Galveston Before or After Your Cruise: Why It’s Worth the Extra Time
If you find yourself traveling to Galveston to board a cruise, don’t just arrive and sail away, or disembark and head straight home. With 32 miles of beaches along its south coast, the city’s fascinating history, culinary delights, and warm Southern hospitality deserve an extra two to three days, as we discovered during our visit in February.
We had no idea that Galveston is so steeped in history. After its founding in 1838, it quickly became the second-richest city per capita and one of the largest ports in the United States. Dubbed “The Wall Street of the South”, Galveston was once a hub for banking, industries, trade, and immigration.
Today, that legacy lives on through an impressive collection of museums, galleries, and beautifully preserved Victorian mansions, many of which are within walking distance or a short drive from the city center.
What to Do
A stroll through historic downtown Galveston is a must. Head to The Strand, the city’s main street, where you’ll be charmed by its stone-fronted buildings that house an eclectic mix of shops, galleries, bars, and restaurants.
You can soak up more Victorian charm by wandering the surrounding neighborhood. Grand homes with wrought-iron fences, intricate gables, and colorful facades line the streets, and are free to admire from the outside.
Beautiful Victorian-era buildings can be found throughout Galveston’s streets, and are free to admire. Photo: Ming Tappin. Beautiful Victorian-era buildings can be found throughout Galveston’s streets, and are free to admire. Photo: Ming Tappin. Beautiful Victorian-era buildings can be found throughout Galveston’s streets, and are free to admire. Photo: Ming Tappin.
Relive the history of Texas and the American West through more than 70,000 artifacts spanning 12,000 years, housed in a former orphanage. Exhibits cover everything from Spanish Colonial times to the wars and revolutions that shaped the state. The display of firearms, spurs, and saddles is especially compelling.
Once an orphanage, the Bryan Museum displays artifacts that illustrate Texan and American West history. Photo: Ming Tappin More than 70,000 items are on display throughout the rooms of the Bryan Museum. Photo: Ming Tappin Just one of many impressive firearms displays in the Bryan Museum. Photo: Ming Tappin.
Step inside the home of William L. Moody, Jr., and get a sense of what living large looked like back in the day. Moody amassed his fortune through a wide range of ventures – from banking and insurance to cotton and shipping – and by the time of his death in 1954, he was one of the wealthiest men in the United States. The 28,000-square-foot, four-level mansion has been meticulously restored and features many original furnishings.
Built for business man William L. Moody, Jr., the 28,000-square-foot Moody Mansion is a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark. Photo: Ming Tappin. The family room, where the Moodys would spend their evenings relaxing. Photo: Ming Tappin. Rooms of the Moody Mansion contain many original furnishings, showing what life was like in the early 1900s. Photo: Ming Tappin.
Named for both the year it was completed and its eventual resident, this impressive stone mansion was originally built for railroad magnate Walter Gresham. Widely considered as one of the finest examples of Victorian architecture, it has been designated as a National Historic Landmark. Admission includes an audio guide that brings each room to life, from the Gresham family’s era to its later years as the bishop’s residence.
With its stunning Victorian exteriors, it’s no surprise that the 1896 Bishop’s Palace has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Photo: Ming Tappin. The restored interiors of Bishop’s Palace showcased how its previous occupants lived. Photo: Ming Tappin. The stain-glass-adorned chapel was added after the building became the Bishop’s residence. Photo: Ming Tappin.
Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum
When was the last time you stepped onto an oil rig? At Ocean Star, you can do just that. Located on Pier 20 at the Galveston waterfront, this retired oil rig spent 15 years in the Gulf, drilling more than 200 wells. Today, it offers a fascinating look at offshore oil explorations through static displays, photographs, and detailed miniatures housed throughout the rig’s interior spaces and exterior platforms.
Get the rare chance to visit an oil rig at Ocean Star Off Shore Drilling Rig & Museum. Photo: Ming Tappin. Visitors can also step onto the oil rig platform to examine various pieces of equipment. Photo: Ming Tappin. The Museum educates visitors on offshore drilling operations through intriguing displays. Photo: Ming Tappin.
