Anyone been to Galveston, Texas?

[Atissue123]

Planning a trip to Texas next month with DCs aged 12 and 9 and looking for advice...

We have 6 nights in downtown Austin (booked and sorted and have been before) and then I am thinking:

1 night Frederiksberg
3 (or 4?) nights in San Antonio (central hotel on the river)
Galveston (4 nights) including one day at NASA
Fly home from Houston

I think this will all suit the kids well and it's do-able driving wise but will Galveston offer enough for 3 days? It looks like a massive resort and I am wondering if it's better to be 'based' elsewhere but do trips into Galveston in the day? We have been to Florida before and embraced the large hotels / resort type vibe but I guess I am wondering if it might be a bit intense for 4 days. Basically I would like 2 days on a beach/pool with a dolphin watching trip or similar, not overly bothered about 'entertainment' as I think we will get all of that in Austin and at NASA?

Any tips welcome!

And also wondering if we are missing a trick by NOT going to a rodeo? My worry was that my kids are huge animal lovers and I have read that it's associated with much animal cruelty. Anything like this they will hate hence it's not in my itinerary but I appreciate it's a real Texas themed thing to see and do.

I think 2 days in Galveston would be plenty personally. (I mean, for me, I might do a day and then I’d be done!) You could easily stay a night or two in Houston. If it was me I’d actually stay in Houston for all 4 nights and then just drive down to Galveston for a day if you really wanted to.

There is loads to do in Houston itself beyond NASA. (Which is great, so definitely worth it) Check the dates of home games for the Astros - a night/afternoon out at Minute Maid Park is great fun. What Rodeo were you thinking of? Houston’s is long over for the year, and any others will be significantly smaller. If your kids love animals though, Houston Zoo is a great zoo. (And I’m generally not a fan of zoos myself) There is a new big attraction in Herman Park (right by the zoo) called The Commons - you could easily spend a day between the zoo and the park. Also worth checking out what’s on at Discovery Green or Miller Outdoor Theatre.

Depending on how cultured your kids are and how much they like museums/art galleries etc - the HMNH is great, as is the Menil and Rothko Chapel.

That’s too many days in Galveston. Agree with pp more days in Houston. Enjoy, I used to work in Houston. Would love to go back and visit.

Thank you - I had not considered Houston because my kids had requested a beach but maybe I should do.

Are there any nicer beach locations I could look at in the vicinity of Houston / Galveston that aren't as 'busy' as Galveston itself?

If they want a beach then please don’t take them to Galveston! 😂 They will be so disappointed! I mean, Houstonians have a wee thing for Galveston because it’s their ‘local’ beach but to be honest even most of them don’t rate it!

Thanks @PopcornAndGummyBears - where would you recommend for beach within the Houston sort of area? We got home from there so needs to be within 3 hours I guess.

Honestly? We lived in Houston for several years and never went to the beach! I’d say most of our friends would tend to go into the hill country or out to the lake rather than to the ocean to chill out. Places we’ve been or where friends have lake houses include Lake Houston, Lake McGovern, Lake Conroe or Lake LBJ. (Not all super close to Houston - LBJ for instance is much closer to Austin)

Have traveled to Galveston for the day from Houston and that was enough time. It was certainly quiet the day we were there .
Beach area was ok, quite tourist oriented. Houston is a good base for sightseeing and the Johnson Space Center.

Thank you for the tips. I’m now wondering whether we should base ourselves in the Hill Country surrounding San Antonio for longer (I had booked a central San Antonio hotel) but I can cancel it.

Basically I’m wanting somewhere we can all chill out and relax (after a week in Austin) but with some day trips / sights and some culture for some of the days. Then we could do the last 2-3 days in Houston and Galveston/NASA

I'vebeen to Galveston. We were living in Houston and wanted to take the children to the beach one day. We didn't return! It's interesting because it's so different from anything in the UK.. you can see pelicans for example. But it's really nothing special, and people drive on the beach. Weird!
We had a fantastic holiday in Big Bend national park, and around Fort Davis. Proper cowboy country. But that is a long way west!

Hope you have a great time. Now I can't get that song "Galveston, oh Galveston" out of my head. It's an ear worm. Thank you so much 🙂