3 Days in Galveston, Texas
History Comes to Life
Morning
Start your day off with some tasty breakfast and a side of history with a visit to the Star Drug Store — the oldest drug store in Texas — located in Historic Downtown Galveston. Be sure to grab a seat at the original horseshoe-shaped counter which dates back to 1917.
Afternoon
Take a tour through Galveston’s storied past. From The Bryan Museum, which features one of the world’s largest collections of Western artifacts, to the Juneteenth Freedom Walk to the Galveston Historic Seaport & 1877 Tall Ship Elissa, the island is full of historical museums, monuments, mansions, ships and sites waiting to be explored.
Evening
Who says the history tour has to stop just because it’s dinner time? There are plenty of dining options on the island that are both rich in flavor and in history. One such option is Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant. Established in 1911, Gaido’s is Galveston’s longest serving restaurant and features amazing seafood, famous pecan pie and incredible Gulf views.
Planner tip: The East End Historic District — Galveston’s first residential neighborhood and a designated National Historic Landmark — is perfect for those looking to explore the area’s history, but at their own pace. Take a self-guided tour of more than 50 city blocks and discover tree-lined streets, 19th-century homes, museums and even tree sculptures.
History Comes to Life
Morning
Start your day off with some tasty breakfast and a side of history with a visit to the Star Drug Store — the oldest drug store in Texas — located in Historic Downtown Galveston. Be sure to grab a seat at the original horseshoe-shaped counter which dates back to 1917.
Afternoon
Take a tour through Galveston’s storied past. From The Bryan Museum, which features one of the world’s largest collections of Western artifacts, to the Juneteenth Freedom Walk to the Galveston Historic Seaport & 1877 Tall Ship Elissa, the island is full of historical museums, monuments, mansions, ships and sites waiting to be explored.
Evening
Who says the history tour has to stop just because it’s dinner time? There are plenty of dining options on the island that are both rich in flavor and in history. One such option is Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant. Established in 1911, Gaido’s is Galveston’s longest serving restaurant and features amazing seafood, famous pecan pie and incredible Gulf views.
Planner tip: The East End Historic District — Galveston’s first residential neighborhood and a designated National Historic Landmark — is perfect for those looking to explore the area’s history, but at their own pace. Take a self-guided tour of more than 50 city blocks and discover tree-lined streets, 19th-century homes, museums and even tree sculptures.
Classic Local Attractions
Morning
Kick off the day with an adventure through Moody Gardens. This place has everything, from three pyramid-shaped buildings which house an aquarium, living rainforest and Discovery Museum, to golfing, zip lines, a 4D theater, spa and so much more. You can easily spend an entire day here.
Afternoon
Bring your swimsuit and sunblock! The 26-acre Schlitterbahn Galveston Waterpark has water slides, lazy rivers, wave pools, shaded cabanas, swim-up bars and one of the world’s tallest water coasters. After, if you’re still in the mood for rides (and midway games, shopping funnel cakes, turkey legs, beer and margaritas), the Pleasure Pier is good old-fashioned fun. And it’s located on a historic pier over the Gulf, to boot.
Evening
When the sun goes down, it’s time to hit the town. Start the night with dinner and a drink at the rooftop bar atop the historic Tremont Hotel. From there, you have your choice of a variety of bars, lounges, clubs, concert venues and other nightlife options.
Planner tip: Be sure to check out Galveston’s calendar of year-round events to see what’s happening while you’re in town for your meeting — there’s always something going on, ranging from food festivals to art walks to live performances at The Grand 1894 Opera House to the third-largest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States.
Classic Local Attractions
Morning
Kick off the day with an adventure through Moody Gardens. This place has everything, from three pyramid-shaped buildings which house an aquarium, living rainforest and Discovery Museum, to golfing, zip lines, a 4D theater, spa and so much more. You can easily spend an entire day here.
Afternoon
Bring your swimsuit and sunblock! The 26-acre Schlitterbahn Galveston Waterpark has water slides, lazy rivers, wave pools, shaded cabanas, swim-up bars and one of the world’s tallest water coasters. After, if you’re still in the mood for rides (and midway games, shopping funnel cakes, turkey legs, beer and margaritas), the Pleasure Pier is good old-fashioned fun. And it’s located on a historic pier over the Gulf, to boot.
Evening
When the sun goes down, it’s time to hit the town. Start the night with dinner and a drink at the rooftop bar atop the historic Tremont Hotel. From there, you have your choice of a variety of bars, lounges, clubs, concert venues and other nightlife options.
Planner tip: Be sure to check out Galveston’s calendar of year-round events to see what’s happening while you’re in town for your meeting — there’s always something going on, ranging from food festivals to art walks to live performances at The Grand 1894 Opera House to the third-largest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States.
Play Outside
Morning
You can’t come to Galveston without visiting one of the island’s beautiful beaches. Galveston has 32 miles of sandy shoreline to enjoy, including family-friendly Stewart Beach and the popular East Beach, to name a couple. For a truly magical (and peaceful) moment, head to a beach to watch the sun rise over the Gulf.
Afternoon
Spend the afternoon in and with nature. The island is a prime location on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, making it one of the best places in the country for bird watching. A great birding spot is the East End Lagoon Nature Preserve, where you can also get out and walk the trails, kayak, paddleboard and fish.
Evening
What better way to end your day of outdoor adventures than to have dinner outside overlooking the water? Galveston is well-known for its fresh seafood, and it doesn’t get much fresher than at Katie’s Seafood House, which is supplied by its own seafood market — that means it goes straight from the boat to the kitchen to your dish.
Planner tip: From dolphin and harbor tours to sunset cruises and fishing charters, if you’re looking to get out on the water, you can find a variety of boating options on Galveston Island.
Play Outside
Morning
You can’t come to Galveston without visiting one of the island’s beautiful beaches. Galveston has 32 miles of sandy shoreline to enjoy, including family-friendly Stewart Beach and the popular East Beach, to name a couple. For a truly magical (and peaceful) moment, head to a beach to watch the sun rise over the Gulf.
Afternoon
Spend the afternoon in and with nature. The island is a prime location on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, making it one of the best places in the country for bird watching. A great birding spot is the East End Lagoon Nature Preserve, where you can also get out and walk the trails, kayak, paddleboard and fish.
Evening
What better way to end your day of outdoor adventures than to have dinner outside overlooking the water? Galveston is well-known for its fresh seafood, and it doesn’t get much fresher than at Katie’s Seafood House, which is supplied by its own seafood market — that means it goes straight from the boat to the kitchen to your dish.
Planner tip: From dolphin and harbor tours to sunset cruises and fishing charters, if you’re looking to get out on the water, you can find a variety of boating options on Galveston Island.
