Galveston Island Texas was just a short drive from Jetstream RV Resort at NASA, our home base while in Houston. It was also a place that we had romanticized for years.
Welcome to Galveston!
Galveston Island Texas
The weather was delightful so we decided it was the perfect day for exploring Galveston Island Texas. Our drive was about 45 minutes of mostly highway driving. And before we knew it we were crossing the causeway onto the island. We were excited to be going there. Steve had actually tried to book an RV park there to no avail. So at least we could visit by car for the day.
The Spot
The Spot Restaurant on Galveston Island Texas
The Spot by the beach in Galveston is enormous so there was plenty of outdoor seating with gorgeous views of the beach
Friends had recommended Gaido’s Seafood Restaurant for dinner, but it was way too fancy for lunch by the beach. So we randomly selected a place that overlooked the Gulf and had outdoor seating. The Spot was the spot! It was the perfect spot for lunch outside on the deck. And the atmosphere and food could not have been more perfect.
Our view of the beach and surf while having a delicious lunch on the deck at The Spot
At The Spot you place your order inside at a counter that is not unlike a fast food restaurant. I have to admit that Steve and I were quite skeptical about what the food would be like. We were given a beeper and went outside to find a table with a view. A few minutes later our beeper summoned us to pick up our food, which Steve – gentleman that he is – went in to pick up. When Steve returned and I saw our lunch I was so pleasantly surprised that I couldn’t wait to dig in.
Lunch
Steve’s fabulous Fried Shrimp Po’ Boy with Waffle Fries at The Spot
Steve had ordered Uncle Bill’s Famous Shrimp Po’ Boy with Waffle Fries. His sandwich was so loaded with locally caught Gulf shrimp that he found it almost impossible to pick up. It was a good thing he had a fork to eat the yummy shrimp that wanted to stray from his roll! The accompanying Honey Citrus Slaw was pretty darn delicious too. And don’t get me started on those waffle fries. I was lucky to have been able to taste one. But since my order was also quite plentiful I didn’t ask for my own order of Waffle Fries. Though I would have loved them.
My amazing Tuna Tacos with Salsa and Tortilla Chips at The Spot
I chose the Seared Tuna Tacos that were topped with Honey Citrus Slaw, Wasabi Cream, Sriracha and Fresh Cilantro. And the tacos shared the plate with some salsa and chips. The tuna was really fresh and just the way I like it, abundant and barely cooked. We were both very happy campers indeed.
We were even treated to improv entertainment. The people who were at the table about 10 feet from us left a whole bunch of scraps on their plates. As soon as they vacated their table the pigeons swooped in and devoured every morsel. It was fun to watch them as they waited for the next table of guest to leave so they could attack their leftovers.
A stroll along the beach
Galveston Beach on the Gulf of Mexico
A lovely mosaic bench by the beach on Galveston Island Texas
Save the turtles!
Across the street from The Spot was a beachside amusement park.
After our delicious lunch we took a stroll along the walkway by the beach. It was beautiful. But after 38 years of living in South Florida we did not consider it to be a beach day. We have become a bit spoiled. The temperature needs to be in the 80s and so does the water. We will just have to wait for summer when we will be back on the east coast.
Our driving tour
Hotel Galvez and Spa on Galveston Island Texas
So as the wind picked up a bit and made it a little uncomfortable to continue our stroll, we decide to take a driving tour along the Gulf coast. We passed a bunch of souvenir shops along our route and then a gorgeous and very upscale hotel came into view. The Hotel Galvez and Spa was almost as grand as The Breakers in Palm Beach.
Beachtown
Beach houses in Beachtown where their motto is “A simple life by the sea”
A couple more huge beach houses in Beachtown
Condos and beach homes in Galveston
Beach access at Beachtown, a new community in Galveston
A bit further we on our drive we came upon a relatively new community called Beachtown. We decided to drive in to have a look see. It was so gorgeous with its huge beach homes, condos and a small town square. Even the beach access was picturesque.
At the end of Galveston Island is the inlet from the Gulf to the busy port.
And as we explored further we reached the end of the island. We parked to watch the tankers on the Gulf and fisherman on the rocks. It was the perfect finish to our day trip to Galveston Island Texas!
I am surprised you did not mention the most historic area in Galveston the Strand district where the best restaurants and shops are including the famous ghost tours and Mardi Gras. Part of one of the scenes with Kenny Rogers “The Gambler” was filmed there. Check out the history of Strand Street downtown Galveston when you get a chance.
Thanks for the heads up Lavenia. We didn’t know about that area. I’m sure we will go back to Galveston after Covid. Most restaurants were closed when we visited. Plus we really only went the one afternoon. I am sure next time we’ll spend more time there. In fact we’d love to find an RV park there so that we could spend a few days exploring.
Do you live in the area?
If you ever get the chance try the Black Pearl Bar and Grill. You won’t be disappointed. Across the street is a museum with a wealth of Galveston History. It includes the Great Flood, Mardi Gras and Native American that lived there.
One more thing after Hurricane Ike there were a lot of trees lost. There is a tour you can take of all the sculptures that was made from them.
Thanks for the suggestions Marie! I know we will revisit Galveston when we head back to Texas. The museum sounds fabulous and we would love to see those sculptures. We also love checking out new places to dine. Hopefully the next time we go everything will be open.
This is our favorite time of the year to explore Galveston. Not to many tourist means less traffic. For a small island it has a lot to offer. We always end our day visits to La Kings ice cream and candy store on the strand. Pricey but so good.
I’ll keep that in mind when we plan our return trip, thanks. I’m an ice cream addict. So happy to now know about La Kings!!!
Stella mar ,Galveston island rv are good rv parks. We stay at blue water rv resort off and on through out the year. It’s our favorite. Heading back this weekend.
Thank you so much for the great info! The RV parks that we called were all booked for the time we wanted to stay. But I don’t think the ones you suggested were on our list. We will call them when we plan our next trip back to Galveston. Sounds like you live nearby.