around Galveston for more than 10 years, and have spent a lot of time poking into the various sunny, sandy, spooky, wet, dusty, delicious and beautiful spots the island has to offer. After all, while the Galveston beaches are great for families, the real fun of Galveston can be found....beyond the beach! We have collected in this book what we think are some of the more interesting things you can do when you want to take a break from the beautiful views and warm seas, as well as additional resources you can use to identify great activities, terrific food and fun places to stay. Our hope is