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Galveston is by far one of my favorite places in the world. With its Texan vibes and island carefree spirit it’s the most comfortable vacation destination for my family and I. It feels like home! This last month, I took my 5 year old, Hudson, on a Mommy and Son vacay to stay on the island because he’s never seen the beach before. By the end of it, he was begging me not to take him back to Colorado.
We only stayed for 4 days but it was enough to leave a lasting impression. Although we weren’t able to do everything, I made sure we still got a good chunk of touristy stuff in along with just beach chillin’ but I wanted to share a few things we did and didn’t do that I know would make for a memorable experience for your littles!
Where to stay:
Casa Del Mar – We had the cutest little condo right on the beach with incredible views and ocean winds that blew across your lanai in the mornings while you’re enjoying your first, or second, cup of coffee. The rooms were decorated super beachy and colorful so when you settled in for the evening you still feel as if you are soaking in the island vibes.
It comes equipped with 1 bedroom and 1 full bath that is fully stocked with everything you need. The 1 bedroom has a queen sized bed and a twin bunk bed is located in the main hallway, perfect for kiddos (and some peace and quiet at night).
Interested? Call or text Reed at 412-337-9963 and he’ll hook you up with an amazing rate and the housekeeper Traci will make sure your every request is promptly taken care of, day or night! An amazing place with an even more amazing staff!
Where to eat:
Rainforest Cafe – Obviously, the rainforest cafe is a HUGE hit with the kids. The deep forest ambiance and animatronic animals excite the kids while they dig into their rainforest themed foods and mega sized souvenir cups.
Fish Tales – Amazing food across from the Pleasure Pier. The balcony gave for amazing views of people buzzing about on the beach and making memories in the amusement park. Seriously.. The best clam chowder I’ve ever had.
Downtown Aquarium at Kemah – A little pricey but worth it being right on the water and inside an actual aquarium where you can see live fish and shark swimming about your meal. Also, another mega sized souvenir cup to take home, yippeeee…. But still, delicious.
Where to be touristy:
The Strand – A fun and classy shopping strip filled with eclectic and fun stops placed in older buildings. It’s a relaxing, fun place to grab a drink, some Galveston Island souvenirs and a dipped apple from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory!
The Beach – Of course you’ll have to stop at the beach. We went everyday for hours. Sitting on the shore, eating McDonalds while watching the waves crash, scavenging for seashells and crabs, building sand castles and swimming in the water. It’s an incredible place to relax, unwind and watch the pure elation in your kid’s face. I’ll never forget his face when he built his first sand castle.
Where to visit:
Kemah Boardwalk – An amusement park on the beach. It’s an amazing way to take in the views and get some funnel cake while riding a carousel. There’s face-painting, carnival games and a train that takes you around the boardwalk. It’s an amazing place to spend some money, have some laughs and tire them kiddos out 😉
Moody Gardens – We didn’t get a change to stop here, sadly. But we heard nothing but amazing reviews. Placed inside three pyramids are three different exhibits. Rainforest, Aquarium and Discovery. Each of which hold unique experiences and attractions!
Galveston Ferry – In order to make it from Galveston Island to Port Bolivar you’ll need to take a ferry. An experience I’ve never had but loved it – You drive your car onto the boat and head up to the deck where you can watch the waves beneath the boat and the seagulls flying nearby. We even saw dolphins!
Schlitterbahn Water Park – Sadly this place was closed because Hudson has been wanting to go here for ages and it was even a little cold outside when we were there, so probably for the best! But check it out, it’s a huge water park known for it’s amazing rides!
Galveston Historic Seaport | Home of the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA – We wanted to see this SO bad but it seemed to be closed.. I think, was really hard to tell. COVID has made things difficult but we’ll be sure to see this next time we’re in town.
What to pack:
If you choose Reed’s place at Casa Del Mar you’ll be equipped with beach chairs, beach towels, squirt guns, and more so no need to bring beach stuff! (Besides sunscreen 😉 )
Seashell bag. We got one from jane.com and it was the hit of our beach ventures. He was able to use his own little bag to hunt for shells and he felt so cool wrapping his bag around him and venturing out.
Flip-flops AND normal shoes. Cuz, walking and beach combing.
Wind-breaker. Sometimes that ocean wind is CRAZY cold. You never know 😉
We LOVE this Sand Castle pack. Wasn’t cheap and made amazing castles!
This was such an amazing trip, so much so my son has already been asking to go back asap. I know I missed a ton of other amazing activities but with only a few days we didn’t have a ton of time to do everything. Add your favorites below so we can help spread the word!
s i m p l y k a r a l i z 
This looks like the perfect getaway with kids! That condo is so adorable and I love the colorful mural. Will keep Galveston in mind for future travels.
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It really was! You should – It’s an amazing family destination! ❤
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