We originally were going to spend our time on Galveston Island at a place called Jamaica Beach. From our research, it looks like a beautiful location and has a lot of really nice RV parks. We ended up, though, making our reservations at Sandpiper RV Park, located in Stewart Beach. Not knowing the area, this was the easiest park to access after coming across the bridge from Houston.
It ended up being a great choice. Originally a hotel that was badly damaged during the last big hurricane, the property now houses a gorgeous newer RV Park right at the beach. It’s also within easy reach of most of Galveston’s most well-known sights, including The Strand and Pleasure Pier.
Unfortunately we were both a bit under the weather, having caught colds the week before. We only had four days to explore (that was the longest the RV park had available when we made our reservations), so that meant we had to take some meds and drag our sorry butts out no matter what!
We’re both so glad we did!
For our first excursion, we strolled along the beach and the seawall to Pleasure Pier. It’s about a mile-and-a-half from the RV park, and we had a beautiful day to just take our time and enjoy our walk.
We stopped in at Bubba Gump Seafood for lunch. Having a seafood allergy was not going to deter me from having some great fish and chips (they were fantastic) or visiting this iconic restaurant. Since the restaurant sits right on the pier, we had stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico to accompany our meal.
Unfortunately, this time of year the pier is closed during the week. The rides all looked like a lot of fun but, alas, it was not to be. At least not on this visit.
As we strolled back to the RV park we admired the eclectic mix of beachy bungalows and motels, luxury resorts, high rise buildings and beach bars.
We took a day off to recuperate, then set out again on foot, walking the two-and-a-half miles to The Strand. According to one local we spoke to, The Strand was the happening hot spot on Friday and Saturday nights, with raucous night life and plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from.
We visited during the day, where the atmosphere was far more serene, and marveled at how much the mood and architecture reminded us of New Orleans. Quite a surprise for a beach town!
We visited the Ocean Star Oil Drilling Rig and Museum. It turns out this was an actual exploratory rig that operated from the late 1960s into the 1980s. Displays include models of a variety of types of oil rigs, the equipment used to drill for oil including examples of the different bits used, an explanation of how marine habitats grow around the rigs, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and deep diving gear and examples of rescue equipment. They have a stretcher on display that was actually used to evacuate victims of the Deep Water Horizon.
Next we went on board Texas’ official tall ship, the Elissa. Built in 1877, this square-rigged vessel is one of only three of her type left in the world that can still sail. Artifacts on display include crew and cargo manifests from actual journeys.
Nearby is the Texas Seaport Museum. Downstairs is a historical overview of Galveston’s role in accepting immigrants into America, including a computer database where individuals can search for ancestors who may have arrived via the Port of Galveston. Upstairs is dedicated to the Texas Navy, from the days when Texas stood as its own nation.
Finally, we topped off our day with lunch at The Original Mexican Cafe. Built in 1916, this place is family run and has some of the best Mexican food we’ve tasted in a long time!
Our trip to Galveston came to an end far too quickly, and we look forward to going back and exploring more of the island again sometime. Meanwhile, it’s time to continue our push eastward.