Where to Eat
For Breakfast: Galveston Bagel Company
This family-owned spot turns out no less than ten varieties of hand-rolled and steam-baked bagels daily. Keep it plain with cream cheese, or go all in with eggs, breakfast meats, and cheese. Pair it with a specialty coffee and enjoy the relaxed indoor or outdoor seating – a delicious way to start the day.
Breakfast is made easy and delicious at the family-run Galveston Bagel Company. Photo: Ming Tappin. Just some of the bagels available during our visit. Photo: Ming Tappin.
For All-Day Dining & Cocktails: Sugar & Rye
The menu at this family-run restaurant is a great introduction to regional Southern cuisine for visitors. Expect dishes like shrimp and grits, smoked brisket, crab cakes, and Cajun pasta, alongside favorites like salads, flatbreads, and handhelds.
Charming Sugar & Rye restaurant is open all day, from breakfast to happy hour and dinner. Photo: Ming Tappin. The shrimp and grits is a hearty southern comfort meal at Sugar & Rye restaurant. Photo: Mng Tappin.
For Dinner: Katie’s Seafood House
Seafood lovers shouldn’t miss this waterfront favorite on Pier 20 at Harborside. Fishing boats deliver fresh, wild-caught seafood daily, which goes straight to your plate. Choose from oysters, Gulf shrimp, blue crab, and catch of the day, prepared in multiple ways. Add fried green tomatoes, Cajun Po’Boys, cheddar grits, or seafood gumbo, and you’ve got the makings of a Southern comfort feast. Located next to the Ocean Star Museum, it’s a perfect post-visit dinner spot.
Katie’s Seafood House is a must for seafood lovers, but book a reservation! Photo: Ming Tappin. The fresh catch that is delivered to Katie’s Seafood House daily goes straight to your plate, like this broiled seafood platter. Photo: Ming Tappin.
Tip: Reservations are strongly recommended.
Where to Stay
Standard hotels are plentiful in Galveston, but for something more memorable, consider staying in a historic mansion. Many of the island’s grand former residences have been converted into guest accommodations. We stayed at the Adams-League Mansion, built circa 1860 and once home to shipping magnate Charles W. Adams.
The nine suites feature restored hardwood floors, with some offering clawfoot tubs and four-poster beds. Guests are free to use the large kitchen, elegant parlors, and covered porches. It’s an ideal setting to channel your inner Scarlett O’Hara, and central to many attractions.
The Adams-League Mansion is just one of several period homes that have been converted into accommodations. Photo: Ming Tappin. Suites in the Adams-League Mansion feature original hardwood floors and charming touches such as four-poster beds. Photo: Ming Tappin. Guests of the Adams-League Mansion are free to enjoy the parlor rooms on the main floor. Photo: Ming Tappin.
Additional Galveston Activities
You can also spend the day at the beach! Galveston boasts 32 miles of beaches along its south coast. Seawall Boulevard runs alongside, dotted with shops, bars, and restaurants – perfect for a laid-back day by the water.
Browse permanent and rotating exhibits that tell the story of Galveston, including a detailed look at the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, which devastated the island and claimed more than 8,000 lives.
Designated the Official Opera House of Texas, this beautiful venue seats up to 1,000 attendees and hosts a variety of performances, including concerts, comedy, musicals, and more. Catch a show if you can, but if not, you can step inside for a self-guided or guided tour to take in its historic elegance.
Getting To Galveston
Galveston is an island on the south coast of Texas. If you’re flying from outside the U.S., you’ll likely arrive at Houston’s George Bush International Airport (IAH). Domestic travelers also have the option of the smaller, less busy William P. Hobby Airport (HOU).
Galveston is approximately 66 miles from IAH and 42 miles from HOU. Transportation options include rideshares, scheduled shuttles, and private car services.
Depending on traffic and road work, plan for 90 minutes from IAH and 60 minutes from HOU. Our Friday afternoon transfer from IAH took the full 90 minutes, but our return on Sunday morning was about an hour.
There are lots more in store on Galveston Island, including nature and wildlife tours and family-friendly attractions. You can easily spend a week here! For more information, check out the Visit Galveston Website.
