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Galveston Attractions
If you want to enjoy a few days at the beach, Galveston Island is 45 minutes south of Houston. Below are fun things to
see and do on the island.
The Strand
Stroll the Strand, arguably the most popular of Galveston's three historic districts. Just a block off the seaport, the
Strand was the commercial hub of the city at the turn of the 20th century. Today, its historic buildings house museums,
boutiques, restaurants and other amusements. Open daily. And it doesn't cost anything just to look. Call 888-425-4753;
access www.galveston.com/thestrand/.
Fishing
Go fishing in Galveston . The island boasts several public piers where even a novice can hook a tasty flounder or trout.
The Galveston Fishing Pier, 89th and Seawall, is family-friendly and 1/4 mile long. A three-day fishing license and a
saltwater stamp (both required) are $10 apiece and can be purchased at most bait shops. Open 24 hours a day, the
pier rents rods and reels and can supply bait. Pier admission is $8; $4 for children. Call 409-744-2273; access http:
//www.galveston.com/galvestonfishingpier/.
The Seawall
Bike or blade the 12-mile-long seawall on Galveston Island. The 17-foot-high seawall was constructed after the 1900
storm, which killed more than 6,000 people. You'll find companies along Seawall Boulevard eager to rent skates, bikes
or those silly-looking surreys. For Galveston tourism information, call 888-425-4753; access www.galveston.com.
Sea Turtles
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Sea Turtle Facility is part of the NOAA/NMFS Galveston Laboratory. A U.
S. Federal Government (U.S. Dept. of Commerce) Research Facility dedicated to raising threatened and endangered
sea turtles in captivity. Guided tours of the Facility are offered to the public 3 days per week. It is the only facility of its
kind in the United States and one of only a couple of places in the world where you can see Kemp’s ridley hatchlings.
Please call 409-766-3670 for more information or access http://galveston.ssp.nmfs.gov/galv/.
Dolphins
The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network, founded in 1980, is a network of more than 2,000 volunteers dedicated
to understanding and conserving marine mammals that strand along the Texas Gulf Coast. In 1996, we responded to
217 mammal strandings on the Texas coast. Of the 15 mammals found alive during 1995 - 1996, nine were successfully
rehabilitated. TMMSN is the only agency licensed under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to handle
stranded marine mammals - dead or alive - on the Texas Gulf Coast. Please call 1-800-9MAMMAL for more information
or access http://www.tmmsn.org/.
Aquarium
Dive into the diversity of Texas' marine life at Sea Center Texas in Lake Jackson. Operated by the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department, the complex features a 50,000-gallon stand-in for the Gulf of Mexico; kid-friendly toumch pools; a
boardwalk slicing into a 5-acre marsh; and a hatchery for redfish and speckled trout. Open Tuesday through Friday 9 a.
m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission. Call 979-292-0100; access http:
//www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fish/hatch/seacenbr.htm.
Dog Races
Gulf Greyhound Park, the world's largest and #1 greyhound racing operation, offers a unique entertainment package.
The air conditioned complex features 3 levels, each offering a variety of dining and view options. Other unique features
include 318 teller windows, over 1,100 closed-circuit televisions throughout the facility and parking to accommodate
over 8,000 vehicles. Call 1.800.ASK.2WIN; access http://www.gulfgreyhound.com/.
Moody Gardens
You need all day - and a pocket of cash - to explore Galveston's Moody Gardens. Its three distinctive pyramids are
home to an aquarium, a rain forest habitat and a space museum . The center also boasts an IMAX theater, an IMAX
Ridefilm theater, the Colonel paddle-wheeler and Palm Beach, a beach park on a freshwater lagoon. Open daily. A day
pass good for admission to all attractions costs $29.95. Single-attraction tickets are also available. Call 800-582-4673;
www.moodygardens.com.
Historic Mansions
There is really only one way to appreciate the hundreds of historic homes in Galveston. Get out of the car and walk (or
bike) the East End and Silk Stocking districts. The Galveston Historical Society, the oldest preservation group in the
state, can direct you to the homes and buildings that are open as museums. Hundreds of others can be enjoyed from
the sidewalk. Call 409-765-7834; access www.galvestonhistory.org.
Railroad Museum
You're on track for a good time at the Galveston Railroad Museum, housed in a former Santa Fe depot. There are more
than 30 vintage rail cars and engines to explore, and exhibits show how the railroad and port worked hand-in-hand to
drive the island's economy. Open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, except for holidays. Admission is $5 for adults, $4.50 for
seniors and $2.50 for ages 12 and younger. Call 409-765-5700; access www.tamug.edu/rrmuseum/.
Tall Ship Elissa
In Galveston, get on board the 1877 tall ship Elissa and you may never want to leave. This stunning vessel welcomes
visitors to the Texas Seaport Museum, where interactive exhibits tell the stories of immigrants and men and women who
made their fortunes on Galveston 's docks. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $6; $4 for students; free for
children under 6. Call 409-763-1877; access www.tsm-elissa.org.
Alligators
Watch your step - and your dog - at Brazos Bend State Park, where alligators may outnumber people. This 4,897-acre
park south of Rosenberg allows visitors to explore three ecosystems (prairie, marsh and hardwood forest) in an
afternoon. And don't leave just because it's getting dark. The park also is home to the George Observatory, which
boasts three domed telescopes for stargazers. Open daily. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and free for ages
12 and younger. Camping fees vary. Call 1-800-792-1112; access www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/brazos.
Ferry Ride
Cruises from Galveston have really become popular, but you don't have to sail all the way to Mexico. My favorite is the
20-minute cruise between the island and Port Bolivar. Hey, no luggage required. The ferries, operated by the Texas
Department of Transportation, provide a terrific vantage point for watching Galveston's seaport in action. They operate
every 20 minutes at no charge. Take bread for the birds. Watch the dolphins swim beside the ferry.