Visiting Galveston Island: 8 Things To Do in Winter
While most of the rest of the country is preparing for cooler temps, Texans are out enjoying a much needed relief from the heat of the summer. While we love visiting Galveston Island in the summer, we think that winter time is the perfect time to take a trip to enjoy the coast! With less crowds, more bearable temperatures, peace and quiet, and all the fun in the sun you could possible imagine, we think you’ll agree! Visiting Galveston Island in the “winter months” is the best time of year to go and here are our top 8 favorite things to do in Galveston this winter!
Tour the Galveston Railroad Museum
Address: 2602 Santa Fe Pl, Galveston, TX 77550
Hours: Open daily from 10-5
Admission: Adults (13-64)- $10, Kids (3-12) -$5 Children 2 and under FREE
Caboose Ride: An additional $5 per person
You can purchase tickets online here.
The Galveston Railroad Museum opened to the public in 1983 and quickly grew to be one of the islands most loved attractions. The museum currently has over 40 pieces of rolling stock, the largest collection of dining car china in the entire southwest. They even operate their own caboose which gives out rides on Saturdays from 11:00-1:30pm. Take a step back in history and walk through these vintage old train cars!
Stroll through the Historic Downtown Strand
There are so many fun things to do along the strand! You can shop, eat, and be entertained all in just a few blocks. Walk along colorful shops, museums, hotels, and historic landmarks. Many of the buildings along the strand are more that a century old and absolutely beautiful in design! The stand is also conveniently located near many museums, and Pier 21.
Galveston: Relax on the Beach
During most of the winter months you can still find people dipping into the water at the beaches of Galveston. The great thing about living in Texas is the mild winters and ,taking advantage of a less crowded beach, is definitely a plus! We love to watch the sun go down as we listen to the waves crash as we roast s’mores around a beach bonfire. Some of our favorite Galveston beaches are:
- Surfside Beach- This is one our top beach because you can park your car right on the beach which makes unloading a breeze!
- Stewart Beach- One our favorite family friendly beaches in Galveston
- El Jardin Beach- This is technically in Kemah which is about 45 mins from Galveston but this small quiet beach is one of our new favorites.
- Galveston Island State Park- We loves state parks and Galveston’s is no different! You can fish, picnic, hike, camp, and more here. (They’re currently undergoing renovations and their beach area is closed until 2022)
Play at Pleasure Pier
You can spend an entire day at Pleasure Pier riding the Ferris Wheel, letting your heart skip a beat on the roller coaster rides, or crashing into each other playing bumper cars! There is something for all age ranges from child friendly rides to adrenaline rushes! Be sure to stop in at Bubba Gumps at the end of the pier from some delicious food or awesome merch! You can find all the info on pricing and also purchase your tickets online here.
Skip Across the Rainbow Crosswalk
Address: 823 25th Street, Galveston TX 77550
Located along 25th street at the corner of Ball and Sealy street you’ll find this super fun colorful crosswalk! My daughter is obsessed with rainbows so of course we had to play on it for a bit. Be careful though because it is a busier street so be sure to watch for approaching traffic.
Indulge at La King’s Confectionary
Address: 2323 Strand St, Galveston, TX 77550
Step back in time in this vintage ice cream parlor that has everything from fresh taffy made in house daily to every single candy you can possibly imagine. This place is like stepping into what I can only imagine being inside the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory would be like! This is a must stop when you’re visiting Galveston Island.
Eat at The Playground Patio Bar and Grill
Address: 2325 Strand St, Galveston, TX 77550
This is a fun place to hang out! Not only do they have a good menu but they also have live music, videogames, and karaoke. We enjoyed their unique hot dogs and delicious burgers and fries. I recommend the chilly cheese hot dog!
Visit the Galveston Mardi Gras Arch
Galveston is the home to the largest celebration of Mardi Gras in all of Texas! It dates back to 1867 when it consisted of just a masked ball and theatre performance. Now every year over 200,00 visitors flock to the Island to celebrate this holiday. Located on the backside of the strand the arch is worth snapping a fun picture with!
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