Amusements

Moody Gardens - 1 Hope Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77551- Enjoy an incredible experience on this 18 passenger ride that is surrounded by a seamless spherically-curved, wraparound screen that takes you at warp speed through a variety of wonders and high quality images.

Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark - 2026 Lockheed Street, Galveston, TX 77554, 409-770-WAVE, The Wasserfest is 70,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor convertible area offering more than a dozen heated waterpark attractions. This portion of the park operates year-round and includes tube slides, speed slides, children's activity areas, a secluded beach, hot tub, and the Torrent Tidal Wave River. The Surfenburg area offers 16 water attractions, including uphill water coasters, a wave lagoon, beaches, body slides, the Tiki Tikes kids’ area, Boogie Bahn surf ride, family raft rides, and three different rivers that all connect to form the park’s Transportainment™ system.

Historic Homes & Buildings

Ashton Villa (circa 1859) 2328 Broadway, Galveston, TX 77551, 409-762-3933, This gracious Italiante mansion was built during Galveston's reign as the leading seaport of the Southwest. It was the first of Galveston's Broadway mansions and is filled with antiques, heirlooms, and original artwork. The home also contains a visitors center with informational brochures.

Bishop's Palace (circa 1886) 1402 Broadway, Galveston, TX 77550, 409-762-2475, Beautiful example of the attention to detail that was the hallmark of old-time craftsmen abound in Galveston. The house is ranked among the top 100 homes for its architectural significance. Tours are offered every half hour.

Michel B. Menard Home (circa 1838) 1605 Thirty-Third Street, Galveston, TX 77551, 409-762-3933, Guided tours are available at this charming Old South, Greek Revival home that was owned by the founders of both Galveston and Houston and features an outstanding collection of Federal and American Empire antiques.

Moody Mansion and Museum (circa 1893) 2618 Broadway, Galveston, TX 77551, 409-762-7668, Designed by William H. Tyndall, this limestone and brick mansion is filled with Moody family heirlooms and features coffered ceilings, rare handcarved wood, stained glass, and period decorations in the ballroom that are the same as when Mary Moody made her social debut in 1911.

Powhatan House (circa 1847) 3427 Avenue O, Galveston, TX 77551, 409-763-0077, One of the most beautiful Greek Revival homes in Texas, this magnificent house was built by John Seabrook Sydnor, a pioneer merchant and mayor of Galveston, and features numerous period furnishings, art work, and antiques.

Samuel May Williams Home (circa 1839) 3601 Avenue P, Galveston, TX 77550, 409-765-1839, One of the oldest houses on the island, it is a prime example of a early 1800's prefabricated house. The home was built in Maine then carefully taken apart and shipped to Galveston where it was reassembled. The house is a mixture of a Creole plantation and New England home.

Libraries & Research Centers

Rosenberg Library 2310 Avenue I, Galveston, TX 77550, 409-763-8854, The Rosenberg is the oldest Texas public library in continous operation and one of the oldest in the Southwest.

Museums & Galleries

Galveston County Historical Museum 2219 Market, Galveston, TX 77553, 409-766-2340, Housed in a narrow old bank building, the exhibits in this compact museum tell the story of Galveston County, the Civil War Battle of Galveston, and the devastating 1900 hurricane.

Mardi Gras Museum 2309 Ship's Mechanic Row, Galveston, TX 77551, 409-765-5930, Focusing on past and present Mardi Gras festivities held in Galveston, this museum features a large array of costumes and historical memorabilia, as well as models of the Street Arches that were created for Mardi Gras.

Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum, The Pier 19, 409-766-STAR, Operated by the Offshore Energy Center, visitors to this state-of-the-art facility can step on board this drilling rig and learn how gas and oil are produced offshore. Exhibits on offshore drilling, construction, interactive displays, models, and production marine transportation are located on the three decks.

Railroad Museum 123 Rosenberg, Galveston, TX 77550, 765-5700, Located in the old art deco Santa Fe railroad station, two of the museum's prize exhibits are the waiting room, set up with more than 30 life-sized sculptures of travelers frozen in time in the 1930s. The largest collection of vintage railroad locomotives and cars in the Southwest is displayed on the station's tracks.

Texas Aviation Hall of Fame 2002 Terminal Drive, Galveston, TX 77554, 409-740-7722, Home to some of the finest restored aircraft and aviation exhibits in the world. There are more than 40 aircrafts on display.

Texas Seaport Museum and Elissa Pier 21 at Harborside Drive, 409-763-1877, This museum is home of the celebrated 1877 tall ship Elissa. Visitors can explore the ship and find out what is was like to be onboard. There is a theatre adjacent that shows a very informative film about the career of the Elissa.

Parks

East Beach/R.A. Apffel Park Seawall & Boddeker Drive, 409-762-3278, Bird watchers will enjoy catching glimpses of their favorite birds at this park that features an outdoor pavilion, game room, volleyball courts, an outdoor bar, a snack bar, and a gift shop. Live music and concerts are held here on most weekends during the summer.

Seawolf Park Pelican Island via Seawolf Parkway, 409-744-5738, Built on an immigration station site, this park features a three story pavilion, picnic sites, a playground area, a lighted fishing pier, the USS Cavalla, a World War II Submarine, and the USS Stewart, one of only three destroyer escorts in the world.

Stewart Beach Park & Recreation Area Sixth & Seawall, 409-765-5023, One of the premier family beach parks in Galveston, Stewart Beach features a children's playground, outdoor pavilion, volleyball courts, a live size human maze, miniature golf course, and a souvenir shop. Umbrella and chair rentals are available.

Tours & Cruises

Colonel Paddlewheeler Docked at Moody Gardens, Actually a floating period museum built in Mississippi for the non-profit Moody Foundation as a cost of $3 milion, this authentic reproduction of an 1860's stern wheeler is named in honor of Colones W. L. Moody, a Virginian who came to Texas in 1854 to practice law.

Harbor Tours - Daily One-Hour Historic Harbor Tour and Dolphin Watch: Don’t miss this chance to get a new perspective on Galveston Bay and the historic Port of Galveston. Knowledgeably narrated tours explore the wide variety of birds and marine life that teems in the Bay. (We have no contract with them, but playful dolphins almost always show up to entertain themselves by watching the red-and-white boat and its passengers.) And the human activity in this busy port can only truly be appreciated from the water. A tour aboard the Seagull II is always an hour well spent.

Galveston Duck Tours 21st Street & Seawall Boulevard, 409-621-4771, This 90 minute family fun tour features humorous yet informative information by experienced captains and takes you through The Strand, Offats Bayou, and the Historical District in a special vehicle that travels on both land and water.

Treasure Island Tour Train Departs from Moody Civic Center, Sewall & 21st St, Galveston, TX 77550, A pink-awninged, open-air rain carries up to 64 passengers on a leisurely 17-mile narrated trip that takes about an hour-and--half to cover the high-lights of both old and new Galveston.