We are taking our 2 kids (5 & 2 1/2 years) to Galveston on vacation this week. We are planning to go to Moody Gardens one or two days. We would also like to visit a beach one day. Does anyone have suggestions on a good beach to visit in the area? Also, are there any other "can't miss" activities that would be good for kids this age.
Thanks for any ideas!
Take the short drive to Kemah Boardwalk - it's a blast. Also, downtown Galveston has a great old fashioned malt/candy shop. The beaches are pretty much the same, nothing to write home about, but it is fun to boogie board if the waves are up.
The NOAH facility- you have to call and arrange to get in on it four times but worth it. If you are willing to drive a bit head from Galveston to surfside and dolphin watch on the jerry. Then head inland to the aquarium. It has been awhile so not sure if it is still there but moody beach off the seawall was nice. Also the state park. Have fun!
There are cruises that leave out of Galveston. And lots of cruises don't charge for children under 18. The cost of a motel and food are usually more than the cost of a cruise.
One of the BIG plusses is that Cruises have a great kids program. I took my kids to Alaska on Princess. My kids could hardly wait for breakfast to be over so they could go into the kids program and complained when it was dinner time when they had to leave the kids program.
You get to see something different every day. The food is included and the restaurants are definately at least 4 star. There is something to eat from 6 am to 2 am every day. They have water slides, kiddie pools, family pools and adults only pools. The big ships are so stable they have bowling alleys and miniture golf courses on some of them. They have a show every night by world class entertainers.
My wife and I have never not had fun on a cruise. Disney even has cruise ships. Nobody does fun for kids like Disney.
Last minute cruises can be real inexpensive. Good luck to you and yours.
I love shlitterbahn, and the strand. Your best bet would be to get a hotel on the seawall so that u can walk right over to the beach. Moody gardens is nice, some of the displays are a rip off though, like the butterfly gardens. The white beach part is nice though and the imax is a blast.
We just spent three days there recently, We shell hunted and swam in the ocean the first night, along with using the holiday inn pool. That night my husband and i left the kids with a friend i have that lives there and we went to little tiki bars. They have a bar called "the float", its underwater. the next day we spent all day at shlitterbahn, i loved it, it was even fun for me. but go after 3, its much cheaper. For eating id recommend marios on 7th street (the italian restaurant not the pizza place) and the sunflower cafe for brunch (its attached to little antique shops), The next day we rode jetskis and rented an umbrella.
galveston gets a bad rap, i always have a great time.
fyi ....beware of old ads and commentary from people that have been there a long time ago to plan your trip. Hurricane ike pretty much ravaged the island and many things are different now.
We always enjoy riding the (free!) ferry across to Bolivar. The beaches over there are a bit nicer, too.
Stewart Beach is the best beach in Galveston. Others have covered pretty much everything else. Have a great vacation!
The Tall Ship Elissa
The Ridley Turtle Center (you have to prearrange a tour online)
The Galveston Railroad Museum
